‘Send Help’ Review: Rachel McAdams is the Lord of the Files

Being stranded on a deserted island is bad enough but what if you were stranded alongside your sexist and overall dick of a boss? Sam Raimi’s latest horror comedy leaves little to the imagination with its Office Space meets Castaway story of survival. Dylan O’Brien is solid in his love-to-hate him role as new office boss, although he’s mostly along for the ride as it’s Rachel McAdams who brings home the bacon and delivers one of the most exciting performances of the year so far. Her transformation from an awkwardly meek corporate strategist to the Lord of the Files on the island is both disturbing and empowering. In true Sam Raimi fashion, Send Help will make you laugh out loud one minute and then horrify you the next. Either way, it’s grotesquely entertaining.

Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) is an exemplary employee at her company although she’s more socially awkward around the office. Still, her hard word earned the admiration of the boss with the promise of a promotion, but that is short-lived when the CEO dies and is replaced by his son Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) who has no intention of honoring his father’s previous agreements. He reluctantly throws Linda a bone, however, and brings her along on an international trip to close a deal. That’s where things take a turn for the worst and a plane crash leaves the two of them stranded on an remote island as the only survivors. Suddenly the hierarchy of the office no longer matters all that much, and Linda with her survival skills becomes the most valuable employee. As Linda thrives in her new setting while Bradley struggles, she begins to wonder if her old office life is truly worth getting rescued.

One of the reasons Survivor has lasted for 49 seasons is because we love to see people try to survive without all of the modern luxuries of society. We also like to imagine that if we were in the same situation, we would fare better. Linda Liddle is a survivor. She’s survived her office job up until this point despite not being accepted as one of the ‘bros.’ For her, the office life is the real test of strength. So when the plane crashes and she swims ashore with nothing but the clothes on her back, she’s right where she wants to be. Even more, she’s now calling the shots and being relied upon because Bradley’s skills of playing golf or sweet talking the receptionist have no value on an deserted island. Their roles have been reversed, and it’s Linda who has all the power now.

Rachel McAdams absolutely kills it as Linda. Office Linda is good at her job but is a mess of a person. Her skin is oily, her clothes are wrinkled and shoes are old, and she has no filter when it comes to conduct around the office. There’s nothing wrong with her; she just doesn’t fit neatly into the stereotypical office etiquette and is likely seen as the weird one around the watercooler. Her best and only friend is her pet bird, which she watches Survivor alongside. Rami even manages to make these opening scenes somewhat horrifying as the camera often zooms in uncomfortably close to Linda’s mouth as she’s eating a tuna sandwich or off putting angles to make it seem like something just isn’t right. Things quickly switch once Linda and Bradley become stranded. Linda’s skin clears up thanks to the sea breeze, and she becomes more confident and compelling as she puts all those years of watching (and applying to be on) Survivor to the test. She quickly makes a shelter, finds water, and kills a boar in the most brutally gruesome fashion for food. Meanwhile, Bradley injured his back in the plane crash and has to finally rely on someone else for assistance and can’t just throw money at any problem. His survival is dependent on Linda and after taking back the promotion that was promised, he’s not so sure he’s going to be alive for long.

The switch in power dynamics between Linda and Bradley is oh so satisfying. Rachel McAdams hams it up a little for the camera but it works well in a Sam Raimi movie. Everything is a little over the top, making the bloody horror elements stand out even more. Blood doesn’t just pool beneath an open wound; it gushes out like a broken fire hydrant. Fans of Raimi’s gluttonous style for horror will no doubt be pleased with Send Help. Linda looks like she is having the time of her life on the island, while Bradley rightfully can only watch and suffer. It makes perfect sense that Linda doesn’t want to be rescued and in fact will do what she can to hinder any attempts. Tensions continue to rise as Bradley heals up and is healthy enough to explore the island on his own. His focus is on being rescued while Linda builds more and more elaborate contraptions meant for longevity. Linda is hiding secrets from Bradley and vice versa. The fun of the film is wondering when one will catch on to the other.

Send Help is Raimi’s own twisted version of Survivor in which Linda and Bradley must outwit, outplay, and outlast each other. What makes it interesting is that your own personal alliance never stays with one character for long because of the shifting power dynamic and how much importance you place in survival versus rescue. Both Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien excel as contestants, and it’s how they play off each other that makes the film so entertaining regardless of who comes out on top. It’s been a while since we’ve had a true Sam Raimi horror film and boy am I glad he’s back. Send Help sends you to Raimi’s own twisted island where rescue will be the last thing ono your mind.