Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gross horror tale has gore, strong violence, heavy drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Appendage
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In APPENDAGE, Hannah (Hadley Robinson) works as a designer in a fashion house alongside best friend Esther (Kausar Mohammed). She's clearly under a lot of stress at work, where her boss (Desmin Borges) is mean, and at home, where her mother (Deborah Rennard) is emotionally cold and condescending. She has a loving boyfriend, Kaelin (Brandon Mychal Smith), but she's not handling the stress well. Things get worse when she starts to experience pain in her side that morphs into an alien being emerging out of her torso. The being talks down to her and seems to feed off her and other humans' weaknesses. Guided by new friend Claudia (Emily Hampshire), Hannah will find herself in a fight for survival.
Is It Any Good?
This film ends with a basic self-love message that's hard to argue with, but getting there is a bit painful. Appendage tries to add some lighter moments to balance out the horror, but these feel more forced than funny, more hokey than campy. Maybe this film will inspire a genre fan following with its goofily gross concept and the (intentional?) over-acting of its (purposefully?) clunky dialogues. Maybe. But in any case, someone please get Emily Hampshire, so wonderful in Schitt's Creek, a role more deserving of her talent.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the concept and depiction of the vanishing twin monster in Appendage. What did you think of the idea? How about the way the being was brought to life?
What do you think the final scene signifies? What does Hannah learn over the course of this film?
The film is quite gory and violent. Do you think it goes too far? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 2, 2023
- Cast : Hadley Robinson , Emily Hampshire , Brandon Mychal Smith
- Director : Anna Zlokovic
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Hulu
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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