Lexi (2022) Review – A Raw and Effective Stalker Mockumentary
Lexi: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A surprisingly raw and unsettling entry into the “social media horror” sub-genre that rises above its micro-budget origins. Lexi succeeds by leaning into the inherent creepiness of voyeurism, trading cheap jump scares for a vivid, graphic portrayal of a woman’s life being methodically dismantled by a stalker. Victoria Vertuga delivers a powerhouse performance as the titular influencer, perfectly capturing the manufactured optimism of online personalities and the terrifying reality of their vulnerability. While the film struggles with a few DIY limitations, including some notably indifferent canine co-stars, and a frustratingly inconclusive ending, it remains a compelling piece of independent filmmaking. It is a 3 star mockumentary that understands the psychological toll of privacy invasion far better than most big-budget equivalents. It is a one-woman show that is well worth your time if you appreciate the “slow-burn” investigative style of films like Lake Mungo.
Details: Director: Victoria Vertuga | Cast: Victoria Vertuga, Thomas Hobson, Maya Zapata, Susan Louise O’Connor | Runtime: 1h 19m | Release Date: 24 June 2022
Best for: Fans of character-driven found footage and viewers interested in the dark side of social media influencer culture.
Worth noting: Victoria Vertuga not only stars in the film but also served as the director, writer, and producer, marking an impressive multi-hyphenate debut in the genre.
Where to Watch: Amazon🛒, Tubi (Free), Vudu
Rating: 3/5 Stars
(Exceptional lead performance and effective tension, but let down by a poor finale.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are reviewing social media influencer themed found footage horror movie Lexi from 2022.
Highlights
It’s another found footage
Found footage has firmly taken over as the presentation format for low-budget horror. I suppose that goes without saying, it’s a cheap way to produce movies, requires minimal equipment and can be done with a skeleton crew and no script. Still, I can’t be the only one who misses some of the ultra-low-budget, traditionally filmed, crap? If you grew up in the 90s you probably spent a lot of your time watching these types of movies. It is sad to see them vanish.
“Lexi focuses on the disappearance of motivational influencer Laughing Lexi. The movie plays out as a mockumentary à la Lake Mungo or Butterfly Kisses, and for a familiar format, it works rather well.”
Lexi focuses on the disappearance of motivational influencer Laughing Lexi. Despite her immense popularity, it would seem the 29-year-old Lexi has made some enemies. Some people are not fans of her constantly upbeat approach to life, others seem to be jealous of her success. When bizarre videos of her start appearing online, Lexi thinks someone is playing a prank on her. The reality, however, appears to be much more sinister.
Lexi opens up with footage of the disappearance of our main character. As well as a declaration that everything you see is part of a police investigation. The movie then plays out as something of a mockumentary à la Lake Mungo or Butterfly Kisses.
It features interviews with friends, fellow influencers and fans. While exploring the events that lead up to the disappearance of our influencer protagonist. Action takes place through security cameras, Ring doorbells, and through vlogs uploaded by Lexi. A whole host of characters play suspect due to Lexi’s online fame as well as people closer to home. Obviously this is a very familiar format but it works rather well.
Actually effective voyeurism
Many movies completely miss the mark when it comes to voyeurism and privacy invasion. Much like in the movie Ratter, the footage shown will be mundane and inconsequential, feeling less like an invasion of privacy and more like an exploration of just how boring the average person’s life is. Who wants to watch someone playing a video game? The vast majority of voyeurs are going to be there for the seriously intimate moments.
“Vertuga spares no expense when it comes to portraying the vulnerability of Lexi. It feels all the more effective for how graphic and raw it can be. You have seen this before, but it is superbly effective.”
While there is a strong lean towards the mockumentary format here, offering up a bunch of exposition from a group of characters that range from rather hammy and inauthentic to actually well-acted and believable, Lexi‘s focus is, predominantly, on the stalking of the main character and the impact it has on her. The bulk of the content is camera footage showing her being spied on. Something which Lexi manages to do extremely well, making a point of exposing the main character at her most vulnerable.
Whether it is her breaking down while doing the dishes, screaming hysterically into thin air, or drying off after a shower, Vertuga spares no expense when it comes to portraying the vulnerability of Lexi. Something that feels all the more effective for how graphic and raw it can be. Lexi’s life is being torn apart thanks to this horrible stalking incident and this is made clear in raw and vivid detail. It’s, generally, very well done. You have seen this type of thing before but when it works it is superbly effective.
Not perfect
Of course, it goes without saying that this movie has some issues, the biggest of which we will get to in a second. This is, clearly, a movie made on a shoestring budget and, potentially, filmed by one person.. Something that may put a few people off. Some people simply don’t like found footage and mockumentaries. With that in mind, much of the content feels fairly familiar, with the social media influencer stuff being a cut and paste of other similar movies. There’s never enough time to flesh out just what makes influencers in these movies so well liked.
There’s a fair bit of redundancy to some of the stuff we see, the fan videos for example. The movie never quite gets to a level of fear that it could have potentially managed. And, on top of that, the fact that Vertuga’s three dogs couldn’t give two shits about people sneaking into her house really takes you out of the moment on a number of occasions.
Whoever was moving the doors and walking around with a camera was clearly a friend as the puppers barely even look up. I can understand Vertuga wanting to portray these, supposedly vicious, dogs as big softies but it doesn’t do the movie any favours. Don’t get me wrong, Staffordshire Bull Terriers are absolute babies that love nothing more than to sleep in your lap, quietly stinking out the room with their horrendous tendencies to fart a ton. But I still feel like any Staffie faced with an intruder would at least give them a sniff.
A poor ending and a one woman show
The biggest issue here is the ending, as in, there isn’t one. By the time the movie wraps up, we know exactly what we knew at the start. Lexi is missing and we don’t know where she has gone. It’s frustrating and will definitely disappoint some viewers.
“Victoria Vertuga’s performance deserves tremendous praise. She does a fantastic job of portraying a believable social media influencer, having all the right tics and inflections you would expect.”
Victoria Vertuga’s performance here deserves tremendous praise. She’s brilliant and her direction and acting are really on point. She does a fantastic job of portraying a believable social media influencer, having all the right tics and inflections that you would expect for someone in this role. She commits thoroughly and it pays off.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Victoria Vertuga: A fantastic lead performance that anchors the entire film, making the character of Lexi feel grounded and authentic.
- Effective Voyeurism: The spied-on footage feels genuinely invasive and unsettling, successfully conveying the terror of being watched.
- Grounded Atmosphere: Despite the shoestring budget, the film manages to build a consistent sense of dread through its mockumentary framing.
The Bad
- The Ending: The lack of a clear resolution is a major sticking point, leaving the narrative feeling unfinished and frustrating.
- Repetitive Content: Some of the fan videos and vlog-style segments feel redundant, occasionally slowing the momentum of the investigation.
- Unresponsive Dogs: The canine residents of the house are far too calm during “intruder” scenes, which inadvertently breaks the tension.
The Ugly: The Influence Paradox. While the film critiques social media, it relies heavily on influencer tropes that have been seen in dozens of other found footage films, making some parts feel a bit like a “cut and paste.”
Should You Watch Lexi?
Yes, especially if you have a Tubi subscription and an hour to spare. It is a solid 3 star indie horror that showcases real talent behind and in front of the camera. While it won’t satisfy those looking for a neat, wrapped-up ending, it provides enough psychological tension and raw vulnerability to stay memorable. Victoria Vertuga is a creator to watch in the future.
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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