Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Influencer-satire gorefest is full of blood, swearing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Skillhouse
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Ten social media influencers are abducted and held captive in SKILLHOUSE, where they become unwilling contestants in a "be liked or be killed" livestream game. As they're pushed closer and closer to the brink, they're also pushed to ask themselves: What are they willing to do for clicks and likes?
Is It Any Good?
This gorefest answers one question definitively: You can't intentionally make a film that's "so bad it's good"—it just ends up being bad. With terrible acting, poor production values, and what feels like a glorified commercial for a luxury tank SUV (yes, that's a thing), Skillhouse checks all the boxes for a social media-infused slasher satire. But director Stolberg makes a fatal misstep: The makeup and effects are actually too realistic. It's hard to enjoy the campy chaos when the gore is so graphic that it could well have viewers reaching for barf bags. The film feels designed to be watched by rowdy teens and young adults in group settings—screaming at the over-the-top kills and howling at the snarky dialogue—but the disturbingly vivid visuals are hard to unsee and even harder to forget.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Skillhouse's violence. What's the impact of seeing extreme gore like the kind featured here? Is it necessary to make the movie's point?
What is a satire? What do you think the film is trying to say about viewers' role in both social media and horror movies?
What's the potential impact of social media on users? What about on content creators? What can we do to engage in and enjoy social media without negative consequences?
Do you think casting real TikTok influencers in the roles of social media influencers works for or against the film's final product?
Many horror movies depict women in revealing or "sexy" clothing as they're being tortured or shown in peril. Why is creating a connection between sex and violence problematic?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 11, 2025
- Cast : Bryce Hall , Hannah Stocking , Neal McDonough
- Director : Josh Stolberg
- Studio : Fathom Events
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 99 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : August 23, 2025
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