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Film reviews

Send Help Review

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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.

Film reviews

Pillion Review

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With quite a bit of buzz from the Cannes Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival, Pillion is a film where love and connection are hidden, but it also contains a deeper meaning below the surface. I was visiting London, United Kingdom in late December of 2025. I knew of the title Pillion and knew that it has a release date to be wide in February of 2026. However, after my many adventures on the tube trains, and seeing the ads all over the tunnels, I had the opportunity to see this during my travels. The term “pillion” refers to the passenger sitting behind a motorcyclist. Harry Melling is “the passenger” and Alexander Skarsgard is “the motorcyclist.” Pillion is a journey of two men trying to find what their hearts wants, but their expectations are the complete opposite—a power of love narrative combating to find what love truly is.

The film takes place in Bromley and other regions around London and the United Kingdom. Harry Melling plays Colin—he is introverted, shy, good-hearted, and hopes to meet someone that gives him the loving attention he longs for. His parents are very supporting of his sexuality. They are Peggy (Lesley Sharp) and Pete (Douglas Hodge). Peggy has some health issues, and she prays that her Colin finds a man that fulfills his happiness. That may come along for Colin, as one night he meets a man in a bar who rides a motorcycle. Alexander Skarsgard plays Ray—he is high strung, mellow, and starts to bring Colin in his life. Once Colin and Ray begin to spend time together though, Ray begins to show different behaviors outside of what Colin expects.

The film is one that keeps its audiences thinking. Especially because of how it is focused on a relationship between two men. The fact that Colin wants to love someone and feels Ray might love him back creates a mixed message.  Ray has Colin pick up groceries for him, do chores for him, and makes him sleep in the opposite bed—Colin may just be Ray’s submissive. Is that what Colin wants? He is blinded by being with Ray making him feel that he has a community and a purpose. 

The LGBT side of Pillion creates a portrait of timing. There may be some good times for Colin and Ray, but is Colin truly happy with Ray? Does Ray have feelings for Colin? When Peggy begins to see her son is taken advantage of, she starts to question his happiness. Pillion is a film where love requires more than just loving someone for who they are, it also creates a claritythat sees that common ground is important as well. For Colin, the physical side of feeling warmth is seen as he is the passenger riding on Ray’s motorcycle. Beyond that, any form of connection is how Ray is feeling. There is no clear context to why Ray acts like this, but also at the same time, it does not mean he is a bad person. The display of his sense of shame or guilt is written in a context that creates melancholy that craves release.

The film is written as a dramedy where the chemistry is foundbetween the lines. Melling and Skarsgard are two forces that tango with surreal emotions. In a tale where romance of the same gender struggles to see eye-to-eye, the guide to life does not lie. Pillion brings fuel to the fire with the emotions of Colin as he continuously wishes that Ray would treat him differently. Ray can, but does he want to? The film continues to build a landscape of questions throughout this unique dynamic that it creates among these two men. Is it love or is it just a servant-type relationship? Overall, though the tension steams on and off the motorcycle. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Pillion.

 

 

Film reviews

Mercy Review

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This is a suspense flick where technology and AI surround the premises throughout the entire hour and forty minutes. While the story remains on track, the predictability is high. This is Mercy directed by Timur Bekmambetov. In this movie, laws and lies are put to the technological test. Probability, stats, and tracking are the keys to saving one’s life, while at the same time, these same tools are being employed to clear one’s name. 

The film’s main character is Chris Raven (Chriss Pratt). He wakes up locked into a chair, and the person he is speaking to is an electronic judge, Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson). Chris is accused of murdering his wife. The system is called “Mercy.” This means that he is given ninety minutes to prove his innocence. Because Chris is locked in a chair, he must deal with the complications of contacting those to help him find the missing pieces to prove his innocence while continually handling the frustration and stressors caused by Judge Maddox. Since she is an AI character, she resets a lot. When time is of the essence, technological glitches only add to the risk that Chris will look guilty of this crime.

The film highlights innovation through technological innovations which aid in connecting the dots and performing tracking simulations. The visuals are a rollercoaster of amusing graphics, especially when Chris contacts his assistant Jacqueline (Kali Reis). She is the officer who goes through the streets to find the missing pieces for Chris. However, the probability of proving Chris innocent remains low. The challenge is heightened because those who plotted against him knew the facts and were able to tamper with the evidence which causes him to look guilty. The retracing of steps utilizing technology makes Mercy mesmerizing.

Time is of the essence, yet the film feels drags at times. There is a timer that audiences see repeatedly next to the performance of Ferguson. This gives audiences an idea of how long they will either get to enjoy or not enjoy this thriller. Some will and others won’t. I fell into the neutral category, partly because I’m a firm believer in fairness. Putting the facts and logistics together throughout the film made Mercy have some compelling scenes. The dynamic between the characters played by Pratt and Reiswas strong. Both are experienced playing roles that do not take no for answer.