some thoughts after watching Send Help starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien:
subverts gender power dynamics in a way that seems to intentionally make men uncomfortable- the ‘fixing’ scene?? Jaw dropped.
Asks the question of “can a character be the protagonist AND the antagonist?” (answer: if the audience is watching for the plot/rooting for Linda, she is the protagonist. If they switch sides and root for Bradley, she becomes the antagonist. Her role depends on the neutrality of the fourth wall.)
Purposely withholds scenes from the audience to make us a reflection (a product?) of Linda’s denial/gaslighting. We are not just observers but active participants in the psychological thriller
Bradley’s arc was typical of stranded-on-an-island characters: learning skills to survive. Linda’s arc was the opposite because she came to terms with killing (innocents). Bradley wanted to leave, Linda wanted to stay. Both would do anything to achieve their own goal. Their parallels are natural enemies, which both foreshadows and precipitates the final confrontation.
The progression of Bradley, from being 1) the obvious villain (obnoxious useless privileged bully) to 2) the dude who Does Things in Reaction to his Situation to 3) oh shoot, the victim?
The competence of Linda was soo satisfying, coming from someone who watched Scream 7 recently
Bury your nepo babies
Everything comes back to golf
When was the last time a woman did something truly twisted and still got to live happily ever after? [good for her] Memorable moments:
Linda, covered in rat’s blood, smiling at a paralyzed, petrified man: “My kindness does not make me weak”
Bradley, after Linda claims Zuri’s death was an accident, “just like your husband’s death was an accident?”
