Raimi's First R-Rated Film in 25 Years Brings Back Horror Brutality
The legendary director behind Evil Dead returns to uncompromising horror territory with his survival thriller starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien, complete with his trademark on-set antics.
The master of horror mayhem is back. Sam Raimi has officially broken his quarter-century streak of PG-13 filmmaking with his latest project, a survival thriller that promises to remind audiences why he became synonymous with unrelenting terror.
The Motion Picture Association slapped an R rating on 'Send Help' for "strong/bloody violence and language." This marks Raimi's first adult-rated feature since 2000's supernatural thriller 'The Gift,' which starred Cate Blanchett and Hilary Swank. Since then, the director ventured into blockbuster territory with the Spider-Man trilogy and family-friendly fare like 'Oz the Great and Powerful.'
Return to Brutal Filmmaking
Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien lead the cast of this island survival story, joined by Xavier Samuel, Dennis Haysbert, Chris Pang, Emma Raimi, and Edyll Ismail. The screenplay comes from horror veterans Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, the writing team behind 'Freddy vs. Jason' and the 2009 'Friday the 13th' reboot.
The plot centers on two coworkers stranded after a plane crash. They must navigate personal conflicts while fighting for survival on a deserted island. What starts as cooperation becomes a psychological battle of endurance and cunning.
Classic Raimi Torture Returns
True to form, Raimi subjected his stars to physical punishment during production. The director admitted to Empire Magazine that he personally handled the messy work. "Throwing vomit in Dylan's face. Throwing blood in Rachel's face, throwing water in her face, poking her with sticks. Okay, yeah, I might have poked her with a stick once," he confessed.
O'Brien took the abuse in stride, joking about the experience. "Puke in the face, yeah. It was mangoes that looked like berries, but I guess it was mango." McAdams confirmed her director's hands-on approach to creating chaos. "He will not allow anyone else to be the gunk-thrower."
Theatrical Release Details
20th Century Studios will release the film theatrically on January 30, with preview screenings beginning January 24 in select theaters. This represents a significant moment for horror fans who have waited decades for Raimi to return to his roots.
The director's commitment to practical effects and actor discomfort recalls his work on the Evil Dead franchise, where Bruce Campbell's Ash endured countless physical torments. McAdams discovered this dedication firsthand during water crash scenes. "I thought he was kidding the first time, when he threw a bucket of water in my face, when the plane goes into the water. Nope! He takes his job very seriously. He practices. He rehearses."