Sam Raimi has spent much of the 21st century playing with some of the biggest I.P. that Hollywood has to offer. His trilogy of “Spider-Man” films helped establish the superhero movie as we know it (and are still considered some of the best efforts that the genre has ever seen), “Oz the Great and Powerful” saw him put his own stamp on arguably the most iconic movie in Hollywood history, and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” saw him return to the Marvel sandbox.
But to many horror fans, his sole original directorial outing of the 2000s remains his best work of the century: “Drag Me to Hell.” Anyone who prefers their Raimi films bloody, darkly funny, and reminiscent of his ’80s and ’90s output has likely been longing for another film in that vein for years — and now they might be getting their wish with “Send Help.”
Raimi’s new film, which hits theaters in January and released its first trailer today, is a psychological thriller set on a deserted island in which two co-workers (Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien) are stranded together after a plane crash. They’ll be forced to work through their past grievances if they want any chance of surviving.
“I’ve always loved stories where interesting, dynamic characters are pushed to extremes,” Raimi said in a press release. “In our story, the power shifts create an escalating situation that’s brimming with unexpected turns and suspense.”
“Send Help” is written by Damian Shannon & Mark Swift, with frequent Raimi collaborator Danny Elfman composing the original score. Raimi produces alongside Zainab Azizi and JJ Hook.
While a new film directed by Raimi has become a depressingly rare occasion, the filmmaker maintains a packed slate of producing projects. In addition to recent films like “Locked” and “Don’t Move,” he continues to oversee a steady flow of new “Evil Dead” movies (next up: “Evil Dead Burn” in 2026) and has teased a desire to return to the “Spider-Man” franchise with Tobey Maguire.
A 20th Century Studios release, “Send Help” opens in theaters on Friday, January 30. Watch the trailer below.