First Look at Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien in Sam Raimi’s Twisted Island Thriller SEND HELP and Story Details
Being stranded on a deserted island seems like it would be a nightmare for most people, to be completely hinest, though, I wouldn’t mind the break. But, what if the only other survivor was the co-worker you can’t stand? That kinda changes things.
That’s the wickedly fun and unsettling premise of Sam Raimi’s upcoming psychological thriller Send Help, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien.
Entertainment Weekly has released the first look at the film, along with new details that tease a darkly comedic survival story that seems like pure Raimi awesomeness.
In Send Help, McAdams and O’Brien play Linda Liddle and Bradley Preston, two corporate coworkers whose business trip ends in disaster when their plane goes down. Stranded and isolated, they’re forced to rely on each other to survive.
But, as their strained relationship begins to crack under pressure, the movie morphs into a battle of control, manipulation, and primal instinct.
“I found the two lead characters, Linda and Bradley, to be complex, human, and constantly at odds with each other in often conflicting situations,” Raimi tells EW.
“The pitch was outrageous and original, all the while tracking these two in their conflict as their power dynamic changed dramatically. I knew right away that I wanted to direct this picture.”
The first-look photos show O’Brien staring tensely at McAdams, both battered and desperate. In one shot, McAdams points a makeshift spear at the camera, and in another, she’s feeding O’Brien water from a coconut. It’s a mix of survival and hostility that perfectly captures the tone Raimi describes.
“Rachel's character has just been washed ashore from a plane crash and is the only survivor, along with her terrible boss,” Raimi explains. “It's the beginning of their time on the island, and Linda is just starting to put her survivalist hobbies to the test. Dylan's character is injured, in and out of consciousness, and Linda feeds him coconut water.”
Linda isn’t just the office underdog anymore. “Once trapped on the island, Rachel's character knows that she needs protein to survive. Time to bring home the bacon!” Raimi jokes.
The movie was written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, the duo behind Baywatch, Friday the 13th (2009), and Freddy vs. Jason, and the film is produced by Raimi and Zainab Azizi (Locked, Don’t Move).
Raimi says the story’s heart lies in its transformation and empowerment. “What I really love about this story is that it's an underdog tale at its core. Not only is it about survival on a deserted island, but it's also a story of female empowerment and transformation.”
“Watching a once-powerful boss find himself dependent on someone he underestimated is satisfying. Our story is universal! We need to encourage our society to treat people with respect and kindness, regardless of status. It's especially rewarding to see our heroine, Linda, come into her own in such an unexpected environment.”
With its blend of dark humor, human tension, and survival horror, Send Help is sure to be a fresh and twisted addition to Raimi’s legacy of genre storytelling.
Fans can find out who makes it off the island when Send Help crash-lands into theaters on January 30, 2026.
