Skillhouse

This 2025 film by Josh Stolberg with a brief appearance of the rapper, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson... just really bombed. No wonder there's been much legal disputes behind this production. Its storyline and satire seems very-aimed towards Gen Zers and committed to social media, live streaming and content makers. Its location was a typical, non-descript "Hollywood", L. A. mansion guessing to set the storyline in a place of celebrity worship.

All characters are just so vapid, that each when killed off - makes viewers feel apathetic with every gore, ultraviolent scene. Its gore effects are a combination of CGI, probably AI with some practical effects. It offers nothing new and plays like "Johnny-come-lately" to the idea of "slasher" genre and social media. Even late Y2K-era Reality TV-inspired and primal ether-streaming era "Halloween Resurrection" (2002) featured TV-iconic Tyra Banks and rapper, Busta Rhymes seems avant garde (pre-social media culture) compared to this. Maybe with the "participation" of Jackson, the production staff could have its narrative involved an strong Hip Hop cultural element.

Most of the theatrical releases are connected with Fathom ticketing. This expensive service tends to give these baseless intros with actors or the director. Or if one's lucky a "behind-the-scene" segment is inserted after the film end credits.

I say... unless you aren't into the "influencer" subculture (or an avid fan of 50 Cent) and not a clueless Gen Zer, maybe avoid this flick. Wishing I could say that this film is "so bad that it's good!" but it's not. It offers plot twists but these only work with some decent acting chops, none here.

Supposedly some of the killed off cast members are known popular content makers like Bryce Hall but none that I "really" recognize even follow (ol' skooler here). The only strong actor in this entire film, is the occasional TV actor, Neal McDonough! He helmed the role of a questionable police officer and often remembered from comedic appearances in TV shows like the late 90s "Just Shoot Me".

In the end, the storyline seemed to be lost in between trying to be a Black comedy or "Meta" or "Slasher" genre Horror. Hopefully, some viewers will find this entry as entertaining material but unfortunately upon observing its film reviews reveal it's actual merit.

"Skillhouse" begins with Carter Swick and his sister Lauren filming a video for a social media platform called "Triller." They are attacked and it is a media sensation, but three months later the attacker is back and this time he has kidnapped ten people for his "Social Media Game"...

"Skillhouse" is another in a long line of "Psycho kidnaps influencers and makes them compete for "Likes" for their lives" movies. All the typical tropes are here -- incredibly annoying characters that we hate from the get-go, a psycho who can somehow control time and space, long rambling speeches about "This is not real life" and "Is this what you want to see", thousands of people watching without calling the police, "rules" that change on a whim, etc, etc... And I'm not sure the writer really "gets" social media, if you watch the movie you will definitely say, "No way in real life that person got the "least views" of that entire group."

On the plus side, though, the body count is impressive with some gruesome kills, and only a couple of shoddy CGI effects to hurt the set pieces. Overall, there's nothing really new in "Skillhouse" and there are plenty of better "Influencer Kidnapped" movies out there, but it moves along pretty quickly. Nothing original or special, just sort of "OK."

Skillhouse fits the bill for an all around decent and entertaining watch - imagine influencers trapped within a mansion in LA Saw style with 50 Cent as the Jigsaw figure, it's as awesome and hilarious as it sounds.

Dialog and acting aside some nitpicking scenes of underwhelming responses is nothing to complain about. Kills, gore and progression isn't terrible nor a complaint either. The pacing is akin again, to saw, characters getting picked off, some suspense on who's next and thensome with some pretty successful comedy thrown in. Overall nothing entirely unique or groundbreaking, but works heavily with the content it aims to tackle - that being a dark, comedic whodunit with Saw tropes sprinkled about. Watch this film if you want something to laugh at, something to enjoy with some friends or something to bluntly enjoy; 50 Cent as a Jigsaw, despite his recent attempts to sue is worth watching. Post credit sequence and all.

Interesting premise for a movie but it tends to feel like its copying from the saw movies.

I thought a lot of the acting was a bit wooden and the set and costume design felt really cheap.

However, Bryce Hall is the man, I love him very much!

I heard the guy who produced this is the same guy who kicked off the marvel franchise, which would explain why it is produced so well.

It is however a shame that the producer is targeted so much by a youtuber who will try and get his audience to review bomb the movie.

Although, I did enjoy watching it while drinking wine, I did have a bit too much wine but I didn't get wet and reckless.

Skillhouse (2025) is a horror movie written and directed by my close personal friend from Twitter, Josh Stolberg and it was okay.

Positives for Skillhouse (2025): The concept of this movie is pretty good and I got a lot of mileage out of it. The kills are surprisingly good with some good practical effects. The acting from the cast is pretty okay for the most part. And finally, you can get some dumb fun entertainment from this as a dumb horror movie.

Negatives for Skillhouse (2025): The dialogue from some of the characters is rough to listen to. The characters are just meat bags who you want to see die in brutal ways and you can't root for them. And finally, the movie feel limited by its low budget.

Overall, Skillhouse (2025) is an okay enough but very entertaining indie horror movie that you need to turn your brain off to enjoy.