This film pulls out all the stops to appeal to its target audience: jump scares, demonic creatures, séances, graphically sinister deaths, sex, drugs, and inter-generational friction.
Despite obvious manipulation, and an oddball central plot involving a fungus that grows on corpses and inside victims, The Privilege could prove a hit.
The mix of genre elements makes it successful in setting viewers on edge, partly because you just don't know what will come next. Fans could be in luck: The ending leaves the door open for a sequel.
Not only do the teens here save the day, they also learn they can only rely on themselves and each other. It's a reminder not to trust anyone over 30, especially your parents -- or anyone with glowing eyes. Main character Finn's spherical blue eyes express the wide-eyed fear and confusion of the inexplicably horrific events he's experienced. He admits, "I'm always scared." Anyone who isn't is probably on the dark side already.
The film's modern settings, under constant surveillance (seen in grainy camera footage) are eerie in their own, cold way. Likewise, the solitary dam-crossing highway that seems to be the only road in and out of their wealthy neighborhood. The film's title incorporates the characters' lived reality, a comment that younger generations are "privileged," and a promise that demonic possession is only for the select few.
Read the full review at Common Sense Media.