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REVIEW: Send Help

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Mark Swift and Damian Shannon have one of the more curious filmographies in modern genre filmmaking. Going from Freddy vs. Jason to Shark Tale, then circling back years later to write the Friday the 13th remake, followed by Baywatch, and now—nearly a decade after that—returning with this project, their career path feels anything but linear. If there’s a common thread, it’s a clear fondness for horror (particularly slashers) and, oddly enough, the sea. Which is ironic, considering Jason Voorhees’ famously complicated relationship with water. Still, after more than two decades, Swift and Shannon finally merge those two interests into a survival thriller that feels like a long time coming. There were even longstanding rumors about their desire to unite Freddy, Jason, and Ash in a single crossover, so having this film directed by Sam Raimi feels like a strange but fitting twist of fate.

While the 2009 Friday the 13th has its defenders—and Freddy vs. Jason remains a cult favorite—it’s fair to say Send Help is the duo’s strongest script to date. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, sticking closely to familiar conventions, but there’s enough substance here to keep things engaging. The story offers a few solid twists and turns that make for a fun watch, even if certain beats grow repetitive. Some of the red herrings are admittedly easy to spot, but there’s still a certain satisfaction in seeing those predictions pay off.

Of course, none of that would matter without a director capable of elevating the material, and thankfully Sam Raimi is more than up to the task. While the film doesn’t unleash Raimi at full throttle—and fans hoping for wall-to-wall Raimi-isms may find themselves wanting more—there’s still plenty to enjoy. Slapstick-inflected jump scares, strange camera angles, uncomfortable close-ups, crash zooms, eye-gouging, grotesque physical comedy, and an especially gnarly animal encounter all bear his unmistakable touch. Raimi understands how to wring suspense and thrills from a familiar setup, injecting just enough personality to turn a standard survival thriller into something genuinely entertaining.

The performances are another key factor, and both leads rise to the occasion. Dylan plays the misogynistic new boss with just the right balance of arrogance and vulnerability. He’s deeply unlikable, but not irredeemable, which becomes crucial once the power dynamics shift and he finds himself in the role of victim. The film makes a brief attempt to humanize him, and while it only partially succeeds, it’s enough to complicate the audience’s response.

Then there’s Rachel McAdams, who delivers what may very well be one of the best performances of her career. She doesn’t just play Linda—she becomes her. When the character is required to be socially awkward, deeply insecure, and constantly fumbling, McAdams commits fully, going far beyond surface-level “ugly” makeup. The transformation is entirely performance-driven. Over the course of the film, your feelings toward her shift repeatedly: sympathy gives way to admiration, then eventually to unease and outright fear as she becomes increasingly unhinged. Somewhere around the second act, the comparison clicked—this is essentially Annie Wilkes stranded on an island.

Danny Elfman’s score adds another layer, oscillating between eerie choral elements and bombastic flourishes that mirror Linda’s deteriorating psyche. The music doesn’t just underscore the film’s thriller elements; it actively warns the audience, positioning Linda herself as the looming horror. Bill Pope’s cinematography does solid work capturing the island’s natural beauty, particularly during the forest chases, though it’s far from his most visually ambitious effort. The CGI is uneven—occasionally distracting—but in certain moments, its roughness almost complements Raimi’s heightened, pulpy sensibility.

In the end, this is a film that exceeded my tempered expectations. It may not deliver the full Raimi experience fans might crave, but a sturdy script, sharp direction, and a truly standout lead performance make it a thoroughly enjoyable ride. For a project I approached with hesitation, it ultimately proved to be a very good time.

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Universal Sets New Mummy Film for May 2028 With Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz

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Universal is returning to familiar territory.

Oscar winners Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are set to reprise their roles in the studio’s The Mummy franchise, with a new installment dated for May 19, 2028. The studio had previously reserved the slot for an untitled event film, and there are currently no other wide releases scheduled for that weekend.

As previously reported, Fraser and Weisz had been in negotiations to star in the project, which will be directed by Radio Silence’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett from a screenplay by David Coggeshall (The Family Plan, Orphan: First Kill). Plot details are being kept under wraps.

Weisz starred opposite Fraser in 1999’s The Mummy and 2001’s The Mummy Returns, while Fraser led those two films as well as 2008’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. The original trilogy became a defining action-adventure franchise of the late ’90s and early 2000s, blending supernatural spectacle with swashbuckling humor.

The new film brings Radio Silence back into business with Universal following the duo’s 2024 vampire thriller Abigail. The project signals another attempt by the studio to reinvigorate the Mummy property after the 2017 Tom Cruise-led reboot failed to launch a broader “Dark Universe” franchise.

