Shell Indulges in a Campy Sci-Fi Body Horror (2025) | Film Review

What would you be willing to do in order to preserve your own youthful beauty and live longer? How much are you willing to sacrifice?

Shell is an introspective exploration into the human and societal expectations on beauty, the discomfort in trying to fit in, and building self-confidence. These deep topics are engrained in the script and performances, but Shell goes beyond by presenting a futuristic version of classic 70s monster movies.

Samantha Lake (Elisabeth Moss) is a middle-aged actress whose main TV role is a “love it or hate it” cheesy drama. She used to have some notoriety and did not even need to audition, but now she is just one fish amongst the sea. Following the disappointment of not getting a role because the crew went with someone younger, Samantha is presented with a recommendation: feel and look younger by trying Shell’s services.

Zoe Shannon (Kate Hudson) has launched Shell into an incredibly successful business venture that the entertainment industry is quick to cling onto. Turns out, Zoe is big fan of Samantha’s most notable role and extends a personal invitation to Samantha for her private party. Glamour, wealth, and beauty is radiant in every character Zoe surrounds herself with – except her new project, Samantha. Yet, all is not what it seems with Zoe and her company, Shell. When a young woman, Chloe (Kaia Gerber), that Samantha used to babysit goes missing – and her own health seems to be declining – she risks everything to find Chloe and hold Shell responsible.

Elisabeth Moss and Kate Hudson are perfectly cast for their roles. Moss gives us the dichotomy of a low-confidence, messy, and unglamorous woman who morphs into the image that Hudson’s elite and manipulative CEO desires. The self-confidence, self-adoration, and sex appeal of Zoe is palpable in every scene that Hudson takes by storm. The two engage in a cat-and-mouse friendship and play off of each other’s variant personalities seamlessly.

While there are many different topics at play in Shell, some quite reminiscent of the Oscar-nominated Demi Moore film The Substance, director Max Minghella’s film takes a more light-hearted approach to the physical and mental horrors that lie beneath. Audiences will likely find the futuristic concepts humorous and the movie overall cheesy, which may make it more endearing and fun to watch with friends. Some subtle and other not-so-subtle foreshadowing allow for an interesting climax on what is actually going on behind the scenes of this massive corporation.

Shell wraps its glossy sci-fi exterior around a surprisingly thoughtful core. While the film doesn’t shy away from exploring the darker implications of beauty obsession and corporate manipulation, it does so with a wink – leaning into its campy, retro-inspired aesthetic to keep things light and engaging. The performances, especially from Moss and Hudson, elevate the narrative with emotional depth and sharp contrast, making their dynamic a highlight.

In the end, Shell falls short in its delineation between other recent films with this topic, but still entertains, provokes, and amuses viewers, while reflecting on what they’re willing to trade for youth and validation.