Influencer (2022) Review – A Fresh and Cunning Social Media Thriller

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today, we are checking out Shudder Original, social media themed, horror movie Influencer from 2022.

Influencer starts off very familiar

This movie starts off in a pretty familiar manner. We have beautiful beaches, gorgeous locations and selfies in the sun. The story follows a social media influencer who heads 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.

I’m going to caution before we start: don’t watch the trailer. Influencer plays out in a way that you might not expect but the trailer spoils it massively.

It’s funny because I was actually worried for a minute when I started watching Influencer. It was all so formulaic. 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.

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 fresh in a crowded genre

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.

“Influencer reveals itself to be a compelling and original take on the social media theme. Kurtis Harder goes out of his way to circumvent expectation at practically every turn.”

The rug is quickly whipped away from under your feet and it changes the complexion of the entire film. No longer are you watching a dull narcissist documenting their shallow existence. You are suddenly watching a cunning killer playing cat and mouse with everyone around them. It’s fascinating stuff and feels enormously fresh.

Influencer knows what you are going to expect and does everything it can to flip that on its head. It stays taught and compelling, too. Our antagonist isn’t exactly gifted with massive strength. They only have their smarts so that means they need to stay on their toes. This keeps the pace fast and the action edge of your seat. It’s tons of fun.

A satirical look at social media

The story 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 online celebrity. Hitting on all the usual clichés and observations that you would expect. But also highlighting the nature in which people are manipulated by these people. It presents their desire for fame as a weakness. A weakness that can easily be exploited.

It presents things very differently from the norm, as well. We witness these events as a tag-along to the movie’s bad guy. The clever thing is, the victims here are so vapid and detestable that they almost turn the villain into something of an antihero. A character that you almost get behind purely due to how obnoxious everyone else is.

“The story frames social media in an almost satirical manner, acting as a commentary on the prosthetic, plastic nature of people online. It is witty and biting in its presentation.”

Influencer brings that old-fashioned feeling of rooting for Jason as he kills a bunch of annoying summer camp denizens bang up to date. Harder was a producer on Superhost, a movie that is similar in its approach to character portrayals. He has a great eye for fantastic villains, that’s for sure. Rebecca in Superhost is one of the best in years. I hope he brings more of the same to the table in future; we need more charismatic bad guys like this in horror.

There are a few 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.

“Influencer is a star-making turn for Cassandra Naud. She is absolutely fantastic, portraying both sides of her character’s personality in an equally believable manner.”

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”. They rarely create online celebs who feel authentic. These roles are almost always flat and dull.

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.

Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight

Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.

A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.

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