Sam Raimi’s SEND HELP Wins Over Horror Fans With Brutal Laughs and Twisted Fun
Horror fans have something nasty to look forward to next month. Sam Raimi is officially back in his comfort zone, and early reactions to Send Help suggest the filmmaker hasn’t lost his taste for cruelty, dark humor, or pushing audiences right to the edge.
The survival horror thriller just screened for press, and the first wave of reactions paints it as vicious, funny, and unmistakably Raimi.
Social media responses have been rolling in, with several critics calling out how much the film leans into comedy alongside its discomfort. Some have even compared it to Raimi’s gleefully nasty Drag Me to Hell.
Film Peak critic Griffin Schiller was especially enthusiastic, writing, “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 singled out the film’s two leads, praising how much the setup allows them to stretch as performers. “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.”
Those performances seem to be one of the movie’s biggest strengths. Forbes critic Jeff Conway said, “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.”
For longtime fans, this movie also marks a big moment. It’s been 15 years since Raimi last directed a full-on horror film, and critics are clearly happy to see him return.
/Film’s Bill Bria didn’t hold back, writing, “Send Help is a deliciously sadistic & demented thriller that only Sam Raimi can deliver…This may very well be the grossest, most disgusting 3D movie yet made.”
ScreenRant’s Todd Gilchrist highlighted how the movie balances tension with laughs, while also giving credit to the script by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift.
“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.”
Rachel McAdams plays Linda in the film, a hardworking employee who’s constantly overlooked, while Dylan O'Brien stars as Bradley, her younger, smug boss. After their company plane crashes, the two end up stranded on a deserted island. With survival on the line, the office hierarchy flips fast, and Linda’s skills put her firmly in control.
If these early reactions are any indication, Send Help is going to be a nasty little crowd-pleaser that blends survival horror, power games, and Raimi’s signature mean streak.
I can’t wait to watch this movie! It hits theaters on January 30, and it sounds like horror fans might want to make sure they’re along for the ride.