Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark, gory body horror satirizes vanity in showbiz.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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Where to Watch
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Shell
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In SHELL, actor Samantha Lake (Elisabeth Moss) was once somewhat famous for being the star of a "guilty pleasure" TV show about a talking heart, but lately she's been having difficulty finding more work. Humiliatingly, she even runs into a much younger woman, Chloe Benson (Kaia Gerber)—whom Sam used to babysit—at an audition. Sam is encouraged to use the services of Shell, a company that promises everlasting youth and vitality. Somewhat unsure, she still goes ahead with the first treatment, and is then delighted to receive an invitation to a Christmas party at the home of Shell's glamorous CEO, Zoe Shannon (Kate Hudson). The two become fast friends, and Sam begins to see her luck turn around. But when Chloe seems to have disappeared, Sam starts to question what's really going on at Shell.
Is It Any Good?
This imperfect but passable "body horror" movie will draw unfavorable comparisons to The Substance, but it has enough good ideas and strong moments to make it worth a look. Actor-director Max Minghella (Teen Spirit) and writer Jack Stanley (Lou) try to combine sci-fi, horror, comedy, and satire elements in Shell; they don't always succeed, but when they do, it's with a wicked smile and a tingle. It helps that Moss is just right for the role of Sam and gives it her all, and Hudson sinks her teeth into the strutting, confident, slightly off-putting Zoe.
The movie's opening scene—a frou-frou toy dog trotting through a mansion while covered in blood—and the closing reveal are cheerfully over the top and weirdly likable. Meanwhile, Eldad Guetta's creepy electronic music score helps set the mood. In truth, Shell doesn't really go far enough or deep enough; like a Shell customer, it feels mostly surface-y. But even though it falls short of the mark compared to The Substance, there's always room for more movies to talk about bodies, aging, and how they relate to our identity and confidence.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Shell's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
What does the movie have to say about body image, especially when it comes to women? What role do social pressures play in the conversation?
What does "body horror" mean? How is it different from other types of horror? Is it scary to you? Why, or why not?
What is the friendship between Sam and Zoe like? Are they on equal footing? Is there trust and communication?
What does the movie suggest about the pressures faced by women in entertainment (or in other public-facing industries) as they age?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 3, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : October 3, 2025
- Cast : Elisabeth Moss , Kate Hudson , Kaia Gerber
- Director : Max Minghella
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Chinese Movie Director(s) , Multiracial Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Republic Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Dystopia , Fantasy ( Monsters ) , Friendship
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violent content, gore, sexual content, graphic nudity and language
- Last updated : October 15, 2025
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