Sam Raimi has been involved in numerous projects in recent years, but hasn’t directed an original film since Drag Me to Hell in 2009. Since then, he’s gone on to direct some of the most polarizing films in Disney’s catalogue, including Oz the Great and Powerful and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Although his latest venture still has ties to the Disney name, Send Help marks his return to the horror/thriller genre, where his zany yet visceral style comes full circle.

The film follows Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams), who becomes stranded on an island with her boss, Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien), after their private plane crashes en route to a work trip. Prior to the trip, the two butted heads over Bradley’s refusal to promote her, and the tension reached an all-time high once they were stranded together. With Linda and Bradley constantly at odds, survival isn’t the only thing on their minds.

Raimi has made movies across various genres. From superhero epics and gory horror films to westerns and even sports films, Raimi has shown his vast range as a director throughout his career. Despite this, most know him for his revolutionary work in the horror genre with his Evil Dead movies. His ability to deliver frightening imagery while maintaining a perfect sense of humor has made him one of the genre’s biggest revolutionaries, and, luckily, that continues with his work on Send Help.

The film’s premise may feel borrowed, but writers Damien Shannon and Mark Swift do an excellent job of keeping the concept fresh through its twists and genre bends. Despite taking place mostly in one location, they find inventive ways to keep the story engaging and the tension high, most notably through the character work. Linda and Bradley go through phases of tolerating and despising each other, leaving each scene wondering if one will backstab the other or if they will finally become friends. This constant back-and-forth made for a riveting experience that will keep you on your toes from start to finish.

The script does a lot to flesh out the protagonists, but the performances from Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien do equal heavy lifting. McAdams plays against type as Linda, a Survivor-obsessed, low-level employee who struggles to make friends, and she delivers in spades. As the film progresses, Linda’s true desires take shape in a surprisingly haunting yet satisfying way, and McAdams excels in ways many actresses couldn’t have. O’Brien plays the arrogant boss to a tee, exuding selfishness in a way that makes for the perfect opposite of McAdams. He also adds elements of humanity, making for a character you weirdly root for at different points in the film, thanks mostly to his brilliant performance. A film like this is in need of committed, compelling performances, and McAdams and O’Brien could not have done better.

Raimi’s horror films are known for their absurd violence, and in the case ofSend Help, it fits perfectly into his catalogue. While it may not be as gratuitously violent as his previous efforts, it still has its fair share of gore. With eyeballs popping out of animal heads to gallons of blood being poured on top of the protagonists, there are tons of sequences throughout the film that are bound to please horror fans, and specifically, Raimi fans. Balancing out the horror scenes are excellent inclusions of dark humor, bringing levity to their dire situation while heightening the overall tension by hiding the characters’ true motivations. Raimi has done dark comedies in the past, like A Simple Plan, but Send Help ranks among his funniest films.

Taking place mostly on an abandoned island, there are only so many directions the film can go to keep the plot moving, and because of that, it can come across as predictable at times. Although the movie is littered with twists that are hard to see coming, some of the major ones can be spotted earlier, leaving moments that lack the shock value it was aiming for. There is also an exposition dump during the movie’s final act that felt entirely unnecessary, explaining aspects of a twist that did not warrant a multiple-minute monologue. Although it did not detract from the film, removing it would have immensely improved the overall experience.

It may not redefine the genre like Sam Raimi’s previous horror movies, but Send Help delivers an enthralling and hilarious experience that only Raimi could deliver. From its zany tone to the incredible lead performances from Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, this movie sees Raimi in full form, harkening back to what made him such a beloved filmmaker. Ditch the franchise films, Raimi, original horror is where you need to be.

Send Help will be released in theaters nationwide on January 30.

Rating: 7/10

Oscar Prospects:

None