Sam Raimi Says Rachel McAdams Was ‘Underutilized’ in Marvel, Casts Her as a Killer Villain

Sam Raimi knew almost immediately that he wanted to work with Rachel McAdams again — but this time, he wanted to give her a role that would truly shock audiences.

After directing McAdams in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Raimi felt she hadn’t been pushed far enough as an actress. While she played the caring and grounded Dr. Christine Palmer in the Marvel film, Raimi believed there was much more she could do.

“I promised myself I would work with her again,” Raimi said in a recent interview with Total Film. “She’s such a brilliant actress. I saw how talented she was and felt she was actually underutilized.”

That promise led to Send Help, Raimi’s new survival thriller — and a complete tonal shift for McAdams.

In the film, McAdams plays Linda, who survives a plane crash alongside her controlling boss, Bradley, played by Dylan O’Brien. Stranded on a deserted island with no rescue in sight, the two are forced to rely on each other. What begins as a struggle to survive soon turns into a brutal psychological and physical battle, fueled by years of unresolved workplace resentment.

Raimi said McAdams was perfect for the role precisely because audiences don’t expect her to turn dark.

“She has such warmth,” he explained. “And the fact that she hasn’t really played a dark, terrible villain before sets the audience up to be surprised.”

That surprise is central to Send Help. According to Raimi, the film isn’t about figuring out who the villain is — it’s about what happens next. The story constantly shifts direction, keeping viewers uneasy as Linda transforms from a familiar, kind figure into someone dangerous.

“The movie turns left when you think it’s going to turn right,” Raimi said. “That was important — that this good person we know and love becomes this terrible villain.”

The gamble appears to be paying off. Send Help is currently playing in theaters and is on track to reach the No. 1 spot at the box office in its second weekend, even while competing with the massive distraction of Super Bowl XL festivities.

For Raimi, the film marks a return to tense, unpredictable storytelling — and for McAdams, it may be one of the boldest performances of her career yet.