Why Sam Raimi’s Send Help Sounds Like A True Throwback To His Evil Dead Era

by

While the number of horror movies on the horizon isn’t huge right now, 2026 will feature something special: a new horror film from Sam Raimi, marking his first in over ten years. The movie, called Send Help, appears to be a return to classic horror for the director of Evil Dead, and producer Zainab Azizi has confirmed this is the direction they’re taking.

Azizi recently discussed Sam Raimi’s upcoming film with SFX Magazine. The movie, a follow-up to the 2022 Doctor Strange sequel, stars Rachel McAdams as Linda, a dedicated employee whose job is threatened when the son of her deceased boss, played by Dylan O’Brien, inherits the company. According to the producer, O’Brien’s character, Bradley, appears charming but is ultimately “entitled and a bit of a jerk.” The story takes a turn towards horror after a plane crash leaves Linda and Bradley stranded on a tropical island.

Look, Zainab Azizi isn’t promising a Bruce Campbell-fueled, over-the-top horror spectacle with Send Help, but honestly? Everything she does say about the film could just as easily describe a classic like 1981’s The Evil Dead, or even films like Darkman and A Simple Plan. As she explained to SFX…

It’s a darkly comedic thriller. With Sam directing, you can expect some horror elements – he’s known for that! But there’s a lot of humor too. Casting Dylan really took it to another level; he’s incredibly funny and added even more laughs than were in the script. Sam enjoys mixing genres, so although it started as a psychological thriller, a lot of comedy naturally emerged.

It’s unusual for characters in psychological thrillers to be covered in blood like Rachel McAdams appears in the trailer, but director Sam Raimi is known for drenching Bruce Campbell in blood, even in the Ash vs. Evil Dead series. If McAdams is his new favorite for that kind of visual, that’s great news for fans – and for actor O’Brien, too.

I’m also excited about the humor in the film. The producer explained that it was really shaped during the editing process, just as much as during filming. Zainab Azizi shared that:

Sam is perfectly suited for this kind of work. We were lucky to work with his editor, Bob Murawski, who’s incredibly talented. Rachel and Dylan gave fantastic performances, and we shot many takes experimenting with both comedic and dramatic approaches. The real skill came from Bob and Sam, who were able to expertly balance those tones during editing to create the perfect feel.

Sam Raimi often includes dark humor in his work, and he’s exceptionally skilled at mixing different genres. While his films don’t always receive immediate praise, his ability to blend styles is clear. His most recent straight-up horror film was 2009’s Drag Me to Hell, which remains a standout in his filmography, full of surprising and unsettling laughs.

Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell created a truly iconic horror-comedy character in Ash Williams, and their films are known for featuring memorable characters. This point was also brought up by Azizi, who noted:

He’s always been drawn to compelling characters, especially stories where you’re cheering for the unlikely hero. He particularly enjoyed the characters and was captivated by Linda Liddle’s journey throughout the film. Ultimately, for him, a story lives or dies with its characters.

I’m really excited to watch Linda Liddle on Survivor after seeing her audition tape! I’m rooting for her to be a strong player, even if her boss doesn’t make it far. Check out her audition below!

I’m really excited to see Rachel McAdams return to thrillers, and even more excited that Sam Raimi is directing another horror-thriller. You can definitely count on me being in the theater when Send Help is released on January 30, 2026.

Read More

2026-01-26 20:09