Influencer is a social media thriller that initially has elements of a stranger in a strange land story. Madison (Emily Tennant, Riverdale) is a social media influencer who is having a lonely trip in Thailand after her boyfriend bailed on her at the last minute. She meets a friendly local named CW (Cassandra Naud, See) who takes her to a deserted island and changes her life forever.
Despite its title and modern leanings, the film is very much a traditional thriller. The first twenty minutes offer up a plot that will be familiar to genre fans and have some worrying that Influencer is going to be too predictable. As it turns out, the relatively long cold open just sets up a story that goes in a number of surprising directions.
Since there is not much depth to the characters, it is the cat and mouse aspect of Influencer that takes center stage. There is not much in the way of a mystery, it is more about the twists that arise. The plot takes some neat turns, though the second act lacks the suspense it should have.
The finale pulls off the rare trick of being simultaneously underserved and satisfying. The actual climatic moments come out of nowhere and make little sense, but the final shot plays perfectly into the rest of Influencer. There is a sense that a complete story has been told. The main drawback is the lack of development for any of the people involved.
Naud does a fantastic job with the material she is provided and is the best part of Influencer. CW is given little in the way of motivation, but the performance will draw audiences in. From her sinister stares to her subtly manipulative manner, she controls the scene every time she is on screen. It is an impressive performance that adds to what can be a run of the mill thriller.
Influencer comes to Shudder May 26
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