In the upcoming movie Send Help, a toxic boss-employee relationship reaches its breaking point. When a workplace power dynamic is stripped of rules, HR, and hierarchy, what’s left is something far more dangerous than office politics. Directed by Sam Raimi, the film turns authority, resentment, and control into survival weapons, proving that some professional relationships can become lethal when power goes unchecked.
Here are five films where the boss-employee relationship turns dangerous.
1. Send Help (2026)
This survival thriller places a corporate superior and his employee in an extreme situation where titles mean nothing. As they struggle to stay alive, long-suppressed resentment, entitlement, and power imbalances rise to the surface. The film exposes how deeply workplace dynamics can shape behaviour, even when the office no longer exists. Directed by Sam Raimi, the film stars Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien in the lead roles and will push boundaries like never before.
2. The Assistant (2019)
Quiet and deeply unsettling, this film shows how dangerous workplace power can be, even without overt violence. Through subtle routines and silent compliance, it exposes how systems protect authority, and how employees are left vulnerable under them. Written and directed by Kitty Green, the film stars Julia Garner.
3. Horrible Bosses(2011)
What starts as workplace frustration spirals into dangerous territory. The film exaggerates toxic authority figures to absurd extremes, showing how manipulative, abusive bosses can push employees toward reckless and desperate choices. Beneath the comedy lies a sharp commentary on power abuse at work. Directed by Seth Gordon, the film stars Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, along with Jennifer Aniston, Colin Ferrel and Kevin Spacey as their horrible bosses.
4. Disclosure(1994)
Set within a high-stakes corporate environment, Disclosure explores how authority, ambition, and personal vendettas collide. As accusations and power plays escalate, the professional relationship between the boss and employee becomes a battleground with serious consequences. Directed by Berry Levinson, the film stars Michael Douglas and Demi Moore, also featuring. Daniel Sutherland, Caroline Goodall, and Dennis Millar in the lead roles.
5. Swimming With The Sharks(1994)
A brutal look at Hollywood’s abusive power structures, the film follows a young assistant trapped under a sadistic boss. Humiliation, control, and manipulation gradually turn into violence, making it one of the darkest portrayals of mentor-employee relationships on screen. Written and directed by George Huang, the film stars Kevin Spacey, Frank Whaley, and Michelle Forbes in the lead roles.
From survival thrillers to psychological dramas, these films reveal how easily professional authority can turn toxic. Send Help joins this list by stripping the workplace down to its rawest form, proving that when power goes unchecked, the danger doesn’t end at the office door.
The all-original darkly comedic psychological thriller from 20th Century Studios releases in theatres nationwide on January 30, 2026.