There is nothing more daunting than having a boss that is way over their head. There is also nothing worse than ending up on the same island with that superior. Directed by Sam Raimi, Send Help is a film where The Office meets Cast Away. Quirky and boisterous—Raimi knows how to feature egos which lead tofearless suspense. Send Help is a unique gem. While it is not mesmerizing, the flow of unexpected surprises makes it funny.

 In an island setting where peril abounds, Raimi knows how to create hate and consequences for humorous effect. Between the performances of Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, Send Help is a boxing match for power, shelter, and survival. Survivor kept coming to my mind during Send Help, because Raimi is keen on showcasing one-of-a-kind groovy and sophisticated nature scenes. This time he does it with an employee who isstuck with their boss on an island off the grid.

Rachel McAdams plays Linda Liddle and Dylan O’Brien plays Bradley Preston. Linda tries to go above and beyond, and Bradley is her new boss with a pompous attitude. She displays the go-getter personality, and he displays the belittling personality. Right from the start, he is not fond of her. As they depart on a plane for a business trip, they find themselves stuck on an island. They realize that working together is going to improve their chances of survival. At the same time though, desperation is felt down to the core. With two colleagues and different personalities, the dynamic is nature vs. power. Bradley wants to maintain the power of overseeing Linda, yet Linda is more skilled outdoors. Their quirky interactions are stylized with laughs and crazy scares, especially when it comes to hunting wild boars and limited resources from the land.

This film is like a version of Cast Away for Raimi…with two colleagues. It works because it is a scenario where there are no other options. However, the element of hatred between the characters is built into the film’s writing and leads to many trial-and-error moments in the performances of McAdams and O’Brien. It is well-done from a creative perspective with no boundaries given the unexpected tracks the film journeys down.

The fact that these two colleagues stuck on an island already harbor resentment gave Raimi a door to explore jealousy in route to finding common ground. The film is enhanced by the fact that it takes place in a setting where there is no one to voice concerns. Send Help is a title that speaks for itself, because no one knows when assistance may or may not arrive. It could be days, weeks, or months. The question is how much pot stirring can be tolerated.

The island dangers carry sparks of intrigue where the anger and hatred between the boss and employee dazzle in Send Help. The island is eventually treated like the new normal. One character is equipped with the necessary skills to survive, and the other is not. The role of McAdams is the smart one on the island, and the role of O’Brien is dim-witted. Raimi knows how to successfully make the two interact with messy and clever misdirection. Send Help is astonishingly clever with fuming tones of joy. This is an island adventure with no limits and insanity that is off the charts. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Send Help.