Dylan O'Brien: I Ride for Linda in Send Help

Actor Dylan O'Brien champions the character Linda from the film 'Send Help,' despite her violent actions. O'Brien, speaking in February 2026, expressed surprise at audience reactions labeling Linda a murderer, stating he sympathizes with her as a survivor of abuse. Linda's actions include killing Bradley's fiancée and a local guide to prolong Bradley's captivity, an act O'Brien suggests stems from her desperate need to escape a past life of disrespect.

The film 'Send Help' intentionally creates moral ambiguity, prompting viewers to question the characters' motivations and allegiances. O'Brien noted that the dynamic between Bradley and Linda is not a straightforward gendered workplace battle, but rather a universal exploration of human societal dynamics and survival instincts. The film's narrative encourages audiences to weigh forgiveness and the characters' descent into extreme behavior.

O'Brien found the scene where Bradley is drugged and paralyzed particularly engaging, describing it as a fun challenge to portray utter paralysis and psychological torture. He believes the film's strength lies in its ability to make audiences question who to root for, acknowledging that both Bradley and Linda made bad choices, but their complex backstories and struggles for survival add significant texture.