Send Help Turns Survival Into Corporate Reckoning

★ ★ ★

Send Help is like a mashup of Office Space, Cast Away and Misery. It’s an exploration of the reversal of roles. What happens when a woman is unfairly passed up for a promised promotion, the jackass son takes over the company after his father’s death, and the two end up stranded on a deserted island—the only survivors of a private jet crash? The answer is a surprisingly fun little thrill ride that makes you think she was raised by The Swiss Family Robinson.

Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) is a strategic savant at the Preston company where she works in strategy and planning. She’s unkempt and socially awkward and tries way too hard to socialize with coworkers. It’s uncomfortable to watch. Still, there’s something endearing about her, and we want her to get the promotion to vice president we know she’s not going to get.

Rachel McAdams as Linda Liddle
© 2026 20th Century Studios

She celebrates the promise of promotion at home with her cat, a tuna fish sandwich, a couple of glasses of wine and an episode of Survivor. Her dedication to strategy and planning is only matched by her fascination with survival techniques. It’s made obvious when the camera pans around her apartment and shows us that all the books on her shelf are about the subject.

Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien) is the aforementioned jackass who quickly turns the corporate culture into the equivalent of the high school cool-kids’ lunch table. Against his advisor Franklin’s (Dennis Haysbert) advice, he promotes his best friend Donovan (Xavier Samuel) instead. When Linda confronts Bradley, he admires her guts to fight for it with the old “I didn’t think ya had it in ya” line. He invites her on a corporate trip to land a large client to prove him wrong.

Linda Liddle is in charge
© 2026 20th Century Studios

On the flight, Linda is working on a report for their appointment. She’s found a way to ensure they earn the business. Meanwhile, Donovan is showing Bradley and his entourage Linda’s audition tape to Survivor. They make fun of her and she deletes her report. Just before the plane starts to tear itself apart and crash land into the ocean. No one but Linda and Bradley is spared a horrific, violent death.

Linda washes ashore first, walks along the beach and finds Bradley washed ashore. She drags him further offshore, tends to his wounded leg and begins to build a shelter for him. She makes quick use of her survival study. She has no trouble surviving.

Dylan O’Brien as Bradley Preston
© 2026 20th Century Studios

It’s clear she and Bradley are going to be trapped on the island for some time as an abusive power struggle and cycle of distrust ensue. The script does a good job of keeping us guessing. Might they look past this and find a way to love each other once they get their spite out of their system? This isn’t that kind of movie, though. Is it?

At times, McAdams seems to be channeling Kathy Bates’ Annie Wilkes in Misery. Slightly unhinged, methodical and completely in control of her element. O’Brien’s Donovan, despite valiant attempts to win the power struggle, is rarely a match for Linda even when he applies the skills he learns from her.

“We’re not at the office anymore, Bradley”
© 2026 20th Century Studios

Where the film falters is in its identity. At times, it doesn’t seem to know if it’s a dark comedy, a thriller or a mixture of both. This puts the film on shaky ground at times, like trying to mix oil and water. But when it gels, it really works and is a fun little thrill ride.

I suppose it reminds us to consider how we treat the Linda Littles of the world. They might appear meek and socially awkward. They might appear insignificant. But get them on their deserted island, in the element where they’re most comfortable, and they’re a force to be reckoned with. And they’ll remember every mean little thing you say or do. Keep that in mind the next time you’re on a corporate jet flying through a storm over an ocean. You’ll want to make sure Linda’s your friend.