Movie assessment: Send Help | The Farmville Herald

Movie assessment: Send Help

Published 1:02 pm Friday, February 6, 2026

The solely factor that offers me confidence a couple of film launched in January is on launched starring Rachel McAdams. 

McAdams is likely one of the most dependable actors in Hollywood. Looking at her filmography, it’s arduous to seek out many stinkers; she is calculated along with her selections and it reveals. So once I noticed her title on the poster for “Send Help,” I knew we had been in for a deal with. And fortunately I used to be not disenchanted. Director Sam Raimi isn’t boring, and this movie proves that; it’s tremendous entertaining, intelligent, humorous…. and fairly dang brutal. Think of it as “Misery” meets “Castaway,” with some deliciously horrifying twists and turns alongside the way in which. 

Linda (McAdams) is a rockstar at her job. So a lot so, her boss has promised to present her an enormous promotion to be second-in-command. But when he unexpectedly dies and his nepo child son Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) comes into energy, Linda’s work begins being overshadowed and downright stolen by her frat bro-y coworkers. Bradley and his crew bully her, speak all the way down to her and intend to fireside her after they take one final enterprise journey to Asia. 

But what begins as an opulent non-public jet expertise rapidly turns into chaos. The jet suffers a catastrophic failure mid-flight and begins breaking up, lastly crash-landing into the ocean. The solely survivors are Linda and Bradley, who make their approach to a abandoned tropical island. Thankfully, Linda has been a long-time fan of “Survivor” and is happy to make use of her survival expertise to maintain them alive. But Bradley, who has a badly damaged leg, can solely deal with one factor, rescue and he’s disgusted that he’s caught with somebody he loathes. Will the 2 have the ability to work collectively lengthy sufficient to safe a rescue or is any island alliance going to be short-lived? 

Writers Damian Shannon and Mark Swift expertly steadiness the tone of the movie, by no means veering too far into any style and as a substitute making it an ideal amalgamation of darkish comedy, horror, thriller and motion. Just once I thought I knew the place the film was going to go subsequent, the script abruptly veered in a distinct course and saved me guessing. I do suppose perhaps quarter-hour may have been shaved off to make the movie a bit of tighter, however general that could be a small gripe for a film that’s extraordinarily enjoyable. 

More than something “Send Help” is a showcase for the always-incredible McAdams, who as soon as once more reveals she has comedic chops for days. Usually McAdams performs extra reserved characters, however on this, she lets her hair down (actually) and goes utterly unhinged; and it was fairly freaking enjoyable to observe. It takes a particular actress to drag off a personality like Linda, which relies on an actor’s innate likability and charisma to get the viewers’s buy-in from the very starting. And because the occasions of the film unravel, you begin to query why you’re nonetheless rooting for her. Some might say it’s due to Linda’s optimistic, survivalist perspective; others might say it’s as a result of Bradley is such a jerk. I believe the precise reply is it’s a little bit of each, combined with that Rachel McAdams sparkle. 

Dylan O’Brien can also be nice within the movie, enjoying the tremendous smarmy Bradley as the proper antagonist to Linda; he is ready to actually activate the bro-heavy, poisonous masculinity that may make your pores and skin crawl. Even when he’s attempting to show over a distinct leaf, you already know there may be nonetheless that vile underbelly ready to come back out. 

“Send Help” is a lightning storm of diabolical chaos which will make you do some soul-searching about who you hope wins out in the long run. More darkish comedy than horror, this movie by no means takes its foot off the fuel and goes to depart you wanting extra. Without entering into spoilers, I might love an entire sequel on what occurs after the credit roll. 

There isn’t any end-credit scene within the movie. And for these delicate to scenes with animal violence, I’ll warn that McAdams demolishes a wild boar, so buckle up for that. 

My assessment: B+