Reel Review Mom

So, over the weekend I watched the movie, Shell, which just premiered on PVOD through Amazon Prime, and let me tell you — this one was a ride. I was already excited to see this movie and it satisfied because it turned out to be one of the quirkiest and most interesting horror films I’ve seen in a while! It’s got this weirdly hypnotic energy that’s both unnerving and fun — exactly the kind of “something new” I’ve been craving in the horror genre.

First off, Kate Hudson — wow. I honestly haven’t seen her in anything major lately, and this movie reminded me how good she really is when given the right role. She nails that perfect mix of vulnerability and menace that keeps you guessing. And fun fact: Cindy Crawford’s daughter, Kaia Gerber, also stars in this, and she does a great job holding her own alongside Hudson.

Now, I couldn’t help but notice some definite similarities to Demi Moore’s The Substance. Both movies dive deep into body horror and the dark side of beauty, but Shell feels more grounded, more psychological — and honestly, a bit easier to follow. The Substance was good, just a little too out there for me. If these two films were the result of some secret rivalry between movie execs, I wouldn’t be surprised (and I’d totally watch that behind-the-scenes drama too, lol).

Without spoiling anything, I will say this: toward the end, Shell gets a little cheesy and campy with the horror — but in a way that weirdly works. It definitely plays off the movie’s title, and that’s all I’m going to say.

Bottom line: Shell is stylish, strange, and absolutely worth the rental. Between Hudson’s comeback and that eerie twist, it’s one shell of a good time.