Influencer 2023 Kills Culture In Surly Shudder Original Horror Movie
It’s no surprise with writer/director Kurtis David Harder (Harpoon, Superhost, Spiral) behind the wheel that Influencer, the newest YA thriller, was going to be entertaining. With a social media backbone centered on one woman’s intent to steal the identity of those she deems replaceable, the title creates an easy-to-watch narrative. A popcorn flick at most, the Influencer movie flirts with several popular themes.
The eternally wounded seek to destroy those they think most deserve it, sidled up against their most profound infiltration. At the very least characters are engaging, interesting and likable. Backstories for pivotal story arcs have enough depth to be invested. While imperfect, simmering under the surface of what should be a predictable plot, is enough to chew on.
Madison arrives in Thailand on the brink of a breakup and with a social media following that earns her enough residual income, she flaunts her lifestyle online. Sitting at a resort, the local barfly offers to be her guide only to find another local swiftly comes to her aid. CW quickly declines his advances as a friendly gesture steeped in women looking out for other women.
Influencer Hero
The audience is not kept in the dark as the two embark on sightseeing around the beautifully cinematic backdrops. Small hints that CW might not be her knight in shining armor taunt and otherwise rudimentary play-by-play. CW doesn’t want her picture taken and looks slightly conspicuous most of the time. So when Madison’s room is broken into and her passport stolen, it’s easy to guess where certain events might lead.
Reviews for the Influencer film are widely mixed. I think this is the sign of a hidden gem. Subsequently, I wasn’t at all disappointed with what is essentially a slow burn carried by the generic and raised above the bar by some great production values. IMBd.com has this film about a social media influencer serial killer rated at 6/10. A fair score for a movie that isn’t at all profound. Instead, it lays its chips to land where they fall and makes no apologies. As a result, Influencer is a quick fix with all the essential ingredients of an enjoyable night in with a solid B-Movie.
Influencer is rated
3.5 Influencers by definition trying to stay alive out of 5
The film makes its exclusive streaming debut on May 26 on the Shudder platform in the UK, the USA, and Australia. Influencer was produced by Octane Entertainment. Co-written by Tesh Guttikonda.
The film was shot on location in Thailand and also stars Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries) and Rory J. Saper (The Legend of Tarzan).
