‘Send Help’: Yes, Please! But How Much?

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What would you do if this was what you saw when YOU need Help? (CREDIT: 20th Century Studios/Screenshot)

Starring: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien, Edyll Ismail, Xavier Samuel, Chris Pang, Dennis Haysbert

Director: Sam Raimi

Running Time: 115 Minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: January 30, 2026 (Theaters)

Is it a sign of success for the new Sam Raimi-directed Send Help if none of the viewers feel the need to themselves say “Send help!” while watching? A few days ago, I would have hypothesized that that was indeed the case, but now – having actually seen this movie – I’m not so sure it’s that simple. Because as you might suspect at this point, I actually could use some help. Specifically, I could benefit from some assistance processing the tone. As it turned out, it was quite a bit nastier than I expected. (“Nasty” as in “mean spirited,” not as in “Ms. Jackson if you’re nasty” … although the latter is kinda true also.) I suppose the trailers did hint at this, and Raimi at his most unleashed is certainly not for the faint of heart. But it was still more than I could’ve predicted. Good movie, though!

Grade: One Wild Boar out of One Wild Rat

Doctor Movie Critic in the Review of Madness

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CREDIT: Marvel Entertaiment/Screenshot

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Xochitl Gomez, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Stuhlbarg

Director: Sam Raimi

Running Time: 126 Minutes

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: May 6, 2022 (Theaters)

So exactly how much multiverse and how much madness is there in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? Honestly, there are other movies out there that are more multiversal, or madder, or both more multiversal and madder! But that’s okay, because this movie features a scene in which two Doctor Stranges fight each other with musical notes. And also Bruce Campbell punches himself a bunch of times. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Grade: Medium Rare Sami Raimi Energy