🐚Shell (2025) Review: Cast, Plot, Release Date & Where to Watch – Elisabeth Moss & Kate Hudson Dive Into a Dark World of Beauty and Horror

Boxofficehype
Sep 4
3 min read

Beauty comes at a price—and sometimes, it’s deadly. From actor-turned-director Max Minghella comes Shell (2025), a chilling dark comedy horror film that peels back the glossy layers of the wellness industry to expose the monstrous secrets lurking within. Starring Elisabeth Moss, Kate Hudson, and Kaia Gerber, this sharp, stylish thriller promises to be one of the most unsettling cinematic experiences of the year.

After its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, Shell is finally set to release in theaters on October 3, 2025, distributed by Republic Pictures.

🎬 The Story of Shell

At the center of the film is Samantha Lake (Elisabeth Moss), a struggling actress desperate for a break—both in her career and her life. When she’s introduced to Zoe Shannon (Kate Hudson), the dazzling CEO of a cutting-edge health and beauty empire known as SHELL, Samantha is seduced by the promise of transformation.

The treatments work wonders, rejuvenating her looks and opening doors she never thought possible. But when former patients—including rising social media star Chloe Benson (Kaia Gerber)—begin vanishing without a trace, Samantha starts to suspect that Zoe’s empire isn’t built on miracles, but something far more sinister.

As one chilling line from the trailer teases: “Perfection is only skin deep—what’s underneath is the real horror.”

⭐ The Cast

The ensemble of Shell brings together Hollywood veterans and fresh new faces:

Elisabeth Moss as Samantha Lake – the down-on-her-luck actress drawn into a deadly world of glamour.
Kate Hudson as Zoe Shannon – the charismatic and ruthless SHELL CEO hiding a monstrous secret.
Kaia Gerber as Chloe Benson, a social media star who disappears after becoming a patient.
Elizabeth Berkley as Jenna Janero – a mysterious figure tied to SHELL.
Arian Moayed, Randall Park, Peter MacNicol, Ziwe Fumudoh, Amy Landecker, and Mary Lynn Rajskub round out the supporting cast.

🎥 Behind the Camera

Director: Max Minghella (Teen Spirit)
Writer: Jack Stanley
Producers: Fred Berger, Max Minghella, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Elisabeth Moss, and more
Cinematography: Drew Daniels (Waves)
Music: Eldad Guetta

Minghella has described the film as a satirical “horror fairy tale” about obsession with youth, beauty, and control. Its mix of biting comedy and unsettling dread has already earned comparisons to The Neon Demon and American Psycho.

📅 Release

World Premiere: September 12, 2024 – Toronto International Film Festival
U.S. Theatrical Release: October 3, 2025
Runtime: 100 minutes

🧪 Beauty, Horror, and Satire

What sets Shell apart is its razor-sharp critique of modern beauty culture and the billion-dollar industries that prey on insecurity. The film dares to ask: What would you sacrifice to stay young forever?

Much like Minghella’s quote at TIFF: “We wanted to make a horror story where the villain isn’t a monster from the shadows—it’s the promise of perfection itself.”

✨ Conclusion

With powerhouse performances from Elisabeth Moss and Kate Hudson, and a haunting story that mixes glamour with grotesque, Shell (2025) is shaping up to be one of the year’s most talked-about thrillers. Both a satire of wellness culture and a horror story of ambition gone wrong, it reminds us that behind every perfect surface, cracks are waiting to form.