Send Help Celebrates Every Employee’s Struggle with a Bad Boss
When diving into a film by director Sam Raimi, prepare yourself for a wild ride that swings between sheer madness and brilliance. While *Send Help* is more grounded than his iconic works like *The Evil Dead* or *Drag Me to Hell*, it still embodies the essence of a Raimi film, fully embracing its chaotic and unsettling narrative.
At times, *Send Help* feels like a live-action cartoon, with its over-the-top foreshadowing and absurd scenarios designed to make you cringe before bursting into laughter. Yet, beneath the outrageousness lies a relatable conflict that drives the story, highlighting the nightmare of working under a terrible boss.
The film kicks off in a dreary office where Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) serves as the head of planning and strategy. After years of dedication and saving the company a fortune, she and her supportive coworker Franklin (Dennis Haysbert) are excited about her long-awaited promotion. However, when the company’s elderly CEO unexpectedly passes away, leaving the business to his obnoxious son Bradley (Dylan O’Brien), Linda is crushed to discover that her hard-earned position has been handed to an incompetent newcomer.
Heartbroken but determined, Linda confronts Bradley, persuading him to reconsider his decision if she joins him and a few other executives on a work trip to Bangkok. However, during their flight on a small jet, it becomes painfully clear that Bradley and his friends are merely toying with her. Linda’s anger quickly shifts to terror when the plane suffers a catastrophic failure and crash-lands into the ocean.
Raimi’s portrayal of the plane crash is nothing short of stunning, leaving viewers shocked and slightly disoriented. This event serves as a quick and humorous way to reduce the cast, while also revealing new facets of the two leads. Stranded on a deserted island with no resources would typically send most people spiraling into despair, but for Linda, a devoted fan of the *Survivor* reality series, it’s a dream scenario. She views her situation as a chance to apply everything she’s learned from watching contestants on TV. When she discovers Bradley alive but injured on the beach, she figures they might as well keep each other company.
While there’s a playful tone to life on the island, *Send Help* skillfully explores the underlying tension between Linda and Bradley. Raimi cleverly blurs the passage of time since the crash, allowing the characters to reveal their true selves as they navigate their predicament. McAdams and O’Brien deliver performances that straddle the line between endearing and exaggerated. As Linda adapts to her surroundings, Bradley’s arrogance intensifies, and it takes a storm that destroys their camp for them to start seeing each other as allies.
Though *Send Help* draws inspiration from other survival films like *Castaway* and *The Blue Lagoon*, Raimi sets the stage for a series of dark, unexpected twists that steer the narrative in a more intense direction. As Linda and Bradley’s relationship evolves, their power dynamics shift in surprising ways, challenging the audience’s perception of the island’s true threats. The most unsettling aspect is the uncertainty surrounding the truth of what the survivors share about themselves. However, the film’s climax artfully reveals all the hidden truths with satisfying flair.
While *Send Help* may not completely catch you off guard, it’s an exhilarating cinematic experience that expertly balances tone shifts to keep you engaged. If you’ve ever pondered what you’d do if forced to survive alongside someone you despised, this film is definitely worth your time.
The cast also features Edyll Ismail, Xavier Samuel, Chris Pang, Thaneth Warakulnukroh, Emma Raimi, and Bruce Campbell. The movie is set to hit theaters on January 30th.
