Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gory horror film has violence, scares, teen drinking.
Parents Need to Know
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The Privilege
What's the Story?
As a child, Finn (Max Schimmelpfennig) not only witnesses but also is a participant in his older sister's death at the start of THE PRIVILEGE. The event still haunts him to this day and now, as a high schooler, he's still in treatment for visions and anxiety. But Finn is also aware something is off in his home, and his twin sister Sophie (Milena Tscharntke) is acting stranger and stranger. When her boyfriend dies under mysterious circumstances and she begins to retreat further from him, he and two female friends, Lena (Lea van Acken) and Samira (Tijan Marei), start investigating. The reality they uncover is much more sinister and harder to believe than they ever imagined.
Is It Any Good?
This film pulls out all the stops to appeal to its target audience: jump scares, demonic creatures, séances, graphically sinister deaths, sex, drugs, and intergenerational friction. Despite obvious manipulation, and an oddball central plot involving a fungus that grows on corpses and inside victims, The Privilege could prove a hit. The hodgepodge of genre elements makes it successful in setting viewers on edge, partly because you just don't know what will come next. Fans could be in luck: The ending leaves the door open for a sequel.
Not only do the teens here save the day, they also learn that they can only rely on themselves and each other. It's a reminder not to trust anyone over 30, especially your parents -- or anyone with glowing eyes. Main character Finn's spherical blue eyes express the wide-eyed fear and confusion of the inexplicably horrific events he's experienced. He admits, "I'm always scared." Anyone who isn't is probably on the dark side already. The film's modern settings under constant surveillance (seen in grainy camera footage) are eerie in their own, cold way. Likewise is the solitary dam-crossing highway that seems to be the only road in and out of their wealthy neighborhood. The film's title incorporates the characters' lived reality, a comment that younger generations are "privileged," and a promise that demonic possession is only for the select few.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the ideas seen in The Privilege of being possessed or even of speaking to spirits beyond the world we see. Do you believe these things are possible? Why, or why not?
How does the film represent high school and teen life? Is it a realistic portrayal, in your opinion? Why, or why not?
How does the film's setting contribute to an overall eerie feeling?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 11, 2022
- Cast : Max Schimmelpfennig , Lea van Acken , Tijan Marei
- Directors : Felix Fuchssteiner , Katharina Schöde
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Run time : 107 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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