Sean Daniel, a longtime steward of The Mummy series — which has grossed $1.8 billion worldwide — returns to produce. Daniel previously produced the first three films as well as the 2017 reboot. Also producing are William Sherak, James Vanderbilt and Paul Neinstein through Project X Entertainment. Fraser, along with Hivemind’s Jason F. Brown and Denis Stewart, will serve as executive producers.

With Fraser and Weisz back in the fold, Universal appears to be leaning into nostalgia for the franchise’s next chapter as it stakes out a prime early summer release corridor.

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Stephen King’s The Mist Gets New Feature Adaptation From Mike Flanagan

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Warner Bros. is bringing Mike Flanagan and Stephen King back together.

The studio has set a new feature adaptation of The Mist, based on King’s 1980 novella, with Flanagan attached to write and direct. The project marks the latest collaboration between the filmmaker and the prolific author, following Flanagan’s previous King adaptations including Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep.

Flanagan will produce through his Red Room banner alongside Tyler Thompson, as well as Spyglass’ Gary Barber and Chris Stone. Alexandra Magistro will executive produce for Red Room.

Originally published in King’s short story collection Skeleton Crew, The Mist centers on a small Maine town engulfed by a dense, otherworldly fog that conceals deadly creatures. As the threat escalates, a group of residents take refuge inside a local grocery store. Cut off from the outside world, tensions rise and social order begins to fracture. In classic King fashion, the true horror becomes twofold: the monstrous entities lurking beyond the mist and the unraveling of human behavior within, as fear fuels mob mentality and emboldens dangerous extremists.

The story has been adapted before, most notably as Frank Darabont’s 2007 feature film, which became known for its bleak ending, and later as a 2017 television series.

Flanagan, who has built a reputation for character-driven horror with projects such as The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, continues to be one of King’s most consistent big- and small-screen interpreters. The new Mist marks another high-profile King title returning to the marketplace as studios mine the author’s expansive catalog for fresh adaptations.

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Quentin Tarantino Joins Simon Pegg and Sofia Boutella in Drama Only What We Carry

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Simon Pegg and Sofia Boutella are stepping into dramatic territory in Only What We Carry, a Normandy-set feature that also counts Quentin Tarantino, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Liam Hellmann and singer-songwriter Lizzy McAlpine among its cast, marking McAlpine’s feature film debut.

The first images from the film have been unveiled as International Film Trust comes on board to handle world sales, which will launch this week at the European Film Market. The drama is currently in post-production.

Set on the windswept coast of Deauville, Only What We Carry centers on Julian Johns (Pegg), a once-celebrated artistic director of the Moulin Rouge who now lives in near isolation. His carefully guarded solitude is disrupted when Charlotte Levant (Boutella), a former dancer from his past, tracks him down after reading a newspaper article that reveals his whereabouts. Her arrival forces both characters to confront unresolved grief, buried truths and the emotional toll of the lives they have left behind.

Tarantino appears as Julian’s publisher, who resides at the château where Julian is writing his memoir, while Gainsbourg plays Charlotte’s fiercely protective sister. The role marks Tarantino’s most substantial on-screen appearance since Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn in 1996. Pegg and Boutella previously appeared together in Star Trek Beyond.

The film is written and directed by Jamie Adams, whose work is known for its improvisation-driven style. The approach on Only What We Carry is said to continue that tradition, drawing inspiration from filmmakers such as Eric Rohmer and Hong Sang Soo, with performances shaped organically rather than driven by a conventional script.

Producers on the project include Charles Benoin, Hellmann and Jouri Smit. Executive producers are Alan Ganansia, Richard Althoff, Laura Auclair, Theodoros Ornithopoulos, Jihane Salim, Frédérique Mathias, Alain Bérard, Audrey Boccadifuocco and Pegg.

“Thanks to Charles Benoin, I joined this adventure the way you join a family,” said Auclair. “It was a real honor of contributing as an executive producer to make this project possible, and a privilege to witness this five-star cast evolve, create and improvise under our eyes.”

Ganansia echoed that sentiment, noting that the unconventional process initially felt uncertain. “At first the process felt abstract — improvisation, no traditional script, a lot of unknowns,” he said. “But once I was on set, it all clicked. There was a rare, natural energy, nothing forced or over-engineered. What could have been chaotic became incredibly focused. Watching the film reveal itself in real time was honestly magical, and it confirmed we were part of something truly special.”

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