The Privilege: Wealthy teens face a fungal horror, but the class critique gets lost in the mess

The opening shot of The Privilege is a slow, deliberate pan across the manicured lawns of an elite private school, the camera gliding past students in crisp uniforms—an immediate signal that class will be as much a character as any supernatural force. Directed by Felix Fuchssteiner and Katharina Schöde, this 2022 German horror film for Netflix tries to weave social commentary into its tale of wealthy teens uncovering dark conspiracies, but the result is a tangled mess of ambition and execution.

Visually, The Privilege has moments that work. The atmospheric shots of the school’s imposing architecture and the eerie, fog-laden grounds create a sense of unease. Lea van Acken, as Lena, delivers a performance that anchors the film in emotional weight, particularly in scenes where her character grapples with guilt and fear. Max Schimmelpfennig, as Finn Bergmann, also holds his own, though his arc sometimes feels overshadowed by the film’s disjointed pacing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0KDPaeqjag

Where the film falters is in its narrative structure. The plot juggles horror, black magic, and splatter elements, but none of these threads feel fully realized. The central premise—a fungus that grows in the school’s walls—is an intriguing concept, but it’s underdeveloped, leaving viewers to piece together motivations and rules that should be clearly established. The film’s attempt to blend social critique with supernatural horror results in a muddled identity; it never decides whether it wants to be a commentary on privilege or a straight-up scary movie.

The performances are generally solid, but the script doesn’t always serve them well. Tijan Marei as Samira Steinke and Milena Tscharntke as Sophie Bergmann both bring depth to their roles, but their characters’ arcs feel truncated by the film’s rushed pacing. The supporting cast, including Horst Janson as Grandpa Bergmann and Nadeshda Brennicke as Dr. Steinke, add layers of intrigue, but their contributions are often lost in the narrative chaos.

Originality is another stumbling block. The Privilege borrows heavily from established horror tropes—creepy schools, occult conspiracies, and graphic deaths—but fails to inject enough freshness into these elements to make them feel new or compelling. The film’s attempt to tackle class disparity is commendable, but the execution is heavy-handed, reducing nuanced themes to simplistic morality plays.

As a horror film, The Privilege struggles to deliver consistent scares or tension. The supernatural elements are often underwhelming, relying too heavily on jump scares and gore rather than building genuine dread. The pacing is uneven, with some scenes dragging while others feel abruptly cut off.