News

If you’ve ever wanted to take a meat clever to the Manosphere, get ready to live vicariously through your favourite social media sociopath in the lush Destination Thriller Influencers. Picking back up where he left off in 2023’s indie killer hit Influencer, writer/director Kurtis David Harder continues the story of the mysterious & deadly CW (Cassandra Naud) who, last we left her, was stranded on a desert island after hacking her way through a truck load of social media personalities. Influencers returns to the dark side of the digital world, bringing in updated tech and some new online assholes for CW to torment.

Reprising her role from Influencer (2023), Cassandra Naud delivers another diabolical performance as an identity-stealing techno serial killer, but Influencers also gives her the space to stretch and play with the character’s more emotional side. When Influencers begins CW is living in the south of France,...

The benefit of a sequel is that you can hit the ground running. The lore, the characters, even the narrative format, have all been established, so filmmakers can dispense with the formality of introducing everything except the new plot.

Writer/director Kurtis David Harder absolutely embraces this approach for his sequel, Influencers. Building off the events of the 2023 film, the sequel opens with a moment of violence, before catching up with CW (Cassandra Naud) one year later.

CW now identifies as Catherine. She’s living in the south of France with her girlfriend, Diane (Lisa Delamar), eating at cute cafes and preparing for a weekend in the country to celebrate their one year anniversary. It seems as though the sociopath has turned over a new leaf: she’s happy and in love, even if Diane clearly has no idea who CW really is.

Things quickly fall apart when they arrive...

Montreal — Producer and media executive Kevin Healey and Viral Nation’s Head of Programming Paul Telner have boarded the feature adaptation of Spencer Zimmerman’s satirical body-horror thriller “Headcase” ahead of the short film’s world premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival.

In “Headcase,” which screens July 26 before the world premiere of Kurtis David Harder’s “Influencers,” a desperate influencer (Siobhan Connors) hits a man (Pat Moonie) with her car while filming content and decides to make the most of the dead man to ensure her brand goes viral.

Zimmerman, whose previous films include the 2023 Leo Award-winning short “Darkside,” is currently a junior producer at busy Vancouver genre studio Oddfellows, where he is supervising production and running set. He recently worked on Osgood Perkins’ “Longlegs,” “The Monkey,” and the upcoming Perkins film “Keeper.”

Moonie presented Zimmerman with the idea for “Headcase” last fall and they co-wrote the script. A tight team of creatives,...

The Fantasia International Film Festival kicks off its 29th year this week. The Montreal-based festival is a haven for genre fans and films from all corners of the world. Horror, sci-fi and fantasy fans gather every year to celebrate some high-profile premieres, festival favorites, and smaller films just beginning to find their fans. There is something at this fest for everyone, and it’s always exciting to see what will be on offer.

Though it’s nearly impossible to cover every single inch of what Fantasia has to offer, we have put together a snapshot of some of our most anticipated films. Keep checking back for reviews over the course of the festival, as your next favorite film might be around the corner.

And for more details on the films screening at this year's Fantasia International Film Festival, visit: https://fantasiafestival.com/en

Influencers

In the sequel to his 2022 hit Influencer,...

Hot on the heels of their initial lineup announcement, Popcorn Frights is back to announce an additional 25 film premieres, epic events, and special guests getting ready to take over South Florida from August 7 to August 17!

Tina Romero, daughter of zombie godfather George A. Romero, will be in attendance for the Southeast US premiere of her undead drag spectacle Queens of the Dead. This night of the living glam will be paired with a fabulous live drag performance that’s guaranteed to slay and leave audiences gagging… for more brains! Romero will also present a special 40th Anniversary 4K Restoration of her father’s seminal zombie classic Day of the Dead, bringing the zombies back to Florida soil where it was originally shot. Check out the rest of the feature announcements below!

Speaking of horror icons, the legendary Dee Wallace is crashing the party for a triple-bill, appearing in person to...

The Popcorn Frights Film Festival is back with its eleventh this year, both in-person and virtually, from August 7-17. The Southeast’s largest genre celebration announces its second wave of programming this morning, from new premieres to repertory screening classics.

The second wave highlights include a screening of Tina Romero’s Queens of the Dead. The filmmaker is also presenting a special 40th Anniversary 4K Restoration of her father’s seminal zombie classic Day of the Dead, bringing the zombies back to Florida soil where it was originally shot.

Horror legend Dee Wallace joins the party for a howl-worthy triple-bill, appearing in-person to introduce three of her all-time cult classics hits: Stephen King’s Cujo, Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes, and Joe Dante’s The Howling, newly restored in 4K. She joins previously announced guests Barbara Crampton, Lloyd Kaufman, and Linnea Quigley.

As if that’s not enough,...

