In Adulthood, director Alex Winter drags skeletons out of the metaphorical closet and straight into the basement — quite literally. This darkly comedic family drama, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, follows estranged siblings Megan (Kaya Scodelario) and Noah (Josh Gad) as they return to their childhood home, only to make a chilling discovery: a decaying corpse hidden behind the basement wall.
Winter uses this grisly find as the launching pad for a layered critique of suburban respectability, poking at the polished surface of middle-class family life to reveal the rot underneath. What begins as a sharp, offbeat noir with social commentary and pitch-black humor gradually transforms into something more chaotic — and not entirely in a good way.
At its best, Adulthood strikes a compelling balance between biting satire and unsettling mystery. The early scenes crackle with tension and dark irony, aided by strong performances. Josh Gad leans into his anxious, sardonic energy, while Scodelario grounds the film with a more measured intensity. Together, they create a believable sibling dynamic that lends emotional weight to the bizarre circumstances.
Winter, known for his work in both documentaries and cult fiction (Bill & Ted, Zappa), initially keeps the tone tight, building suspense while offering wry insights into the strange rituals and buried trauma of family life. Unfortunately, the latter half of the film loses that grip. As the plot becomes more convoluted and leans further into absurdity, the carefully maintained atmosphere starts to collapse under its own ambition.
What starts as a noir-tinged satire with Hitchcockian undertones dissolves into something more erratic — a thriller unsure if it wants to provoke, entertain, or horrify. It’s a shame, because the film’s initial setup is rich with promise. There’s a lingering question about how much we ever truly know our parents — and what secrets they might die with — that Adulthood flirts with but never fully explores.
Still, even in its missteps, Adulthood is never boring. Winter’s vision is bold, the performances are committed, and the themes — legacy, repression, and the dark side of domestic life — are timely. While the execution falters in the second act, the film remains an intriguing, if uneven, exploration of what it really means to come home.
Verdict: A strong premise and sharp performances give Adulthood its edge, but the film ultimately stumbles in its attempt to juggle satire and suspense.
