IR Film Review: SEND HELP [20th Century Studios]
The aspect of castaways on a deserted island sometimes has a certain ring. But with Sam Raimi and a movie called "Send Help", there is bound to be a darker connotation. The movie starts off simply enough with Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams), a slovenly and yet efficient manager being passed over for promotion when a new CEO Bradley Preston (Dylan O'Brien) takes over after his father's death. A plane crash and bad feelings ensue. The film is obviously a rich set up for McAdams to flex her muscles in both psychological and physical ways. As the film gets going, her responses are sound and yet her back story pushes them back and forth and then farther. As McAdams shows her survival skills, one sees that she flourishes and is happy in this setting whereas Preston tries initially to continue like they still live in the real world. McAdams is good at balancing the scales but there is always reason for what she does. Interestingly enough the movie skews enough at one time that they might actually respect each other but that is obviously meant as a misdirect (though it is a bit too obvious). But in truth that is not necessarily to be since there is too much bad blood.
"Send Help" does its best but it suffers in a certain way like the recent "The Running Man" did. There is never a full sense of dread even thouigh the concept is very sound. One can see the conscience on Liddle's face and as it fades away, the darkness doesn't feel as earned and the comedy doesn't quite land in certain parts the way it should. When the survivors on "Lost" started doing things, it was motivated by character of course and the humor was there (in a gallows sense) but it is still retained its stakes. It is hard to do in a two hour movie. Like Glen Powell in "Man", McAdams needs to go where the story takes her. The aspect of rescue is always a possibility but one late 2nd act action pushes the buttons a little more almost past the point of redemption. One just wonders if Liddle is really capable of it (nothing against McAdams). Raimi plays it up and the film is R rated so it doesn't try to hold back. One sequence though was better done in "The Strangers Part II".
"Send Help" also has a little bit of signature comedy but not as many of the visual flairs one would expect from Raimi. Tone is a tricky thing unless it is a very specific film. This doesn't push it as much as say "Witches Of Eastwick" or "Death Becomes Her" but those have stood the test of time. "Evil Dead Rise" directed by Lee Cronin (who is doing the new "Mummy" movie) got the tone better and with a lot more blood. As the climax approaches of course with "Send Help", the narrative becomes more manic and also engages a plot turn that makes sense but almost takes away from the primality which would have been better. Liddle is a cool character and McAdams shines despite anything. O'Brien has the harder job since it is hard for Bradley to be much more than unlikable even when he turns on the charm. The film is obviously a cautionary tale that doesn't take it so seriously but wants the viewer to take it seriously enough. It just doesn't create enough of that imbalance to really make it catch. B-
By Tim Wassberg
