Stags (2025): A Chilling Descent Into Privilege, Power, and Survival
Stags (2025) is a dark and gripping psychological thriller set in the elite corridors of a prestigious British boarding school, where ancient traditions hide a deadly secret. Blending elements of The Riot Club, Dead Poets Society, and The Most Dangerous Game, the film explores the sinister side of wealth, legacy, and how far the privileged will go to protect their own.
Directed by Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), Stags follows seventeen-year-old Noah Carter (played by George MacKay), a scholarship student recently accepted into St. Oswald’s, a centuries-old private school for the sons of Britain’s most powerful families. Unfamiliar with the customs and hidden codes of the institution, Noah is soon approached by a group of charismatic, well-dressed seniors who call themselves “The Stags.” On the surface, they appear to be an elite academic society, but their real purpose is far darker.
Led by the charming but ruthless Felix Harrow (Nicholas Galitzine), The Stags initiate Noah into their secret world—a brotherhood that hosts twisted games, manipulates faculty, and controls the fate of their peers with frightening influence. What begins as hazing and psychological tests soon turns into something far more dangerous: a tradition of hunting. But this time, the prey is not animals—it’s people.
As Noah uncovers the horrifying reality behind The Stags’ centuries-old rituals, he finds himself trapped in a web of deception, betrayal, and survival. With no one to trust and no clear way out, he must decide whether to expose the truth and risk everything—or join the darkness to stay alive.
What sets Stags apart from other thrillers is its sharp critique of privilege and institutional decay. The screenplay, co-written by Fennell and Alex Garland (Ex Machina), layers suspense with biting social commentary. It poses provocative questions: What happens when tradition becomes tyranny? How much violence is society willing to overlook if it’s cloaked in prestige? And who gets to decide the rules of survival?
The performances are a highlight. George MacKay brings raw intensity to Noah, whose moral compass is constantly challenged. Nicholas Galitzine is mesmerizing as Felix, walking the line between seductive and sinister. Florence Pugh delivers a standout supporting role as a school counselor with secrets of her own, and Charles Dance appears as the enigmatic headmaster guarding the school’s darkest history.
Visually, Stags is atmospheric and unsettling. Cinematographer Linus Sandgren captures the gothic beauty of the school’s ancient architecture, contrasting candlelit libraries with eerie woods and moonlit courtyards. The tension builds steadily, with each act revealing new layers of horror behind the institution’s traditions.
The score by Thom Yorke heightens the film’s psychological unease, weaving melancholy piano and distorted electronics into a soundtrack that lingers long after the credits roll.
Stags ends with a harrowing climax that leaves viewers breathless—and questioning how many real-world institutions might hide similar darkness behind ivy-covered walls. With its bold narrative and fearless storytelling, Stags is not just a thriller—it’s a disturbing mirror held up to power and privilege.