While the oeuvre of Toronto director David Cronenberg, the maestro of body horror, has inspired generations of Canadian filmmakers (including his progeny) and continues to do, Montreal’s Fantasia Festival and its Frontières Market event put them face-to-face with the global genre community – not to mention rabid local audiences – in a red-carpet-free cinema hotzone.

10 years in the making, Félix Dufour-Laperrière’s “Death Does Not Exist” (“La mort n’existe pas”), his third animated film and the only Canadian feature to world-premiere at Cannes this year, receives its North American and local premiere July 17.

Dufour-Laperrière has made all his animated films with the same small team out of the Montreal studio he runs with his brother Nicolas. “We’re coming from the Quebec film scene, which has a strong relationship with documentary, animation, alternative fiction, alternative means of production,” he told Variety.

“The subject matter [of ‘Death Does Not Exist’] might be difficult, but it is made with total honesty,...

The 26th year serves up some delicious treats

James Demonaco’S The Home And Kurtis David Harder’S Influencers To Open And Close 26Th Edition.

Be prepared for the weird, the wild and the wonderful as FrightFest 2025, the UK’s No.1 horror & fantasy film festival, returns to The Odeon Luxe Leicester Square for its annual five-day extravaganza, taking over seven screens, including the two at the Odeon Luxe West End.

Running from Thursday August 21 – Monday 25 August, FrightFest will showcase sixty-nine features from across the world, embracing twenty-five main screen premieres and forty-four Discovery Screen titles, including the popular ‘First Blood’ strand, the latest genre documentaries, and a 4K restoration retrospective of one of the most game-changing British shockers ever. Plus, there’s the regular short-film strand, now extended to four showcases - to be announced later. This year there are nineteen world premieres, with fourteen countries represented, spanning four continents.

FrightFest, the number one horror and fantasy film festival in the UK, is back this year for its annual five-day extravaganza. Running from August 21 to August 25, 2025, FrightFest will showcase 69 features from across the world, including 19 world premieres from 14 countries and four short film showcase. This year, the festival returns to The Odeon Luxe Leicester Square and Odeon Luxe West End, taking over seven screens total for horror and genre filmmaking galore.

Festival co-director Alan Jones said, “FrightFest in its 26th year remains the UK’s Number One destination for genre fans. The 2025 event will be epic in every sense, celebrating the inventive, transgressive and diverse. So, join us for an event that has consistently remained in the Top Ten of The World’s Best Fantasy Festivals list”.

The Home

The festival opens with the UK premiere of The Home from director James DeMonaco, creator of The Purge franchise. It’s...

Exclusive: UK genre festival FrightFest has revealed its 2025 lineup with the event opening with Pete Davidson horror The Home.

The event, which runs between August 21–25 at The Odeon Luxe Leicester Square for its annual five-day extravaganza, will showcase sixty-nine features, including nineteen world premieres.

From director James DeMonaco, creator of The Purge franchise, actor-comedian Davidson plays Max in The Home, a rebellious twenty-something sentenced to community service at a quiet retirement home. Roadside/Lionsgate is releasing in the U.S. later this month.

The festival will close with Kurtis David Harder’s Influencers, which is being distributed by Shudder in the U.S. Set in southern France, it sees a young woman’s fascination with murder and identity theft send her life into a whirlwind of chaos.

Among the lineup, returning filmmakers include Erik Bloomquist who will be on hand with his latest chiller, Self-Help; Simon Rumley returns with Crushed...

The 2025 Fantasia Film Festival kicks off in Montreal July 16 for nineteen days of blood-soaked, neon-drenched, mind-scrambling cinematic insanity! The Fantasia Film Festival is a Massive celebration of everything weird, wild, and wonderfully absurd, and holy shit! do the weirdos in Montreal know how to throw one hell of a party.

Seriously, if you’ve never been you should really make the trip to Montreal. Fantasia has one of the absolute best genre audiences in the world. Not to mention the best poutine in the entire country! Anyway, here’s a bunch of Horror movies we’re dying to see (and few we’re dying to rewatch) at this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival.

Click Here for more information, and to purchase tickets.

Influencers

World Premiere

Directed by: Kurtis David Harder

We’re in the South of France, and CW [returning from Kurtis David Harder’s 2022 indie hit Influencer] is in love. Her girlfriend Diane is a French beauty,...

Genndy Tartakovsky’s “Fixed,” from Sony Pictures Animation, an R-rated dog sex comedy bound for Netflix later this summer, will close Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival.

The news comes as Fantasia unleashed Thursday its third and final wave of feature films – over 125 features unspool from July 16 to Aug. 3, 2025— as well as details of its competitions and career-celebrating awards, the Fantasia Retro lineup and a rowdy pack of free daytime panels, launches and masterclasses.

