Shell Movie Review: A Promising Idea With A Hollow Execution
Hollywood loves a story about itself, especially one that pulls back the curtain on the darker side of fame. Add in a fantastic cast with Elisabeth Moss and Kate Hudson, and you have a recipe for a hit. The new thriller Shell, from director Max Minghella, certainly has all the right ingredients. It promises a chilling look at our obsession with youth and beauty, wrapped in a sleek, near-future setting.
The problem? It seems the movie is all surface and no substance. While the concept is brilliant, the final product feels like a missed opportunity that just can’t live up to its own hype.
An Intriguing Setup That Fizzles Out
The story follows Samantha Lake (Elisabeth Moss), an actress whose career is on the decline. In a world that values youth above all else, she feels invisible. So, she turns to Shell, a glamorous wellness company run by the charismatic Zoe Shannon (Kate Hudson). The company offers a revolutionary treatment to reclaim that youthful glow. But, of course, there’s a monstrous secret behind the perfect smiles and flawless skin.
Sounds great, right? A sci-fi thriller that critiques beauty standards is a fantastic idea. We’ve all seen the pressures society puts on people, especially women, to look a certain way. A movie that explores the horrifying lengths someone might go to is ripe for drama and suspense. Unfortunately, Shell doesn’t seem to know what to do with its own great idea.
Where It All Falls Apart
A movie like this lives or dies by its execution, and this is where Shell stumbles. It sets up compelling characters and situations, only to leave them feeling underdeveloped.
A Wasted Cast and a Pointless Transformation
You hire Elisabeth Moss to show a character’s internal struggle, and she’s one of the best in the business at it. The film starts by showing us just how overlooked her character, Samantha, is. But here’s the strange part: after she begins the secret treatments, she doesn’t actually look that different.
Instead of a dramatic “glow-up” that makes us understand her new confidence, the movie just has other people start treating her better. It’s a classic case of telling us something has changed instead of showing us. This small detail completely undermines the film’s message about appearance.
Meanwhile, Kate Hudson’s wellness guru should be a terrifying and seductive villain. Instead, she comes off as a slightly edgier version of herself, never quite reaching the level of menace needed to drive the story forward. Talented actors like Randall Park and Elizabeth Berkley also appear in roles so small they feel like they were left on the cutting room floor.
A Confusing Tone
Is Shell a serious thriller? A dark comedy? A body horror film? The movie can’t seem to decide. Director Max Minghella creates a visually slick world, but the tone is all over the place. The story takes itself very seriously, which makes the truly absurd and silly moments in the final act feel jarring rather than clever. It tries to be a smart satire like The Substance but ends up missing the humor and the horror needed to make it work.
Final Thoughts: Is Shell Worth a Watch?
At the end of the day, Shell feels like a shallow take on a deep subject. It has a killer premise and a stellar cast, but it fails to deliver on almost every front. The performances are good, but the characters are thin. The direction is stylish, but the story is a mess. It’s a film that’s ironically as superficial as the culture it’s trying to critique.
If you’re a huge fan of the cast, you might find something to enjoy. For everyone else, this seems like one to skip in theaters and maybe wait to stream on a slow night.
What do you think? Does the premise of Shell still intrigue you, or are you tired of movies that don’t live up to their potential? Let us know your thoughts