Shell (2024)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
The story
Actress Samantha 'Sam' Lake, struggling with ageism and body shaming, is offered a rejuvenating procedure by a beauty company called Shell that utilizes genetic technology. Despite initial hesitation, she undergoes the treatment and experiences a successful transformation, leading to a new career and a friendship with the company's CEO, Zoe Shannon. However, the success is marred by the appearance of mysterious moles and the disappearance of a young girl, Chloe, whom Sam once babysat. As Sam's physical condition begins to deteriorate and she faces pressure from the corporation to keep her side effects a secret, she must navigate a web of corporate secrets and escalating physical horrors.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After undergoing a genetic rejuvenation procedure from the company Shell, actress Samantha Lake gains a youthful appearance and a new career, but begins to suffer from physical side effects like growing moles and vomiting black bile. When her friend Lydia notices a mole and the local police report that a girl named Chloe is missing, Sam begins to suspect the true cost of her transformation. After a confrontation with the CEO, Zoe Shannon, Sam flees and eventually finds the missing Chloe, who has been transformed into a 'feral creature.' Sam eventually discovers that the procedure was a dangerous experiment. In a final confrontation at a laboratory, Chloe is revealed to be a mutated 'gigantic lobster' who kills the company's scientists. The film ends with Sam publishing a book about the company's actions while the company continues to operate, and Sam finds peace in her new life.
- First release year
- 2024
- Runtime (minutes)
- 101
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Max Minghella
- Writers
- Jack Stanley · writer
- Cast and characters
- Elisabeth Moss · Samantha Lake; Kate Hudson · Zoe Shannon; Kaia Gerber · Chloe Benson; Elizabeth Berkley · Jenna Janero; Arian Moayed · Dr. Hubert; Este Haim · Lydia; Amy Landecker · Detective Flores; Lionel Boyce · Detective Abramson
- Genres
- black comedy; body horror; thriller
- Themes
- body horror; corporate greed; vanity
- Tone and mood
- creepy; tense; camp
- Premise and plot tags
- body horror; sci-fi; satire
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews, with critics noting its similarities to 'The Substance' while praising its body horror elements and performances, though some criticized its pacing.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 55 · scale: 100 · review count: 6
- Production trivia
- The script was first drafted in 2018.; The film features a cameo by Peri Gilpin.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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