Sam Raimi's "Send Help"

Movie review by Dennis D. McDonald

This wicked little horror-comedy offers a combination of implausibility, terrific production values, very strong performances by the two leads, and twists and turns that will keep you guessing.

The story: a put-upon number cruncher is passed over for a promised promotion by her new CEO. While accompanying him and his team to an important conference in Thailand, their plane crashes into the sea during a horrific storm.

The analyst and the CEO are the only survivors and they wash up on a remote island. There the tables are turned; the analyst uses her real survival skills to keep them both alive. Then we watch as power shifts back and forth.

It could be a "traditional" survival tale in the face of the CEO's overt arrogance but the script, direction, and cast keep things inventive and even surprising. Things get a bit gory at times (I think the wild boar is an ILM creation but the credits unfortunately don't provide details) and we learn both characters' backstory and how that has impacted their personalities. But I did like how the story kept me guessing till the end. Recommended.

Review copyright (c) 2026 by Dennis D. McDonald