Gory Comedy Thriller “Send Help” Earns Sam Raimi His Best Rotten Tomatoes Rating Since Spider-Man 2

Send Help has officially matched the highest-rated film from Sam Raimi on Rotten Tomatoes, and surprisingly, it’s not sharing the spotlight with his legendary horror classic, The Evil Dead.

This gory comedy thriller launched with an impressive 93% on the review aggregator, tying with Spider-Man 2 from 2004. Other Raimi films that hover around the 90% range include Evil Dead 2 (88%), A Simple Plan (91%), and Drag Me to Hell (92%). Clearly, Send Help is in stellar company.

Reuniting Raimi with Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness star Rachel McAdams, the film centers on Linda Liddle, a dowdy office assistant, and her condescending, misogynistic boss, Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien). After overlooking her for a significant promotion, Bradley gives Linda a chance to prove herself at an overseas work event. However, when their plane crash-lands on a deserted island, the business trip quickly devolves into a bloody, survival-of-the-fittest showdown.

In a review, one critic praised the film for its ability to keep audiences guessing. “Viewers might initially feel for Linda’s struggles while viewing Bradley as a corporate villain, but those first impressions can shift,” he noted.

Another reviewer described it as “an absolutely unhinged splash,” highlighting Raimi’s return to genre-movie glory.

The film has been characterized as a gripping and often brutal examination of power dynamics and inequality. Even when its thematic goals stumble, its pacing, performances, and relentless tension keep it unsettling and engaging.

“This viciously funny horror comedy is not your typical ‘stranded on an island’ tale,” remarked another critic, pointing out how it taps into the frustration employees feel under terrible bosses and what happens when the oppressed gain the upper hand.

However, not all feedback has been positive. One reviewer mentioned that while the film occasionally succeeds as a comedy, it suffers from being overly long and stagnant, making much of it feel like a slog.

Another critic echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the film’s entertaining premise and sharp satire are undermined by Raimi’s tendency to inject unnecessary horror elements that detract from its believability, turning moments into silliness.

Send Help is set to hit US theaters on January 30, followed by its release in UK cinemas on February 6.