Before “Send Help” premiered in the theaters, the trailer had sent extreme excitement through the media. Opening with an eerie sound of a clock ticking and a single whispered line, “I don’t think we should ever leave…Send Help”, the trailer then immediately previews the view of a plane tearing apart in the sky, gruesome killings and a life-threatening plane crash leaving two colleagues stranded on an island with built-up tension between them. Directed by Sam Raimi, he promised that this film would be a survival horror with a psychological twist that would make the audience hooked and engaged.
The movie follows two corporate colleagues who take a business trip to Bangkok, where their trip takes an unexpected turn, leaving them stranded on a remote island. Realization sets in that they are stranded with little to no supplies and no way to contact anyone. Linda Liddle, played by Rachel McAdams, and her overconfident Boss Bradley Preston, played by Dylan O’Brien, have no choice but to rely on each other’s abilities to survive. As reality sets in hunger, fear and exhaustion take over making them vulnerable, unleashing office secrets and their resentment towards each other. What begins as a horrid fight against nature for survival then turns into a mental battle, becoming tense, leaving the viewers questioning was it a survival story? A dark comedy? Or just a battle of egos? The answer turns out to be all the above.
The critics have enjoyed what Raimi has done with this film considered the difference in the rest of the movies he has directed. While also applauding Rachel McAdams role as Linda, they considered this role to be one of her boldest roles compared to other films she’s acted in. Critics like the way Dylan O’Brien balanced his characters vulnerability and arrogance. Although some believed the movie was great, other critics believed the film struggled to pick between horror and dark humor. Overall, we can agree that “Send Help” is conversation worthy.
Viewers’ reactions towards the film ended with a rating of 7.2 out of 10. On IMDb some viewers believe the CGI was not the greatest and could have been better. Some said the end felt like a let down has if they “ran out of money” and said that will do. On Rotten Tomatoes, viewers believed the acting was over exaggerated but was overall good. While others believed it was unnerving, unsettling, funny, quirky, and hard to watch in a good way. The movie was so slow during the beginning and crammed all the good parts in the last 20 minutes of the movie making the viewer feel overwhelmed.
