Do you have what it takes to live the life of a social media influencer? Today we are talking about Influencer (2022) a psychological horror by Kurtis David Harder. This was a fun movie with a plot that kept me asking “why?” I was thinking it was going to be some live streaming gory horror, but it turned out to be a thriller full of tension.
Madison, a social media influencer, is on a solo trip to Thailand that her boyfriend Ryan has decided to pass on due to other responsibilities. While trying to make the best of her situation, she has a welcoming encounter with fellow traveler, CW. She is quick to create a connection with Madison. CW will show Madison how life can be when you disconnect. Through CW, the film explores whether disconnecting reveals who truly cares. If your social media page goes quiet, will anyone even notice? Or will someone else simply take your place?
Thailand was a beautiful setting for this movie. The locations are just the types of places a person would expect to see on an influencer’s timeline. The setting created a refreshing sense of relaxation. Madison is coming here to relax, not party her days away. Madison seeks relaxation, not parties, but the isolation that comes with it proves costly. Cassandra Naud, as CW, will captivate audiences with her creepy yet mysterious aura. I especially loved her almost non expressive facial expressions at tense moments. Her presence subtly hints at the inevitable dark turn. Ryan, played by Rory J. Saper, was the character I left liking more than I did at the beginning of the movie. His determination drives him on a path to the truth.
Influencer is a movie that starts out slow, but the buildup is worth the wait. It is not an in-your-face kind of horror movie. It’s less ‘in your face’ horror and more like a psychological roller coaster that keeps throwing unexpected twists after you think the main drop is over. I give this film a solid 3 ½ stars out of 5. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes give it 91% and audiences 68%. If you already have a Shudder or AMC+ subscription, it’s one that you need to add to the watchlist. With a runtime under 2 hours, you can watch this one without missing your bedtime. Now how many times have you posted today?
Last Thought: Spoiler
I understand why Emily Tennant, Madison, did not have a more on-screen presence, but I would have appreciated seeing a montage of how Madison survived on the island for almost an entire month. CW mentioned the island was uninhabitable, which did not seem believable, on her part not the writing, since there was so much vegetation on the island. We do see that Madison was eating fish to survive, and the guy at the bar mentions to Ryan that the rainy season has just ended. So, her survival seems plausible, but I would have appreciated seeing her overcoming her situation.
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