‘Influencers’ Movie Review [Fantasia 2025]: A Thriller Sequel That Demands Too Much Suspension of Disbelief

Photo from Fantasia Film Festival

From Jeff Nelson

Kurtis David Harder’s Influencer struck a nerve with its assault on influencer culture. More thriller than horror, it relied on logic-defying leaps to deliver an entertaining, albeit telegraphed series of twists and turns. Now, a sequel, suitably called Influencers, asks: Who is the predator, and who is the prey? The answer isn’t always so clear.

The first Influencer ended with Madison (Emily Tennant) narrowly escaping the island she was meant to die on, leaving the master manipulator CW (Cassandra Naud) behind. One would assume the influencer triumphed over her captor, but the sequel subverts that expectation. Law enforcement arrests Madison for CW’s murders after finding no trace of her on the island. With her public image destroyed and her safety at risk, she embarks on a mission to track the murderer down and clear her name.

Now, CW lives in the sun-kissed countryside of southern France with her girlfriend, Diane (Lisa Delamar). How did she escape the island undetected? Well, the film treats this plot hole as a running joke, exposing the script’s laziness. CW’s quiet life is upended during a romantic anniversary trip, when she meets Charlotte (Georgina Campbell), a charming influencer, who rewakens her violent impulses.

Influencers aims for grander revelations, bouncing between Madison’s quest for retribution and CW’s desperation to protect her relationship with Diane, who grows suspicious that her girlfriend isn’t who she claims to be. Madison’s survival on the island proves her resourcefulness, and now it comes out in full force, forcing CW to act on her heels.

The movie earns its plural title by introducing other influencers, like conservative bro streamer Jacob (Jonathan Whitesell) and his alt-right girlfriend, Ariana (Veronica Long), who stumble into Madison and CW’s feud. While their toxic personas fuel dark humor, these subplots play second fiddle to a central narrative that demands even greater leaps from reality than the first film. The impossible technology used as a crutch feels more lazy than clever, especially since it doesn’t play for laughs.

Naud once again impresses as CW, embodying her character’s duality with effortless charm and menace. Her desperation to conceal her darkness heightens the tension. Harder pits her in a wild climax that prioritizes bloody brawls over twists. It’s undeniably fun, hilarious, and well-shot.

Influencers matches its predecessor’s entertainment value, but its logical gaps and underbaked social commentary weigh it down. While expanding the scope into a back-and-forth cat-and-mouse game offers fresh dynamics, it loses the first film’s tight execution. 

Rating: 2.5/5

Influencers played at Fantasia 2025 on July 26th and will stream soon on Shudder.

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