Influencer (2022) Movie Review - The Best Influencer Themed Horror?

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today, we are checking out Shudder Original, social media themed, horror movie Influencer from 2022. We have beautiful beaches, gorgeous locations and selfies in the sun in this intriguing little thriller. The only thing is, everybody has already talked to death about it, meaning I am real late to the party.

Following the story of a social media influencer heading for a vacation in Thailand. Only to meet a mysterious girl who seems to bring along with her a world of uninhibited leisure and dark turmoil. Influencer plays out in a way that you might not expect.

Naturally, the best way to go into this movie is with a complete lack of any kind of knowledge of the plot. It’s one of those horror movies that thrives on the unexpected, meaning that any spoilers would really undermine your enjoyment of the story. With that in mind, I am going to go out of my way to not reveal too much. 

Influencer Starts Off Very Familiar

I’m not going to lie, I was worried for a minute when I started watching Influencer. The movie kicks off with the dull and rather obnoxious Madison (Emily Tennant) snapping selfies and cruising for likes on her social media profile. She visits different, beautiful, locations, eats expensive food and sips on premium drinks. All the while never taking in a second of what is going on around her. Her singular focus being to up the views and project an image of somebody living large and loving every minute of it.

It’s all too familiar. A small part of me wondered whether this was going to be yet another dull social media themed horror movie. The fact that Influencer’s opening credits don’t roll until nearly 26 minutes in is indicative of how this is a movie with a distinctly split personality. The initial presentation of Madison and her self obsessed personality is starkly in contrast to what happens after the credits roll. Wiping a bead of nervous sweat from my brow. It was hard not to raise a smile knowing that director Kurtis Harder had something different in mind for Influencer. And thank God that he did.

Influencer Feels Very Fresh

Once those first dull, and all too familiar, segments are out of the way. Influencer reveals itself to be a compelling and original take on the social media influencer theme. Harder goes out of his way to circumvent expectation at practically every turn. Crafting a movie that is both thrilling and fun. Influencer offers up a different perspective on the personalities that haunt social media in much the same way as Sissy does.. Presenting events from a different point of view and creating an antagonist that is sinister, devious, and a tremendous amount of fun.

Influencer frames social media in an almost satirical manner. Acting as something of a commentary on the prosthetic, plastic, nature of people online. It is witty and biting in its presentation of influencers. Hitting on all the usual cliches and observations that you would expect. While also highlighting the nature in which people are manipulated by influencers. And how the influencers can be manipulated, in turn.

Seeing so much of the movie from the antagonist’s point of view goes some way to creating something of an antihero. A character that you almost, inadvertently, get behind purely due to how obnoxious the victims are. Influencer takes that old fashioned feeling of rooting for Jason as he kills a bunch of annoying summer camp denizens. And brings it right up to date. Replacing the annoying teenagers with even more annoying influencers in their thirties. Harder was a producer on Superhost. A movie that is similar in its approach to character portrayals. I hope he brings more of the same to the table in future, we need more villains like this in horror. 

Any Negatives?

It is worth pointing out that this is far more of a thriller than a horror. The story has a tendency to go the path of least resistance, as well, leading to later parts being a bit predictable. I absolutely hated the sound production. This movie was a chore to sit through on a standard television. The musical score is about as marmite as they come and the mix is terrible. Voices are barely whispers requiring you to adjust the volume only for you to be blasted by an awful electronic pop track seconds later. It is legitimately annoying.

There isn’t a ton of background to the characters here which is going to piss some people off. Characters lack clearly defined motivation and you have to work out their reasons for doing the things they do yourself. The script can be weak in parts and a few things happen that seem nonsensical. Influencer can be frustratingly predictable in parts, as well. Provoking a few eye rolls for how it refuses to take chances when it probably should. But it’s not a major problem as, for the most part, the movie does keep you guessing. I think a lot of people will struggle with just how completely unlikable the protagonists here are, as well.

Acting is Generally Decent

Influencer is a star making turn for Cassandra Naud, as CW. She is absolutely fantastic here, portraying both sides of her character’s personality in an equally believable manner. While, also, seamlessly bringing to life the side of her character that is vulnerable and insecure. In much the same way as Gracie Gillam makes Superhost a much better movie, Naud does the same here with Influencer. She has a role in upcoming Christmas horror movie It’s a Wonderful Knife and I can’t wait to see more of her. She is simply great!

Emily Tennant is okay, as Madison, but lacks believability as an influencer. Again, like in so many other influencer themed movies. These movies seem to settle on “she is white with blue eyes and blonde hair”. Without actually addressing the fact that she has been towing 30 for the past few years and has absolutely no charisma. Madison is very hard to buy into as someone with a large social media presence. As is Jessica but Sara Canning seems to have a blast playing the character and is very good.

I’m really not sure about Rory Saper as Ryan. I can’t tell whether he is completely natural and far more comfortable than nearly everyone else or just a bit wooden. I am fairly sure he was actually just doing a really good job of creating a believable, normal, character. But I think some will see it as being wooden and a bit awkward. Cinematography is great. Influencer shows off a side of Thailand that is lesser seen in horror. We normally see the backstreets and seedy parts filled with questionable European tourists and backpackers. The side we see here is stunningly beautiful and full of opulence. The scenery will take your breath away in parts.

Should You Watch Influencer?

In the title, I posed the question of whether this is the best social media influencer horror movie. I would probably say it is top three along with Sissy and Deadstream. Influencer is a fun movie that presents a unique story that could have been all too familiar. Taking the subject of influencers and flipping the focus on its head. This is a genuinely enjoyable film that keeps you guessing and features an absolutely fantastic villain. It has some flaws but nothing too major. It’s just a great horror movie that goes out of its way to circumvent expectation. A definite watch if you have a Sudder subscription.