SHELL Review: A Body Horror Comedy that Entertains

Shell is a body horror black comedy directed by Max Minghella, starring Elisabeth Moss and Kate Hudson. The film tells about the obsession for beauty and youth in Hollywood and in society in general. Shell could well be a parody of The Substance, the body horror movie directed by Caralie Fargeat, which was the big sensation of 2024.

The story centers on Samantha Lake (Elisabeth Moss), a television actress who, in her search for film roles, decides to try an innovative treatment offered by Zoe Shannon's (Jennifer Hudson) the CEO of a beauty company. This treatment promises to stop the passage of time and improve overall health, something Samantha accepts despite having doubts at first. Quickly, her life takes a complete turn, gaining confidence and achieving success in Hollywood. However, the repercussions of the treatment do not take long to manifest, and Samantha realizes that there is something dark going on, especially when her young partner Chloe (Kaia Gerber) disappears without a trace.

Although Moss shines as the protagonist, her character is not fully developed, and her internal change, although well played, does not contribute much to the narrative. As for the horror elements, especially those that evoke body horror, these are the most engaging part of the film, adding tension and violence at crucial moments. However, Hudson, who plays the manipulative Zoe, does not become the picturesque villain that the story suggests, maintaining an overly restrained tone.

The lugubrious aspects of the plot are not investigated enough, and the polished and clear style of the film contrasts with the rawness that would be needed for an effective satire. Shell offers superficial entertainment and a few memorable moments, but lacks the courage to delve into its message. The film achieves its goal of being a curiosity within the genre, with a cast that at least seems to enjoy the process.

Shell and The Substance

There are numerous aspects that work at Shell, from its attractive design to the cast, which includes Kaia Gerber, Elizabeth Berkley, Arian Moayed and Amy Landecker. The film portrays Los Angeles in a retrofuturistic setting that adds one more layer of absurd humor to the story. Shell takes her time to reveal her main mystery and, when she finally tackles the body horror hinted at at first, she begins to lose her strength.

Naturally, Shell is compared to The Substance, the body horror movie that won an Oscar and was a huge success at the box office. While The Substance is an explosion of boundless blood, Shell seems hesitant to explore its most disturbing aspects. However, it should be noted that The Substance is not a comedy, although it has elements of dark humor, while Shell is a comedy that seeks to make the viewer laugh.

From this point on, Shell becomes more of a comedy than a horror, with an extravagant and almost exaggerated portrayal of wellness and Hollywood culture. However, by adopting this approach, Shell does not fulfill its initial promise for much of the time, and when it finally reaches its climax, the change does not turn out to be entirely effective.

The source of this youth-related mystery in Shell is even funnier and is revealed in a climactic, monstrous moment that finally manages to capture the tone the film had been trying to achieve.

What really works is the satire on beauty and well-being that Shell presents, an aspect of the film that turns out to be too plausible. Everywhere, people are looking for ways to prevent or stop aging.

The origin of this enigma about youth in Shell is also hilarious, but it emerges in a monstrous climax that finally achieves what the film had been looking for. However, just as he starts to find his way, Minghella's direction becomes messy, almost as if the camera is afraid to look squarely at the evil that Shell has created.

The highlight of Shell is the performances. Elizabeth Moss can be seen acting comically in a way that many of her recent roles, especially in The Handmaid's Tale, have not allowed her to. Hudson shines as Zoe Shannon, stealing every scene, alternating between being the popular girl and the corporate monster with an eerie fluency.

Unfortunately, although all these elements work, they never become consolidated. It's entertaining, with numerous hilarious moments that satirize the vanity of Hollywood and celebrities in general.

There are some unsettling moments of body horror, but this is where Shell seems to falter in its desire to dig deeper. It might seem that a great revelation is kept, but this one never emerges, not even when a monster stalks a warehouse at the end of the movie, looking for what it can catch with its claws. Shell is funny and entertaining, but it lacks the necessary darkness, something that was present in The Substance.