It’s been a long time coming, but Sam Raimi has finally exhumed his distinctly gnarly, wildly energetic horror career. Not only is Send Help a welcome return to form for the director, but it continues to help shake January’s long-standing reputation as a “horror dumping ground”.
Think Castaway, but instead of a FedEx employee and a Volleyball, you’ve got an extreme narcissist and a borderline psychopath. Throw in Raimi’s unmistakeable filmmaking style and you get a wildly entertaining movie that seamlessly pairs survival horror with side-splitting comedy. Raimi may not have penned the script, but his directorial DNA is all over the film. Uncomfortable close ups, ridiculously goofy gore, and a few well-placed jump scares bring a welcome horror edge to what might’ve been a more standard thriller in other hands.
There’s a small supporting cast in the first act, but once we reach the island, this becomes the Dylan O’Brien and Rachel McAdams show. The commitment they bring to their roles, as well as their terrific anti-chemistry is what makes this movie. O’Brien plays the conceited asshole oh so well, oscillating between arrogance and behaving like a spoiled, terrified child. He conveys a surprising range of emotions through his nervous, two-chuckle laugh, and clearly had a blast playing such an irredeemable coward. Rachel McAdams’ character is technically the protagonist, but she’s equally unhinged in her own way. She brings a bubbly unpredictability to the role, making her character far more dangerous than anything on the island. It was hilarious seeing the contrast between the two characters being in and out of their elements.
The plot is occasionally derivative of similar survival thrillers, but Raimi and his two stars crank the entertainment factor so high it doesn’t matter so much. The humour, tension, scares and gore are almost always on point. There’s some heavy-handed foreshadowing and exposition that spoil a handful of late-movie reveals, taking the bite out of what should’ve been total surprises. The final act rushes through some plot points I wish got a little more breathing room, but it also gives us some of the movie’s most bonkers moments. You win some, you lose some I suppose.
This is exactly what you want from a Sam Raimi movie. This is a delightfully twisted tropical cocktail of gnarly violence, tension and pitch-perfect comedy, led by two exceptionally committed actors. Looking for a sunny theatrical getaway this winter? Look no further than Send Help.
Rating: ★★★½
Review by: Benjamin Garrett