Shell (MA) – 100 minutes

Following in the footsteps of Demi Moore’s The Substance (2024), Shell is similarly built on the contention that beauty is skin deep.

Samantha Lake (Elisabeth Moss) is a 40-something actress who disappeared from public view years ago.

In short, the industry moved on and continues to court the younger and more glamorous.

At an audition, she is overlooked because of this for a 22-year-old beauty named Chloe Benson (Kaia Gerber) who she used to babysit.

While Samantha has never had any work done, the agents are pushing her to do so.

The flavour of the month is a new age beauty and wellness company named Shell, run by Zoe Shannon (Kate Hudson) who looks nowhere near her 68 years. 

Although unsure, Samantha, who suffers from bad psoriasis, decides to give it a go.

Mind you, when she attends Shell headquarters, she is immediately put off by the appearance of so many beautiful people and that includes Chloe Benson.

After the calming intervention of Dr Hubert (Arian Moayed), Samantha relents and proceeds.

At first, all goes swimmingly.

Samantha looks and feels better, and even nails a lead role, initially slated for Benson.

Zoe Shannon, personally, takes Samantha under her wing.

But then the ugly side effects of Samantha’s treatment begin to take hold.

Further, Samantha is trapped under the might and muscle of the Shell empire and there are nefarious forces in play.

Pardon the pun, but Shell lacks the substance of the movie of that name. I didn’t buy into it as readily.

It appears clunkier … less slick.

That starts with the awkward acting in the opening scene, which looks artificial.

Mind you, Elisabeth Moss is credible playing frumpy. Make up has done a good job.

I also appreciated the arrogance and entitlement that Kate Hudson brings to her role.

And Kaia Gerber does what is asked of her by simply being beautiful.

After gaining a foothold, the plot really disintegrates in the last half hour, as the filmmakers try to throw the kitchen sink at it.

Writer Jack Stanley (Lou) and director Max Minghella (Teen Spirit) give in to D-grade shlock horror.

More is the pity, because Shell had the potential to be something better.

Rated MA, it scores a 5½ out of 10.