Kaleidoscope Film Review presents its latest on 20th Century Studios & Raimi Productions’ Send Help.  Written by Damian Shannon & Mark Swift and directed by Sam Raimi, the film stars Rachel McAdams & Dylan O’Brien.  Rated ‘R’, the film has a running time of 115 minutes. 

Although she is meek & mild-mannered, hard-working Linda Little (McAdams) is up for a tremendous promotion promised to her by her former boss.  The new CEO of the company, Bradley Preston (O’Brien), son of the former CEO, has other plans for Linda.  Linda discovers that her promised promotion has been given to Bradley’s frat brother, a new hire.  Bradley feels that Linda is too uncouth, lacks self-confidence, & is an all-around ‘drag’.  To compound matters, Linda learns that Bradley is transferring her to a dead-end position where she will linger until she, Bradley hopes, quits.  Uncharacteristically, Linda stands up to Bradley & fights for her promised position.  Somewhat impressed, Bradley invites Linda & 3 other executives on a flight to Bangkok where a merger with another company will be finalized.  On the flight, Bradley demeans Linda by playing an audition tape that Linda sent to the show Survivor, wherein she awkwardly demonstrates her prolific & substantial survival skills.  Act 1 ends with the plane experiences engine failure, decompression, & loss of altitude.  The decompression blows a hold in the fuselage’s side, & all the passengers are blown out except for Linda & Bradley who are strapped into their seats. 

This movie marks a hugely successful return to the silver screen for director Sam Raimi—his first since 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.  As with most of his previous efforts, his distinctive visual style of fluidity, comic-book stylization, & bold characters permeate the film.  His handling of McAdams & O’Brien, in what is essentially a 2-person character study, captures the audience's attention and holds it for the film’s length.  The pacing never lags, and he handles the plot’s twists & turns with a sure hand.  Just as we think we know what is happening, we are jarred in a different direction.  Shannon’s & Swift’s screenplay is marvelous in its intention and sure handedness.  The audience is constantly lulled into thinking that the script is going in one direction—and suddenly it is ‘jerked’ into an avenue that is unexpected.  One can never relax while viewing this highly competent script. In this reviewer’s opinion, it should be considered for Oscar consideration in early 2027.  Oscar nominated & an Emmy winner, prodigious Danny Elfman has composed a score that both highlights & underscores the various emotional highs & lows that the 2 main characters experience throughout their various encounters.  Bill Pope’s cinematography becomes a whirlwind of emotions at times as the shifting terrain & weather elements are underscored by what is captured by his constantly moving camerawork.   

I give Send Help 9 out of 10 nuggets!  The film is an excellent thriller & character study & rises to Hitchcockian levels of suspense that will leave the audience longing for more—especially the character of Linda.