Sam Raimi vows to collaborate with Rachel McAdams again after recognizing her talent in Doctor Strange 2, where he felt she was “underutilized.”

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Sam Raimi was left feeling that Rachel McAdams was “underutilized” in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, prompting him to vow to collaborate with her again after the MCU sequel.

The follow-up film offered her more screen time than the Marvel hero’s initial solo outing, as she became embroiled in the Sorcerer Supreme’s time-bending escapades and encountered alternate versions of Christine Palmer. However, it still didn’t satisfy the Evil Dead director. Enter Send Help, his new horror-comedy where Dylan O’Brien’s arrogant boss, Bradley Preston, faces unexpected challenges when stranded on a remote island with his unassuming employee, McAdams’ Linda Liddle.

“She was the ideal choice for Linda because she’s such a talented actress. I had the opportunity to work with her on my last film and realized how skilled she was – and actually underutilized – so I promised myself I would work with her again,” Raimi shared. “Then this project came along. Her warmth is fantastic, and the fact that she hadn’t really portrayed a dark character before – as [producer] Zainab [Azizi] pointed out – set the stage for the audience to be surprised. The film isn’t a whodunnit, but rather a ‘what happens next?’ That’s our approach.

“The film aims to keep the audience guessing. It takes unexpected turns when they think they know what’s coming,” Raimi chuckled. “That was crucial – and [Rachel] was fantastic in that she’s this good person we know and love, making it all the more shocking when she transforms into a terrible villain.”

As Raimi suggests, Send Help, penned by the writers of Freddy vs Jason, plays with the concepts of “hero” and “villain.” At the film’s outset, viewers are fully on Linda’s side as her new CEO, Bradley, mistreats her at work and overlooks her for a significant promotion. A devoted Survivor fan, Linda cares for an injured Bradley after their business trip goes awry, but as days turn into weeks, their time on the beach – and the shifting power dynamics – takes a dark turn. Think more Misery than Cast Away…

“Likability is so overrated. It’s so dull,” McAdams remarked in a separate interview. “This concept sounded like a blast, to flip their roles and see if we could win the audience back. It’s much more reflective of real human nature – a mix of good and not-so-good.”

Send Help is currently playing in US theaters and will hit UK screens on February 5. For more, check out our guide to upcoming horror films on the horizon.

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