Nerdly » ‘Deinfluencer’ Review

13th Jun2023

‘Deinfluencer’ Review

by Phil Wheat

Stars: Marie Luciani-Grimaldi, Caylin Turner, Simon Phillips, Anne-Carolyn Binette, Jason Sedlar, Yore Edegbe | Written by Jamie Bailey, Simon Phillips | Directed by Jamie Bailey

Deinfluencer sees cheerleader Kelly abducted by a fearsome masked fiend and forced to complete a series of increasingly violent tasks on social media to win her freedom and save not only her own life – but also the lives of others held captive, including Sabrina (Caylin Turner). Caught in a sinister game of social media survival, where the stakes are higher than ever before, Kelly must do whatever it takes to earn likes and stay alive. But can she rise to the challenge and save herself, and Sabrina, from this terrifying trap? She must battle against the clock and only one thing is certain: every like counts… or does it?

Actor Simon Phillips, who rose to fame in the British gangster trilogy of Jack Says, Jack Said and Jack Falls, and most recently appeared in regular collaborator Paul Tanter’s The Nights Before Christmas, pens Deinfluencer‘s story with director Jamie Bailey AND steps in front of the camera as the films masked kidnapper, Charles. Which is probably why Charles makes for such a great antagonist – Phillips knows this story inside and out and so his performance feels more real and raw.

Plus there are real shades of Saw in the mix here too and as an indie horror fan it’s interesting to note that Charles’ mask is eerily reminiscent of the titular character’s mask in the Killjoy franchise! Which is apt given that the film’s budget is obviously more akin to the latter rather than the former – with a lot of the film’s more gruesome “acts”, a severed toe, a kidney removed, only occurring off-screen.

What we do see however is a taut cat-and-mouse game between Kelly and Charles, one that plays out not only in the confines of the building Kelly and Sabrina are held hostage in but only on social media. Speaking of which, Deinfluencer does get a little preachy regarding the “evils of social media” and the false nature of chasing likes, followers and clout. But then so did the Saw franchise with its “lesson learning”, so it’s not as if the script wavers from the set formula. Though it tries to waver… It tries hard. Especially when it comes to the motivations of Charles – which I’m sure co-writers Bailey and Phillips thought would be a big reveal. But ultimately they’re motivations that, unfortunately, are somewhat cliched.

It’s a shame because Deinfluencer belies its obvious low budget to deliver a tense finished film; tense in terms of the production at least – the editing, the soundtrack, the performances, etc., are all on point. It’s just the fact the film thinks its denouement is more unexpected and clever than it really is that, in the end, lets the Deinfluencer down.