Director: Max Minghella

Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Kate Hudson, Kaia Gerber, Arian Moayed, Este Haim

Shell is a 2025 American psychological thriller directed by Max Minghella, starring Elisabeth Moss and Kate Hudson. The film follows a fallen actress who enters the orbit of a powerful wellness entrepreneur, only to discover that the aspirational lifestyle she has been offered conceals something profoundly dangerous beneath its polished exterior.

What is Shell about?

Samantha Lake was once a household name, a celebrated actress whose star has since faded. Desperate to rebuild her reputation and find steady work, she accepts an invitation into the inner circle of Zoe Shannon, a charismatic mogul who has built an empire around beauty, health, and self-improvement. The more time Samantha spends inside Zoe's world — attending retreats, meeting devotees, and absorbing the language of transformation — the more she senses that the movement's wholesome image is a carefully constructed facade. What begins as professional opportunism slowly becomes something far more threatening, as Samantha realizes that the price of belonging may be more than she can afford to pay.

Cast & crew

Elisabeth Moss, known for her commanding screen presence across television and film, carries the lead role with the psychological intensity the part demands. Kate Hudson brings a luminous but unsettling energy to the role of the wellness magnate. The supporting ensemble includes Kaia Gerber, Arian Moayed, Este Haim, Elizabeth Berkley, Leanne Suter, and Amy Landecker, rounding out the world around the two central figures. The film marks a directorial feature debut for Max Minghella.

Context & significance

Psychological thrillers that examine the seductive power of cults, wellness movements, and self-help empires have found an eager global audience in recent years, and Shell arrives squarely in that tradition. For Persian-speaking viewers in the diaspora, stories about charismatic figures who demand loyalty and reshape identity carry a particular resonance — the dynamics of belonging, control, and the cost of assimilation are themes that travel across cultures. Shell is presented on K-Time with a Persian dub and Persian subtitles, making it fully accessible whether you prefer to watch in your first language or with text support. The thriller genre, with its mounting dread and shifting allegiances, has long been a favourite among Iranian audiences at home and abroad.

Where & how to watch

Shell is available now on K-Time with a full Persian dub and Persian subtitles. Stream it on the web, on your TV دستگاه, or on your phone — no VPN required, no geo-blocking, and you can cancel anytime.