Sam Raimi’s first horror film in 16 years is coming, but one BTS detail keeps me from being completely over the moon
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Credit: 20th Century Studios
When Sam Raimi announces that he has directed a new horror film, it’s an event. Through some of his best films, starting with the ’80s cult classic The evil deathswhich launched an iconic horror franchise, it essentially invented its own subgenre. He gave us demonic goats Drag me to hell and has long since transformed camera movement into a character in its own right. Now, after a break of 16 years (and no, Doctor Strange 2 doesn’t count), he’s finally back behind the wheel of horror with Send help. I’m almost ready to put on my bloodiest party hat…almost. However, one rather important detail keeps me from going into full celebration mode.
Credit: 20th Century Studios
What fascinates me
The principle is the chef’s kiss. The film follows Rachel McAdams (yes, The notebook icon) and Dylan O’Brien as work colleagues – she is his subordinate – stranded on a remote island after a company retreat goes wrong. Once they collapse, office politics becomes full Lord of the Fliesand McAdams takes control. The trailer, visible below, teases the Spiderman signature style of the director while giving Dismiss encounter Misery atmosphere. If the blood drops and chaotic tone are any indication, we’re headed for something gloriously unbalanced. And honestly, that’s precisely the Raimi I want.
The casting alone is reason to get excited. I’ve always been a fan of Rachel McAdams, and lately it feels like she hasn’t had as much to sink her teeth into as she should. (Especially in the MCU, where Multiverse of Madness completely sidelined her.) So it’s great to see her back not only in a central role, but back in horror. It’s been twenty years since Red eyes (which really holds up), and she seems locked into this clever, disjointed survival mode again.
As for Dylan O’Brien, I certainly don’t know the full extent of his work, but he looks delightfully insufferable here. I’m curious to see if Raimi plays the dynamic like a seesaw: forcing us to switch loyalties between the timid underling and the horrible boss as the story unfolds.
But then there’s this little horror-friendly gremlin whispering in my ear – and yes, that worries me a little.
Credit: 20th Century Studios
Why I’m more nervous about sending help than I’d like to be
The most questionable thing about this invisible project is the writers. Damian Shannon and Mark Swift are the duo behind Freddy vs. Jasonthe 2009 Friday the 13th reboot, and (sigh) on 2017 Baywatch restart. These guys love big swings, but their work tends to get… loud, to put it mildly.
Their scripts often chase too many tones at once, without, in my opinion, completely sticking the landing. Freddy vs. Jason it’s fun but complicated everywhere, and Friday ‘09 has its moments, but it’s more sizzle than steak. And Baywatch? He thought it was 21 rue du sautbut it sank well below sea level.
This is why Send help definitely needs as much focus and precision as possible everywhere outside of the script. Balancing cruelty and comedy is something Raimi can almost do in his sleep, but not as successfully if the storyline is all over the place.
Credit: 20th Century Studios
But I’m still (cautiously) all in
I definitely have my hesitations about Send helpbut I don’t write it. Far from it. Because if there’s one director who can transform tonal chaos into something coherent and wildly entertaining, it’s Sam Raimi. The guy has made some of the best horror films of all time, relying on comedy. His editing brain can rework the entire mood of a scene with a single cutaway or evil POV camera. If the script fails, he can literally spin the camera until it makes sense.
The filmmaker knows how to calibrate the actors. McAdams looks like she’s having the time of her life here, playing frantic, capable and perhaps a little unhinged. O’Brien is no slouch either. And a horror in one place forces discipline. A Beached Island is a narrative pressure cooker, with no room for filler. This is Raimi’s playground, and I for one can’t wait for it to arrive on the 2026 film schedule.
Check out the Sending Help trailer
As seen above, the first trailer for Send help was dropped this week, and it appears McAdams and O’Brien spent a good portion of filming covered in fake blood. Good times.
Send help crashes into theaters on January 30, 2026.