The full programming schedule also goes live July 3; tickets go on sale July 4.

At separate events, Tartakovsky and composer Danny Elfman will be feted with a Cheval Noir Career Achievement Award. Elfman’s award event includes a special screening of 1993 classic “The Nightmare Before Christmas” preceded by the world premiere of Eddie Alcazar’s animated short “Bullet Time,” both scored by Elfman.

Also screening opening night, Lee Chang-hee (“The Vanished’) and Yusron Fuadi’s class-divide crime...

Fantasia International Film Festival has revealed the first wave of titles for its 29th edition, running July 17–August 3, 2025, in Montreal. Returning to Concordia Hall, J.A. de Sève, and Cinéma du Musée, this year’s lineup promises a thrilling mix of world premieres, genre experiments, and breakout voices.

Among the early highlights:

Steve Pink’s Terrestrial shifts the Hot Tub Time Machine director into darker sci-fi thriller territory, starring Jermaine Fowler and Pauline Chalamet. Kenichi Ugana’s I Fell In Love With A Z-grade Director In Brooklyn offers a hilarious, heartfelt tribute to indie horror and DIY filmmaking. Julie Pacino’s I Live Here Now dives deep into Lynchian dream-logic and trauma, with Lucy Fry leading an impressive cast. YA Boy Kongmin! The Movie catapults the hit manga/anime into a wild, J-pop-fueled cinematic adventure. Influencers, Kurtis David Harder’s chilling sequel, sees Cassandra Naud’s CW return to wreak...

As summertime approaches, anticipation starts to grow for the annual Fantasia International Film Festival, held every year in Montreal. This year makes the festival’s 29th edition with an electrifying program of screenings, workshops, and launch events running from July 17 through August 3, 2025, presented by Mels in collaboration with Concordia University. Fantasia returns to their usual venues of Concordia Hall and J.A. de Sève cinemas, with additional screenings and events at Montreal’s Cinéma du Musée.

Fantasia will announce the full lineup in July, but for now, they’ve provided a delicious list for its first wave of titles, which include Julia Pacino’s feature film debut, the latest from the Adams’ Family, Kurtis David Harder’s sequel film Influencers, and so much more.

Check out the first wave of 2025 Fantasia titles below: Terrestrial (dir. Steve Pink)

World Premiere

As director of the Hot Tub Time Machine films, Accepted, and About Last Night,...

The 29th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival is set to run from from July 17th through August 3rd at the Concordia Hall and J.A. de Sève cinemas in Montreal, with additional screenings and events at Cinéma du Musée – and today the festival announced the first wave of titles that will be screening there this year! The full line-up will be announced in early July, but for here’s a sample of what attendees can expect to see there, with the information coming directly from the Fantasia press release:

Terrestrial Reveals A Different Shade Of (Steve) Pink: As director of the Hot Tub Time Machine films, Accepted, and About Last Night, and the co-writer of High Fidelity and Grosse Point Blank, Steve Pink has made a distinctive name for himself with individualistic comedy works that ooze personality. Now, he’s exploring darker edges of his sensibilities with Terrestrial,...

The Fantasia International Film Festival will be celebrating its 29th edition with another densely packed slate of events and programming running from July 17 through August 3, 2025, returning to the Concordia Hall and J.A. de Sève cinemas and presented by Mels, with additional screenings and events at Montreal’s Cinéma du Musée.

The festival’s full lineup will be announced in early July, but in the meantime, Fantasia 2025 has revealed a select first wave of premiere titles. Highlights include Influencers, writer-director Kurtis David Harder‘s follow up to his 2022 thriller. Actor Al Pacino‘s daughter, film producer Julie Pacino, makes her feature directorial debut with the Lynchian I Live Here Now. From the director behind Hot Tub Time Machine and multiple episodes of “Santa Clarita Diet,” Steve Pink, comes an unconventional sci-fi comedy Terrestrial. The Adams family (Hellbender) is back with Mother of Flies, desrcribed as a personal dark fairy tale.

Steve Pink’s “Terrestrial” and Julie Pacino’s “I Live Here Now” are among the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival’s first wave line-up, the festival announced.

This year’s Fantasia runs July 17-Aug. 3, bringing a wide range of genre film screenings, workshops and launch events to Montreal. Of the first wave of films, “Terrestrial” marks Pink’s (“Hot Tub Time Machine”) first time directing a thriller, while Al Pacino’s daughter Julie Pacino makes her directorial debut with “I Live Here Now,” featuring “Twin Peaks” star Sheryl Lee along with Lucy Fry and Madeline Brewer. The line-up also includes Mexico’s first stop-motion feature “I Am Frankleda” and the latest Adams Family filmmaking collaboration, “Mother of Flies.”

