Imagine a horror movie that doesn't shy away from an abundance of gooey substances—whether it’s blood, vomit, or other unidentifiable sludges. That’s quintessential Sam Raimi for you! Just ask Bruce Campbell, the star of the iconic Evil Dead, or Alison Lohman from Drag Me To Hell. Even in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, we witnessed Raimi's flair for the grotesque with a monstrous eye creature and Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, drenched in the remains of androids. As this masterful director makes his much-anticipated return to horror after 17 long years with Send Help, rest assured, he still knows how to deliver on the splatter front.
In Send Help, we see Dylan O’Brien and Rachel McAdams take center stage, portraying the dreadful boss Bradley Preston and the overworked employee Linda Liddle, who feels stuck in her job and overshadowed by her superior. After the duo finds themselves stranded on a deserted island, the dynamics shift dramatically as they fight for survival. It’s safe to say that the film takes a delightfully messy turn—Raimi himself recounted occasions where he would literally throw vomit at O’Brien and splash blood on McAdams. "Yes, I might have poked her with a stick once," he humorously admits. For the actors, being bombarded with movie-prop goo from the legendary filmmaker is almost like earning a badge of honor. "Getting puke in the face? Sure," O’Brien laughs, reflecting on one of the concoctions, which he humorously notes was made from mangoes that resembled berries.
What’s intriguing is that Raimi insists on being the sole maestro of the mayhem. "He won’t let anyone else do the gunk-throwing," McAdams confirms. This is no small task; it requires both skill and serious dedication. "The first time he threw a bucket of water at my face during a plane crash scene, I thought he was joking. But he was completely serious. He practices and rehearses for these moments!" So, just how much blood did McAdams endure? "A lot, a lot, a lot," she recalls, laughing about Raimi’s relentless pursuit of perfection. "He kept saying, ‘More! That’s not enough!’ At this point, we were thinking, ‘You’re being a bit greedy, don’t you think? Any rational person would agree that there’s already plenty of blood here.’ And yes, we definitely could use some help!
For a deeper dive into Send Help, including insights from Sam Raimi, Dylan O’Brien, and Rachel McAdams about the director's triumphant return to the horror genre, check out the full feature in Empire’s special Lord Of The Rings 25th anniversary reunion issue, hitting newsstands on Thursday, January 15. Don’t miss the chance to catch Send Help in UK cinemas starting February 6.
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