Sam Raimi’s Send Help Stuns Audiences With Twisted Humor and Shocking Thrills
Sam Raimi’s latest horror-comedy, Send Help, is earning rave early reviews for its wild blend of dark humor and intense performances by Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. Critics are calling it a wickedly funny, sadistic ride.
Sam Raimi, the visionary behind Evil Dead, is making a triumphant return to horror with his new film Send Help, and early reactions are nothing short of ecstatic. The survival thriller, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, has already started to generate buzz after its first press screenings, with viewers praising its razor-sharp wit and twisted sense of humor. Many are drawing comparisons to Raimi’s cult classic Drag Me to Hell, noting the film’s unique blend of comedy and terror.
Film Peak’s Griffin Schiller raved,
“Send Help is a MASSIVE win for the Drag Me to Hell fans!... At times feels like Raimi's sadistic take on Phantom Thread – a karmic undressing of monstrous man-babies in an inverted power dynamic.”
Schiller also highlighted the standout performances, saying,
“Provides the perfect stage for McAdams & O'Brien to showcase their impressive range and versatility as Raimi tests the limits of our sympathies mining the tension between our perception of Linda and Bradley and their true nature.”
Critics Applaud Performances and Raimi’s Signature Style
Forbes’ Jeff Conway joined the chorus of praise, declaring,
“Rachel McAdams gives a career-best performance! Dylan O'Brien is so good in this easy crowd-pleaser from Sam Raimi's witty cinematic vision.”
The film marks Raimi’s first directorial venture into horror in over a decade and a half, and fans are thrilled to see his signature style back on the big screen.
Bill Bria from Slash Film described the movie as,
“a deliciously sadistic & demented thriller that only Sam Raimi can deliver…This may very well be the grossest, most disgusting 3D movie yet made.”
Meanwhile, Todd Gilchrist from ScreenRant added,
“Send Help is a tremendous reminder of how gifted Sam Raimi is at entertaining audiences while tormenting actors. Aided by a fantastic script by Shannon and Swift, Raimi delivers a movie that's smart, suspenseful, and incredibly funny.”
Plot Twists and Power Shifts on a Deserted Island
Send Help, written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, centers on Linda, a diligent but overlooked employee played by McAdams, and her cocky young boss Bradley, portrayed by O’Brien. After their company plane crashes, the two find themselves stranded on a remote island. The tables quickly turn as Linda’s survival instincts kick in, flipping the power dynamic and setting the stage for a darkly comedic battle of wills.
The film’s blend of biting humor and relentless suspense has critics and fans alike eager for its official release. With its January 30 premiere date approaching, Send Help is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about horror comedies of the year.