FILM REVIEW: SEND HELP (15) ESP RATING: 4/5

Every now and then, a thriller comes along that reminds you just how entertaining a simple, contained story can be when it’s in the right hands.

Acclaimed director Sam Raimi (Evil Dead and Spider-Man) does just that by providing a tense, darkly-comic survival story that’s simply a fun watch from start to finish.

The film centres on Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams), a hardworking but overlooked corporate employee who finds herself stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. The only other survivor is her difficult and arrogant boss, Bradley Preston (The Maze Runner’s Dylan O’Brien). The pair quickly discover that their greatest threat may not be the island itself, but the shifting power dynamic between them.

Despite its marketing leaning heavily into horror, Send Help plays much more like a psychological thriller for most of its runtime. That said, when the film does decide to dip into Raimi’s trademark brand of gore, it really goes for it. Those moments are sharp, sudden, and undeniably effective – a reminder that the director hasn’t lost his taste for pushing things just a little further than expected.

The performances across the board are excellent. McAdams is particularly compelling as Linda, shifting convincingly from overlooked office worker to capable survivor – while Dylan O’Brien brings an energetic unpredictability that keeps the tension alive.

What really stands out, though, is how much the cast seem to be enjoying themselves. There’s a sense that they had a genuinely good time making this, and that energy is infectious – it comes straight through the screen and makes the whole experience more engaging.

If I have one major gripe, it’s not really with the film itself – it’s with the trailer. Unfortunately, if you’ve already seen it, you’ve arguably seen many of the film’s best moments and can probably guess where things are heading. It’s that classic case of marketing trying a little too hard to hook audiences by revealing just a bit too much.

But if you’ve avoided the trailers and let the film unfold naturally – this will send you on a captivating ride.

ESP Rating: 4/5

Mike Clarke

Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now

Cast: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien, Edyll Ismail, Xavier Samuel, Chris Pang & Dennis Haysbert

Running Time: 1 Hr 55 Mins

Director: Sam Raimi

Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough

For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe Cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk