Common Sense Media Review
By Christie Cronan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark comedy about chaotic dinner party; sex, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Storm
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
When a group of friends are unexpectedly snowed in during Filip's (Gustaf Skarsgård) 45th birthday party at his lavish estate in THE STORM, the pretentious dinner party spirals out of control and into chaos. Buried secrets, resentments, and judgments emerge as the group confronts each other.
Is It Any Good?
This film turns a dinner party into a biting examination of human nature. It dismantles pretensions, exposes the fragility of appearances, and challenges perceptions of truth. Fueled by frenetic pacing and a largely diverse Swedish ensemble cast, the film builds tension toward a psychological breaking point that feels both inevitable and precisely timed.
Yet for all its sharp insights, the film occasionally pushes its exaggerated antics too far, missing the comedic mark and piling on psychological strain until the audience feels as overstimulated as its large cast of unraveling characters. But in a situation where no one seems utterly capable of reading the room, The Storm serves up an adult dinner party worth devouring…after the kids go to bed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why the filmmakers chose a dark comedy to explore serious and uncomfortable topics. What is the film trying to tell the audience about conflict and human nature? How does the film use humor to influence our feelings about characters and their choices?
How do the filmmakers use the dinner table setting to create tension? Would the film have changed if people were being honest and empathetic from the beginning? How does the snowstorm contribute to the story? What does the storm symbolize?
Do the characters seem to be happy with who they are, or are they trying to impress one another? Why might someone want to pretend to be more successful, happier, or more confident than they really are?
How can you tell the difference between a friendship that encourages you to grow and a friendship that pressures you to change who you are?
Why do you think people tend to judge others? What does it mean to live authentically, without sharing every private detail about your life?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 15, 2026
- Cast : Gustaf Skarsgard , Filip Berg , Sara Shirpey
- Director : Josephine Bornebusch
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Family Stories , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication , Integrity , Perseverance
- Run time : 101 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 21, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate