Film Review: SEND HELP Starring Rachel McAdams
When two business colleagues survive a plane crash and end up stranded on a deserted island, all their corporate office rules go out the window and a darkly comedic battle of wills begins. SEND HELP isn’t your typical survival story; it’s a wry, twisted, and occasionally gory psychological thriller that keeps you laughing while watching people fight (literally) for survival. Read on for a spoiler-free review of the film SEND HELP, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien.
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Rachel McAdams shines as Linda Liddle, the mousy corporate analyst everyone underestimates. In the office, she’s ignored, laughed at, and treated like she’s awkward and weird. But after crash landing on a seemingly deserted island, all of that becomes her secret weapon. Linda’s obsession with the show Survivor suddenly makes her the one thriving: she starts fires, finds fresh water, and even secures multiple protein sources. It’s refreshing to see McAdams play a character so unsure of her place in the world and then completely flip the script in the same film.
Dylan O’Brien is perfect as her counterpart, a self-centered executive with zero survival instincts. He’s the quintessential “finance bro”: vacuous, spoiled, and absurdly dressed in blue suede loafers. There’s really nothing redeemable about him, and he has a seemingly clueless fiancée who mirrors his shallowness. Watching him struggle while Linda dominates every survival task is both hilarious and painfully satisfying.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Sam Raimi-style film without the gore and ridiculousness. The island becomes a chaotic playground for dark humor, from insane wild boar encounters to moments of tense, begrudging reliance. As the two colleagues clash over priorities, the tension ratchets up, swinging between moments of utter frustration and grudging teamwork. SEND HELP manages to be simultaneously ridiculous, horrifying, and brilliant because you’re never quite sure whether to laugh or cringe and that’s the fun of it.
If you’re in the mood for a survival film with sharp social commentary, dark humor, and a little bit of Sam Raimi chaos, this one’s worth it. McAdams and O’Brien are electric together, and the film finds something unique in the way it makes office dynamics play out in extreme circumstances.
SEND HELP Arrives on Digital March 24 and on 4K Ultra HD™ and DVD April 21!
