Rachel McAdams Transforms In Raimi’s Wild Send Help

Director Sam Raimi, best known for his genre-defining work on the Evil Dead films and his blockbuster superhero ventures, has returned to his roots with the 2026 comedy-horror release Send Help. The film, which began playing in theaters in early February 2026, stars Rachel McAdams in a role that’s as far from her usual glamorous fare as one could imagine. Alongside Dylan O’Brien, McAdams brings to life a tale of survival, psychological warfare, and corporate comeuppance that’s as gory as it is darkly funny.

At the heart of Send Help is Linda Liddle, played by McAdams, a meek and eccentric middle manager at a large financial firm. Linda’s life at work is a daily grind of being overlooked and underappreciated, a reality that comes to a head when Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien), the insufferably charming son of the company’s late founder, is named CEO. According to reviews published on February 2, 2026, by outlets including Austin CultureMap, Linda had been promised a promotion to vice president by Bradley’s father, but Bradley snubs her in favor of one of his old fraternity buddies. To add insult to injury, Bradley publicly humiliates Linda in front of their colleagues, cementing his role as the film’s toxic antagonist.

Despite her disappointment, Linda remains loyal to the company, agreeing to join Bradley and his cronies on a business trip to Thailand. The trip, however, takes a sudden and catastrophic turn when their private plane crashes into the ocean, leaving only Linda and Bradley alive on a deserted tropical island. The horrors of isolation are quickly compounded by the island’s many dangers: bugs, poisonous berries and seafood, treacherous terrain, wild boars, and the ever-present threat of human depravity. The scenario is pure Raimi—a survivalist nightmare with a comedic, self-aware twist.

Rachel McAdams’ portrayal of Linda is a revelation. Gone is the polished, charming persona audiences know from films like Spotlight; in her place is a character with stringy hair, antisocial quirks (like eating tuna fish at her desk), and a secret obsession with the reality show Survivor. As Cinema Blend notes, Linda has been quietly training herself for just such an ordeal, and her survival skills are nothing short of impressive. She makes fire, builds shelter, hunts wild boar—often in ways that are hilariously over-the-top. The film delights in turning Linda’s transformation from office pushover to island powerhouse into a spectacle, complete with a “glow up” that defies the very laws of nature.

Bradley, meanwhile, is forced to confront his own incompetence. Injured with a gnarly leg for weeks, he’s initially dependent on Linda’s expertise. But as he regains his strength, the balance of power shifts, and the two engage in a battle of wills that’s as psychologically intense as it is physically brutal. According to Collider, “the stuff these two do to each other will long be remembered in the annals of horrific castaway thrillers.” The film doesn’t shy away from graphic, blood-splashing violence—there are scenes of human mutilation, retaliatory acts, and a general atmosphere of escalating cruelty that’s both shocking and, in Raimi’s hands, strangely hilarious.

Raimi’s directorial style is unmistakable throughout Send Help. The film uses fast-paced action, rapid camera zooms, and grotesquely daring visuals to keep viewers off-balance. The script, penned by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, is comically clever, toying with audience expectations and never taking itself too seriously. As Austin CultureMap observes, “the filmmakers prove they’re in on the joke the rest of the way, including a variety of preposterous but hilarious scenarios that would cause massive eyerolls if they were actually trying to take the film seriously.”

Beneath the gore and absurdity, Send Help offers a pointed critique of workplace misogyny and power dynamics. Linda, the overworked and undervalued employee, is pitted against Bradley, the privileged and oblivious boss. The island becomes a stage for their escalating conflict, with each character’s worst tendencies brought to the fore. As one reviewer put it, “while most of Linda’s actions are retaliatory, Send Help does a good job of making both characters, at times, despicable.” It’s a testament to both McAdams and O’Brien that they manage to keep the audience invested, even as their characters’ morality becomes increasingly murky.

The chemistry between McAdams and O’Brien is electric, with both actors fully committing to the film’s manic energy. McAdams, in particular, is “all-in on whatever Raimi wants her to do, and she’s at her most fun when she goes the animalistic route,” according to Austin CultureMap. O’Brien, though given less range to play with, still proves to be a worthy foil, his performance evolving from smug superiority to desperate vulnerability as the story unfolds. Many critics have already pegged the duo as one of 2026’s most memorable cinematic pairings.

Audience reactions, even in small numbers, have been enthusiastic. One reviewer recounted seeing the film in a nearly empty theater, yet “those 10 folks were making a lot of fun noise—laughing, screaming, gasping, etc.” The communal experience of watching Send Help on the big screen, with its outrageous plot twists and audacious set pieces, is part of its appeal. As the reviewer put it, “if 10 people can make it a raucous time, I have to imagine some of the folks who got to see it with larger crowds had a blast.”

Not everything about Send Help is perfect. Some viewers found the CGI distractingly cartoonish at times, and the film’s more grotesque scenes may be a bit much for the squeamish. But these flaws are, in a way, part of the film’s charm. It’s a “so bad it’s good” kind of experience, one that embraces its own ridiculousness and invites the audience to do the same. As one critic summed it up, “it’s the kind of manic experience you head to theatres for a second or third watch to confirm one’s thoughts.”

Ultimately, Send Help is a wild ride—a campy, grisly, and unexpectedly thoughtful take on the survival thriller. It’s a film that knows exactly what it is and relishes every minute of it. For fans of McAdams, Raimi, or just outrageous cinema in general, it’s a must-see. And for those who’ve ever felt overlooked at work, Linda Liddle’s journey from office outcast to island legend might just be the catharsis they never knew they needed.