So I am going to admit this first before I get into it: I did not plan to watch this movie. I had seen the trailer, and I do not mind a Sam Raimi movie, but I can do without and wait, you know? Kind of like an M. Night movie. I am definitely not saying Sam is hit and miss like most will say (or argue) M. Night is, but I feel like I have to be in a Sam Raimi mood for his dark and quirky humour. Even though I was not aiming to watch this and I was not really geared up for this movie, I had a very good time with it because Sam brought that Drag Me to Hell energy to this, and it is some truly twisted fun. I’ll explain.
Linda (Amy Adams) has been working for the company for several years, CEO has passed away, and his son has stepped in to run the company. Repulsed by her but willing to give her a chance, he invites her on a trip to finalise a merger, but during the trip, their plane crashes en route and the pair are stranded on an island. Whilst on the island, they fight for survival.
When I watched Marvel’s Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, there were elements in that movie that were horror-esque and I had mentioned this in my review. Sam loves squirting blood and using grotesque imagery that makes you squirm or cover your eyes but still peek through your fingers while laughing. Sam Raimi is like Tim Burton, only with added flourishes of comedy and horror. His films may not be for everybody, but they do have a uniqueness to them.
In typical Sam Raimi fashion, there were a few jump scares, but the puppetry and imagery have that cartoonish quality—borderline comic-book style but also horrific. A tiny example (and slight spoiler): there is a jump-scare moment and immediately after, a look to the camera. Absolutely cartoony, but if you know how Sam Raimi directs, it is bound to give you a laugh. Needless to say, the cinematography, imagery, and setting are excellent. At the beginning, there were some nonsensical close-ups, but accompanied by the music, everything simply gels together well.
The acting: I recognise the man from something, but I cannot quite pinpoint where just yet. Amy Adams, however, is astounding in this. I have seen her in other roles, but I felt she truly brought it here with a varied performance. The quiet moments, the crazy moments, the anger, and the tears—she brought it all to the screen and, for me, stood out and carried the entire movie on her back. The guy is somewhat one-dimensional: funny in moments, but his character is not necessarily someone you are supposed to like. Dylan O'Brien of Maze Runner fame is who he is.
All in all, this movie is great to watch by yourself or with your significant other. I can only assume that during the movie you may need to re-evaluate yourself or your place in the relationship, because I definitely wondered who I would be in a “stranded on a desert island” scenario. Enjoy.
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