What do Sam Raimi's 'Send Help' and Wes Craven's 'Red Eye' have in common?

Both films star Rachel McAdams, explore fears related to air travel, and feature extreme power dynamics within inter-gender relationships.

How does 'Red Eye' differ from 'Send Help' in its depiction of fear?

'Red Eye' focuses on psychological terror and helplessness during a hostage situation on a flight, while 'Send Help' offers a more visceral and gory depiction of a private plane crash.

What is the central theme in the relationship dynamics of these films?

Both movies explore extreme power dynamics between their protagonists and antagonists, with 'Send Help' uniquely inverting this dynamic after a plane crash.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Rachel McAdams: From Plane Terror to Island Survival

Rachel McAdams: From Plane Terror to Island Survival

31 Jan

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Summary

Send Help and Red Eye offer parallel themes with distinct horror approaches.
Both films feature Rachel McAdams experiencing mile-high terror.
Character dynamics shift from captivity to inverted power on an island.

Rachel McAdams: From Plane Terror to Island Survival

Sam Raimi's latest horror film, 'Send Help,' offers a thrilling and gory experience, making it a perfect cinematic companion to Wes Craven's 2004 thriller, 'Red Eye.' Both films star Rachel McAdams and share thematic connections, notably exploring fear related to air travel, though they approach it from different angles. 'Red Eye' presents a subtle horror where McAdams' character is taken hostage on a flight, highlighting helplessness amidst others. In contrast, 'Send Help' embraces a more direct exploitation of aerophobia with a private plane crash scenario filled with visceral terror and gore.

Beyond the shared terror of flying, both movies intricately explore extreme power dynamics within inter-gender relationships. 'Red Eye' depicts a calculated seduction leading to domination, with McAdams' protagonist subtly working against Cillian Murphy's character. 'Send Help' initially mirrors this with workplace power struggles before a plane crash inverts the dynamic. McAdams' character, a victim of past trauma, seizes an opportunity to subvert pain when stranded with her antagonist, leading to a delightfully horrifying reversal of control on a deserted island.