If you’ve been craving a cinematic cocktail of high-octane gore and psychological trauma, Sam Raimi’s latest survival-horror outing, Send Help, has officially landed on streaming. And honestly? It’s a beautifully deranged homecoming for the Master of the Macabre.
Here is why you should clear your schedule (and empty your stomach) for this one:
The Raimi Fingerprints (Literally)
From the jump, Send Help is less of a movie and more of a love letter to Raimi’s own twisted legacy. If you’re a fan, playing “spot the reference” is half the fun. We’re talking: Hands erupting from the earth in a frantic Evil Dead salute. There’s Raimi’s signature obsession with eye injuries that will make you want to watch through your fingers. And there’s an amount of projectile vomiting that makes Drag Me to Hell look like a dry heave.
A Match Made in Purgatory
The casting is, frankly, inspired. Rachel McAdams was seemingly born to play Linda. She starts as a frumpy, slightly-gross office worker you’d overlook in an elevator, only to transform into a terrifying, blood-soaked apex predator.
Opposite her, Dylan O’Brien delivers a career-best performance as a “frat-boy nepo baby.” He plays the insufferable douchebag with such precision that you’ll spend the first thirty minutes actively rooting for his demise. Their “odd couple” survival dynamic on the island quickly devolves into a brutal psychological meat grinder that is as fascinating as it is repulsive.
The Verdict: Goo, Gore, and Glory
The VFX team clearly had a blank check and a very large budget for corn syrup. The practical effects are a masterclass in “Wet Horror”—it’s sticky, it’s visceral, and it’s relentless. With more twists than a Kansas tornado, the pacing never lets you catch your breath. And the ending? (Chef’s Kiss) Perfect.
The Bottom Line:
To say I liked Send Help is an understatement; I’m obsessed with it. It’s a chaotic, imaginative, and wildly entertaining ride. I’m just going to say it, it’s a ten out of ten. Watch it now on Hulu and other streaming services.
Pro-Tip: Watch it immediately, but for the love of all that is holy, skip lunch. Unless you want to see your tuna melt make a guest appearance on your living room floor.
Be sure to check out our interview with Send Help‘s producer Zainab Azizi, who discusses the island chaos and Sam Raimi’s iconic touch to filmmaking.
