SHELL: the body horror comedy that questions beauty

After the global success of The Substance (2024, Coralie Fargeat) a new story emerges that follows this line, the horror comedy SHELL, directed by Max Minghella, which seeks to laugh at beauty, showing how destructive it can be. SHELL stars Elisabeth Moss as Samantha Lake and Kate Hudson as Zoe Shannon.

Samantha is going through a difficult period in her career as an artist. She is a disorganized, serious and talented actress who seems to have difficulty getting the roles she craves, which is affecting both her self-esteem and her financial situation. In addition, she seems to be older than her competitors, so on the recommendation of her representative and due to the influence of the numerous illuminated billboards advertising her incredible results, Samantha decides to undergo a Shell treatment. This turns out to be a success, transforming Samantha into a bright and revitalized person with a new opportunity in her life.

Zoe, the elegant and beautiful CEO of Shell, who represents the company's products, appears in this narrative. Zoe proposes to take Samantha under her wing, and quickly the actress begins to advance in her career. However, Samantha also begins to suspect about the strange disappearance of her friend Chloe, some strange symptoms she has started to show and what really happens inside the Shell labs. Samantha's doubts and Zoe's growing paranoia turn into an intense game of chase that culminates in a risky confrontation with unexpected results.

Intermingling elements of different genres and significant social criticism, director Max Minghella manages to keep the audience's interest while inviting them to reflect on the immense value that physical beauty possesses in any era and the moral alterations that can arise when trying to obtain it.

Understanding body horror

In 2024 The Substance broke all the limits thanks to the masterful direction of Coralie Fargeat and the impressive performances of Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, creating an absolutely original story. The success of this movie put the focus on the subgenre of body horror, perhaps the most extreme in cinema.

Body horror represents a particular type of body-related imagery in horror films and can also be seen as a subgenre in its own right. The word has a varied use and is somewhat adaptable. One film may include features of this subgenre, while another could be categorized entirely as a body horror film. Usually, the purpose of this subgenre is to provoke disgust and distress in the audience.

This type of terror focuses on the deformations of the human body. The big difference between this subgenre and other styles of bloody horror is that it does not focus on the destruction of the human body, but on its transformation into something repulsive. Topics such as diseases, viruses, infections and parasites are frequent in these films.

Likewise, these productions tend to incorporate surreal, science fiction or supernatural elements, changing the shape of the human being into something that could not be seen in real life. The body horror genre often focuses on special effects and frequently includes social criticism.

Body horror is a branch of horror cinema that is distinguished by presenting changes, mutations or deteriorations in the human body in a way that causes concern in those who observe it. Frequently, these alterations allow us to reflect on cultural or personal anxieties, such as the fear of death, aging, diseases or the loss of control over one's own body.

The discomfort of the public is manifested through deformations, infections and physical changes that break with biological logic and attack the physical integrity of the person. The body is a vulnerable and delicate element that shows damage.

This subgenre also investigates the fear of invasion of the body, either through parasites, technological implants or biological changes. On numerous occasions, the origin of horror comes from the feeling that the human body, a place considered intimate and safe, has been violated or altered in such a way that it can no longer be recognized.