Kurtis David Harder’s “Influencers” doesn’t just pick up where “Influencer” left off—it leaps forward, shifting the series’ tone from psychological unease to an exhilarating globe-trotting pursuit. The sequel moves away from the tight, claustrophobic tension of the first film, expanding its canvas to include locations such as Paris, the South of France, Bali, and Vancouver. Harder confidently embraces this bold shift.
The film opens with CW seemingly enjoying a fairytale vacation with her new girlfriend, Diane. With sun-kissed castles and charming French villages, everything feels a little too perfect, which is precisely the point. When an influencer named Charlotte enters the picture, CW’s jealousy ignites, and the peaceful façade begins to crumble. Harder captures these moments with the aesthetics of a travel advertisement, all while hinting at underlying turmoil.
Madison serves as the emotional anchor of the story. A year after being publicly labeled as the architect of the previous film’s horrors, she struggles to rebuild her life. Emily Tennant offers a deeper performance this time, imbuing Madison with a quiet strength that grounds the narrative. Her suspicion that CW might still be alive prompts her reluctant investigation, leading her to retrace the killer’s footsteps and re-enter a world she thought she had escaped.
The addition of Jacob, a pro-Trump streamer, and his girlfriend Ariana expands the film’s perspective. Their presence is anything but subtle, but subtlety is not Harder’s aim. They symbolize another facet of online influence—grifters and culture warriors who treat clout as currency. Their storyline adds an unexpected layer, revealing how the modern digital landscape has evolved since the original film’s release.
The sequel boldly engages with themes of AI and deepfakes, transforming CW—an identity thief by trade—into a character worried about losing her own image to emerging technology. This concept is one of the film’s most intriguing elements.
Not every twist is effective, and some narrative leaps may require the audience’s generosity. However, the film’s visual ambition, dark humor, and willingness to expand its mythology make *Influencers* a sequel with purpose. It does not rely on the success of the first film; instead, it ventures outward, experimenting with tone and scope while maintaining its critique of clout culture.
By the time Madison and CW finally confront each other again, the film truly earns its full-circle moment—and it leaves the door open for a potential follow-up that could explore even broader horizons.
Final Grade: B
“Influencers” is available to stream on Shudder today.
As the King of Pop’s biopic continues to perform well at the box office, I wanted to revisit one of Michael Jackson’s overlooked solo albums, “Forever, Michael”, released in 1975, for my first Second Listen Sunday of 2026.
As Joe prepares for his upcoming Tiny Desk performance, it’s a fitting time to revisit “U Should Know Me,” one of the hidden gems in his catalog. This song, which he wrote and produced himself, first appeared in 1998 on the soundtrack for “Caught Up”, a hood drama starring Bokeem Woodbine and Cynda Williams.
As fans look forward to his upcoming co-headlining “Nights Like This” tour with Akon, Ne-Yo is smoothly transitioning into country music while still maintaining his R&B roots with his latest single, “Ms. Tundra.” This infectious track is the third release from his forthcoming tenth studio album, “Highway 79,” set for release on July 10 via Compound Entertainment.