NEW YORK (OSV News) – “Send Help” (20th Century) is a bitterly cynical horror movie that charts a race to the ethical bottom between its two main characters. In fact, as scripted by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, director Sam Raimi’s deliberately outrageous film suggests that worldly success can be achieved by resorting to unbridled viciousness.
The plot hinges on a sudden, dramatic shift in the power dynamic between Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams), a hard-working but socially awkward businesswoman, and Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien), her arrogant rich-boy boss. At the headquarters of the conglomerate he recently inherited from his father, Bradley crudely exerts control.
When the corporate jet crashes on a trip across the Pacific, however, and Linda and Bradley — the only survivors of the accident — wash up on a remote island, all that changes. Although Linda initially nurses the wounds Bradley sustained in the mishap and uses her past study of survival skills to keep both of them sheltered and fed, her mood soon darkens.
In the face of Bradley’s ongoing high-handedness, Linda makes it clear that she is now in charge and that she intends to get her revenge for the way Bradley blocked her advancement and constantly demeaned her back at the office. A sort of rivalry springs up between the duo to see who can gain the upper hand in the most underhanded manner.
When an opportunity for the pair to be rescued presents itself, moreover, Linda lets it pass. Although Bradley longs to return to his old life, Linda is quite content with her temporary supremacy over him based on his demonstrated inability to fend for himself in their savage new environment.
The fatal flaw in “Send Help” is not its indulgence in gore, though there is certainly enough of that. Rather, it’s the fact that the audience is meant to revel in the increasingly nasty contest unfolding between Bradley and Linda as well as in initially mousey Linda’s increasingly unhinged behavior.
The film contains scenes of bloody violence and psychological torture, grisly images, a vengeance theme, rear nudity, about a half-dozen mild oaths, frequent rough language and much crude and crass talk. The OSV News classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Read More Movie & TV Reviews
Movie Review: ‘You, Me & Tuscany’
For the price of a movie ticket, viewers can enjoy a brief sojourn in the Italian countryside thanks to director Kat Coiro’s romantic comedy “You, Me & Tuscany” (Universal).
Movie Review: ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’
If Mario, the cartoon Italian American plumber who first figured in Nintendo’s “Donkey Kong” series of video games, were a normally aging human being, he would now be 45 years older than he was at his debut.
Continue Reading Movie Review: ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’
Martin Scorsese presents Mary’s story in Easter special of ‘The Saints’
Ahead of Easter, Martin Scorsese’s docudrama series about the saints is featuring the queen of all saints: Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Continue Reading Martin Scorsese presents Mary’s story in Easter special of ‘The Saints’
Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon
Capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television as well as notes on TV programming for the same week.
Continue Reading Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon
Movie Review: ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’
The slaughter continues in “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” (Searchlight), returning directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s follow-up to their supposedly humorous 2019 horror fantasy. The second round of their gruesome competition, it turns out, is just as morally gamey as the first.
Continue Reading Movie Review: ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’
Baseball: Beyond Belief
Written and directed by John Scheinfeld, the movie is based on the book “Baseball as a Road to God: Seeing Beyond the Game” primarily authored by John Sexton. A Catholic and former president of New York University, Sexton teaches a class there based on the concepts explored in the film.
Copyright © 2026 OSV News
