Rachel McAdams is a powerful force in Sam Raimi’s “Send Help.” (photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios)

“Mean Girls” already proved Rachel McAdams can play the villain, but nowhere in her catalog prepares us for “Send Help,” a survival-horror film with a dash of “eat the rich” sprinkled on top. This is what some of us need to heal, or at least enjoy some catharsis.

The premise might feel familiar. Linda (McAdams) is easy to ignore around the office. Everyone else concentrates on likability, while she gets the most done. Her old boss knew that, but his son Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) sees no value in her contributions.

He gives her a chance to prove herself by tagging along on a project that results in the pair stranded on an island. Nepo Brad has no survival skills, while Linda thrives, finally putting all her theoretical knowledge about travel and roughing it into practice. The shift in power just might lead to an explosive confrontation.

The plot line might feel a little similar to 2022’s “Triangle of Sadness,” but in director Sam Raimi’s hands, this is an over-the-top horror experience. The horror auteur behind the “Evil Dead” trilogy and “Drag Me to Hell” returns to the genre he helped build. And we’re all better for it.

Perhaps the only criticism is also one of the most comical moments in the film. As the trailer promises, Linda encounters a wild boar. This CGI monstrosity is glaringly obvious, especially for a film with a $40 million budget, but we can forgive that for how it concludes. Prepare to laugh and then wince.

That’s the Raimi way: excessive blood, slime and other fluids spewed all over his leading actors. Think the blood wall in “Evil Dead 2” or the cadaver moment from “Drag.” Laughably grotesque, the way it should have always been.

It’s been a minute since we got a proper horror outing from Raimi. A spooky episode here or there, the slightly jolting monstrous visuals from the second “Doctor Strange,” but this is a true return home. It’s long overdue. His blockbuster projects did gift us two incredible “Spider-Man” films, but others, like an insanely boring “Oz” origin story, only made us miss madman Sam that much. Welcome home.

McAdams is delightfully unhinged as Linda. Forget Oscar bait. This is the kind of all-in acting that can heal us. She presents us with an undervalued, weak employee whose social quirks condemn any future advancement. She’s just not that cool. That is until the tides turn.

Choosing McAdams to bring such a character to life is historically comical based on her past roles and entirely welcome here. She makes the slow drift in the madness look fun, inviting us to root for someone perhaps we should condemn. But then again, eat the rich.

Enter Dylan O’Brien as the rich jerk. He isn’t quite a household name for most, but that’ll change soon enough. From MTV’s “Teen Wolf” to work with Taylor Swift to 2025’s “Twinless,” he’s built a modest body of work as a likable, charming guy.

Not here. O’Brien portrays a nepo baby in dire need of some comeuppance. Behind each condescending comment or thin compliment is a selfish goal. Again, this is new territory, so thank Raimi for casting his leads against type, forcing them to stretch their acting chops.

The outcome is superb thanks to wonderful performances, fantastic writing by Mark Swift and Damian Shannon and Danny Elfman’s tone-perfect score. “Send Help” is the first hit of the year, proof that horror films might save theaters and remain the best sandbox for San Raimi’s incomparable filmmaking aesthetic.

Linda (Rachel McAdams) and Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) must find a way to survive in “Send Help.” (photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios)