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Sci-fi horror film

Ick (2025): Cast, Ratings & Ending

Ick (2025) movie poster

Ick is a 2025 sci-fi horror film directed by Joseph Kahn, starring Brandon Routh as Hank, Mena Suvari and Malina Pauli Weissman. It runs 1 hour 27 minutes. Critics gave it 69% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10.

IMDb rating
5.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
69%
Echo Score
80
Metascore
67
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Ick (2025) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 27m (87 min)
Director
Joseph Kahn
Genres
Horror , Sci-Fi
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Ick About?

The premise of Ick without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

For nearly two decades, a peculiar vine-like growth known as The Ick has quietly spread throughout American life. The residents of the small town of Eastbrook have largely become accustomed to its presence, but former high school football star and now hapless science teacher Hank (Brandon Routh) finds himself increasingly concerned. He and a few others begin to question the seemingly benign nature of The Ick, and its potential impact on their community.

Ick Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • alien invasion sci fi
  • monster horror
  • football
  • one word title
  • bar
  • sex in a car
  • kiss
  • 2000s
  • high schooler
  • reference to the beatles
  • prom dance
  • prom king
+38 more
  • prom queen
  • new car
  • playing pool
  • asian man
  • college
  • cheerleader
  • football player
  • balloons
  • hospital
  • cheating
  • cat
  • watching tv
  • limping man
  • heart attack
  • drinking
  • graveyard
  • crying man
  • aa meeting
  • janitor
  • high school janitor
  • pregnant woman
  • science teacher
  • blowing a bubble gum bubble
  • popping a bubble gum bubble
  • reference to armageddon
  • teachers' lounge
  • watching tv news
  • man wears glasses
  • politics
  • assistant coach
  • school cafeteria
  • goth girl
  • drawing
  • smoking
  • goat
  • car won't start
  • real estate agent
  • ex girlfriend child
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Cast & crew

Ick Cast & Characters

Brandon Routh leads the cast as Hank, with Mena Suvari as Staci and Malina Pauli Weissman as Grace. Directed by Joseph Kahn; 20 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Ick

· 16 more
From the director

More from Joseph Kahn

More films directed by Joseph Kahn, best-rated first: Bodied, Detention, Torque and Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All!.

Full filmography
Ratings

Ick Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Ick 69% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in sensory experience (90) and weakest in story & flow (65).

80 /100

Ick Echo Score Breakdown

Ick delivers a bold audiovisual experience marked by energetic direction and a lively soundtrack, though its narrative coherence occasionally falters. Critics highlighted its affectionate homage to 80s horror-comedies, vibrant pop-punk needle drops, and playful social commentary, while noting uneven momentum and a somewhat trivial script. The film’s strengths in sensory impact and tonal exuberance outweigh its modest storytelling shortcomings, resulting in a generally enjoyable B-movie ride.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of art and craft, Ick exhibits bold direction and dynamic cinematography that embrace defiant maximalism. Production design channels eighties horror-comedy tropes with vibrant practical effects, and editing maintains high energy throughout most sequences. While occasional visual hyperactivity may overshadow narrative clarity, the overall stylistic coherence underscores the film’s audacious aesthetic.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to character and emotion, Ick balances playful mockery with occasional heartfelt moments. The film’s leads deliver spirited, if broadly sketched, performances that capture generational angst and camaraderie. Emotional resonance emerges during sincere interludes amid comedic set pieces, although deeper character development is limited. Nevertheless, the cast’s energy sustains audience engagement.

  • Story & Flow 65

    In terms of story and flow, Ick offers an inventive premise reminiscent of classic horror-comedies, propelled by brisk pacing and pop-punk zeal. Reviewers praised its originality and crowd-pleasing set pieces but noted a tendency toward narrative fragmentation and uneven momentum. Plot coherence occasionally gives way to spectacle, resulting in an engaging yet narratively modest experience.

  • Sensory Experience 90

    When it comes to sensory experience, Ick delivers a full-frontal audiovisual assault enriched by a pulsating early 2000s rock soundtrack. Sound design accentuates comedic and horror beats, while visual style fuses retro aesthetics with modern filmmaking techniques. The cohesive audio-visual blend drives sustained excitement and underscores the film’s maximalist intent.

  • Rewatch Factor 75

    In terms of rewatch factor, Ick’s high-energy set pieces and pop-punk soundtrack offer strong appeal for repeat viewings. The film’s playful tone and nostalgic callbacks may reward fans with fresh observations on subsequent runs. However, its reliance on spectacle over narrative depth could limit lasting engagement. Overall, it remains a fun, if lighthearted, revisit.

Plot

Ick Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Ick from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Sometime during the 2000s in the quiet town of Eastbrook, a once-bright high school quarterback named Hank Wallace sees his football dreams crushed not by a rival, but by a mysterious, plant-like parasite called the Ick. At first it seems oddly benign, creeping through Hank’s hometown as it slowly grows, unnoticed by a community that would rather focus on everyday life. Hank’s personal life unravels too when his girlfriend, Staci, leaves him for their classmate Ted Kim, setting Hank on a solitary road while the Ick quietly expands its reach.

Full summary

The whole story of Ick, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Videos

Ick Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Ick.

Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Ick?

9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 9

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered

What career does Hank Wallace pursue after his football injury?

Details

Ick Also Known As

Also known as “恶心”.

Also known as
  • 恶心

Seen Ick?

FAQ

Ick FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Ick, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Ick?

Ick runs 1 hour 27 minutes (87 minutes).

When was Ick released?

Ick was released on July 27, 2025.

Who directed Ick?

Ick was directed by Joseph Kahn.

More films by Joseph Kahn

Who is in the cast of Ick?

Ick stars Brandon Routh as Hank, Mena Suvari as Staci and Malina Pauli Weissman as Grace, among 20 credited actors.

How is Ick rated?

Ick has 5.3/10 on IMDb, 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67 on Metacritic and 60% on TMDB.

Does Ick have a post-credit scene?

No. Ick has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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