A distressed woman, resembling Rachel McAdams, kneels on sandy ground cradling an injured man. Wet hair frames her face as she silently pleads, “Send Help.” Lush green foliage hints at a tropical backdrop in this comedy thriller scene.

Ever had a co-worker that you really don’t get on with? What if you had to survive with them on a remote island with no other choice? That’s the premise of Rachel McAdams’s new comedy horror Send Help, where she plays an employee who has to fend for herself along with her overbearing boss (played by The Maze Runner star Dylan O’Brien). It’s received strong reviews from critics- here’s what you need to know:

What is Send Help about?

Send Help is helmed by director Sam Raimi, known for his stylistic camera work and for the original Spider-Man trilogy, and features McAdams in the starring role of Linda Liddell, a normal woman who works an everyday job in the strategy and planning department of a financial management company. Her boss is Bradley Preston, the newly appointed CEO, whom she finds unbearable to work with. He’s condescending, arrogant and sexist, and Linda can’t wait for a time when she is free of him. Unfortunately for her, she ends up in a nightmare scenario when she accompanies him on a flight that, unbeknownst to them, is doomed to crash, leaving them as the sole survivors. Reality sinks in when they realise they’re the only ones left and stuck together on a remote, deserted island. Of course, the smart thing to do would be stick together- despite the animosity.

What’s the twist?

The pair start trying to work out how to survive and overcome their past conflict. But given the film is described as a blend of dark comedy and psychological thriller, and that it’s directed by Raimi (known for his penchant for horror), you can expect things to go more off the rails and get more unsettling. The poster (and critic reviews) promise violence and paranoia- less Tom Hanks in Castaway, more ruthless survival like Lord of the Flies. Linda felt meek and underappreciated in her corporate life, and perhaps a desert island is where the power dynamics will shift, and she’ll discover her inner strength.

Sounds fun- is there a trailer, and when can I watch?

You can get a preview of what’s to come in the official trailer down below, which introduces us to the dynamic between Linda and Bradley. Send Help is currently playing in UK cinemas.

Culture, Films & TV

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