‘Adulthood (2025)’ VOD Review
Stars: Kaya Scodelario, Josh Gad, Billie Lourd, Anthony Carrigan, Alex Winter | Written by Michael M.B. Galvin | Directed by Alex Winter
Adulthood is a darkly comic suburban thriller that pairs Josh Gad and Kaya Scodelario in one of the more unexpectedly sharp indie films of the year. Directed by Alex Winter and written by Michael M.B. Galvin, the film follows adult siblings Noah Robles (Gad) and Megan Robles-Vargas (Scodelario) as their already-strained lives are derailed by the discovery of a long-buried corpse hidden in their parents’ basement. What begins as a shocking revelation quickly spirals into a chaotic tangle of cover-ups, questionable decisions and uncomfortable truths about the family they thought they understood.
The film’s premise is immediately engaging: the idea of two grown siblings suddenly confronted with a literal skeleton from their past is ripe for comedy, tension and emotional fallout. Winter’s direction leans into that blend, maintaining a tight sense of unease while allowing the script’s sharply observed humour to breathe. There’s a steady thread of suburban satire running through the film, poking fun at the fragile veneer of “normal adulthood” and the messy underbelly hiding beneath tidy houses and family photos.
Gad is well-cast as Noah, a man stuck in a life he never planned and barely controls. He plays the role with his usual warmth but manages to bring an extra layer of panic-stricken sincerity as the situation unwinds. Scodelario, as his more grounded sister, gives the film a strong emotional centre. Her exasperation, pragmatism and eventual vulnerability make Megan the anchor in a story that constantly threatens to tip into absurdity. Together, the two sell the film’s core sibling dynamic: affectionate, strained and painfully believable.
The supporting cast jumps in with those perfectly timed little laughs that keep the film’s darker moments from dragging things down; however, the script is strongest when it focuses on the interplay between Noah and Megan, exploring how childhood perceptions, inherited expectations, and half-understood family secrets shape the people they’ve become.
If Adulthood has a flaw, it’s in its tonal juggling act. The blend of crime, comedy and drama mostly works, but there are moments, particularly in the final stretch, where it feels like the story is racing to tie things up more neatly than necessary. Some supporting characters and subplots feel a little thin, hinting at bigger ideas the film doesn’t fully explore.
Even so, Adulthood stands out as a thoughtful, funny and occasionally biting look at what it really means to grow up and what we carry with us from the homes that raised us. It’s a smart, entertaining dark comedy anchored by two excellent central performances.
***½ 3.5/5
Adulthood is out now on digital platforms, courtesy of Signature Entertainment.
