Adolescence is a minefield for both teens and their parents. Kids are figuring out who they are, while moms and dads struggle to stay connected as their children pull away. That awkward, often painful transition takes center stage in the new Swedish dark comedy-drama Adult Supervision, which is set to make its world premiere at Fantastic Fest. The film stars Gustaf Skarsgård (known for Vikings) as Bill, a dad desperate to bond with his teenage daughter by volunteering as a chaperone on a school trip that quickly spirals out of control.
Collider is thrilled to share an exclusive first look at the movie, featuring Bill and two fellow fathers—played by Fares Fares (recently seen as a villain in The Wheel of Time) and Linus Wahlgren—as they attempt to manage a rowdy group of kids on a remote archipelago. The trip to Klippvik is supposed to be a chance for bonding, but it doesn't take long for the adults to be completely overwhelmed by the social dynamics and toxic "mean girl" culture that defines modern teenage life, amplified by social media.
While the other dads dismiss the kids' behavior as typical teenage antics, Bill is deeply unsettled. He sees his daughter being drawn into the same destructive patterns that haunted his own childhood, when he was bullied. As tensions rise, the situation escalates from uncomfortable to outright dangerous, and the line between victim and perpetrator blurs. What starts as a darkly comic look at parenting becomes a nightmare scenario that no parent wants to imagine.
Our exclusive image captures the three fathers seated at a table, presumably facing the teenagers they're supposed to be supervising. Fares's character, Bobo, sits in the center, looking like he's about to lay down the law, while Wahlgren's Pontus smirks with arms crossed, clearly approving of Bobo's approach. But Skarsgård's Bill looks uneasy, almost worried, as if he senses that this heavy-handed tactic is only making things worse. It's a subtle hint at the film's central conflict: a father who remembers the pain of being a teenager, caught between two men who have forgotten.
Behind the camera, Adult Supervision marks the feature directorial debut of Swedish author Alex Schulman, who also wrote the screenplay. Schulman previously executive produced an adaptation of his novel Burn All My Letters, which starred another Skarsgård sibling, Bill Skarsgård. He's teamed up with acclaimed cinematographer Jakob Ihre, an Emmy winner for his work on HBO's Chernobyl and a frequent collaborator of Oscar-nominated director Joachim Trier. Together, they aim to blend "razor-sharp dark comedy with slow-burning psychological dread," setting the story against a picturesque backdrop that gradually descends into cruelty and chaos.
For fans of tense, character-driven thrillers, Adult Supervision promises to be a standout at this year's Fantastic Fest, which runs from September 17–24 at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, Texas. After its festival debut, the film will hit theaters in Sweden on October 7. If you're looking for more edge-of-your-seat entertainment, check out our coverage of Jason Statham's latest action thriller or see why AMC's Dark Winds is a crime thriller worth your time.
Stay tuned to Collider for more exclusive looks at the hottest premieres from Fantastic Fest, and be sure to check the official festival guide for full programming details.