Last year’s Fantasia included world premieres like Chris Stuckmann’s “Shelby Oaks,” “The Beast Within” starring Kit Harington and “Bookworm” starring Elijah Wood and Nell Fisher.

The full line-up will be unveiled in early July.

Horror is one of the most popular film genres right now, meaning there are tons of different movies being announced on an almost daily basis. You'd be forgiven for missing some of the latest exciting updates, which is why we're here to help.

The following list highlights some of the recent casting news from the horror industry. Stars from some of the biggest hits from the last few years are lining up their next projects as we speak. Among them are people like Georgina Campbell from Barbarian and David Dastmalchian from Late Night with the Devil. Keep reading to learn more about the horror updates you might have missed from this week.

Late Night with the Devil - Courtesy Shudder Late Night with the Devil and Barbarian stars team up for The Shepherd

David Dastmalchian and Georgina Campbell have been cast in the horror-thriller film The Shepherd. Variety reports that...

This month marks the two year anniversary of the Shudder streaming service releasing writer/director Kurtis David Harder’s horror thriller Influencer – so this was the perfect time for Deadline to reveal that Harder has wrapped production on the sequel Influencers, in which returning star Cassandra Naud is joined by Barbarian‘s Georgina Campbell. Shudder has already picked up the distribution rights in English-speaking territories.

Influencer showed us what happens when “a social media star vacationing in Thailand meets a mysterious woman, leading to unexpected and dangerous consequences.” Influencers moves the setting to southern France and watches as a young woman’s chilling fascination with murder and identity theft sends her life into a whirlwind of chaos. Pic deepens a cinematic universe built around themes of deception, online identity, and the darker sides of curated personas, offering an expanded canvas compared to the original. Lisa Delamar (Survive), Jonathan Whitesell (The...

Influencer writer-director Kurtis David Harder has quietly wrapped production on Influencers, the follow-up to his 2022 thriller, Deadline reports.

Cassandra Naud returns to star opposite Georgina Campbell (Barbarian). The cast also includes Lisa Delamar (Survive), Jonathan Whitesell (“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”), Veronica Long (“Billy the Kid”), and Dylan Playfair (“Letterkenny”).

The sequel moves the action from Thailand to southern France, where a young woman’s chilling fascination with murder and identity theft sends her life into a whirlwind of chaos.

It’s produced by Jackrabbit Media, which will rep international rights at Cannes.

“With Influencers, I wanted to revisit the themes of control and illusion, but from a new angle — one that’s more seductive, more dangerous, and more unhinged,” said Harder. “It’s a film that plays with perception. Fans of Influencer will feel something familiar beneath the surface, but the real fun is discovering just how deep those connections run.

Exclusive: Writer-director Kurtis David Harder has quietly wrapped production on Influencers, a new film following up his acclaimed 2023 Shudder thriller Influencer.

Shudder, the genre-focused streaming service AMC Networks, has once again picked up rights in English-speaking territories. Cassanda Naud has returned to lead the ennsemble, which also includes Georgina Campbell (Barbarian), Lisa Delamar (Survive), Jonathan Whitesell (The 100), Veronica Long (Billy the Kid), and Dylan Playfair (Letterkenny).

In Influencer, a social media star vacationing in Thailand meets a mysterious woman, leading to unexpected and dangerous consequences. Set in the picturesque landscapes of southern France, the sequel watches as a young woman’s chilling fascination with murder and identity theft sends her life into a whirlwind of chaos. Pic deepens a cinematic universe built around themes of deception, online identity, and the darker sides of curated personas, offering an expanded canvas compared to the original.

“With Influencers, I wanted to revisit the themes of control and illusion,...

Arriving just ahead of Easter is the new exorcism horror movie Shadow of the God, which appears to introduce a new twist in the trailer that debuted this morning: an elite exorcist realizes he may be dealing with a holy entity.

Shadow of God will debut on Shudder on April 11, 2025, as part of its Halfway to Halloween lineup.

In the film, “When several of his fellow Vatican exorcists are simultaneously killed, Father Mason Harper returns to his childhood home to spend time with childhood friend while he awaits orders from the Church. However, this small town holds dark secrets about Mason’s past and the religious organization once run by his father, Angus. Thought dead, Angus reappears, forcing a reunion between father and son. But Angus is different now, and before long, Mason suspects he’s possessed, not by the devil, but by something… holy. When Mason attempts to exorcise the presence from his father,...

Jackrabbit Media has wrapped production on its in-house thriller Lookout and will commence sales at the AFM in Las Vegas next week.

Stefan Colson whose credits include Ghosts Of Red Ridge, directs the story starring Meghan Carrasquillo from Blind Waters as a young woman seeking solitude and clarity who takes a job at a remote fire lookout tower.

However as she settles into her new role strange occurrences take place and she begins to put the pieces together in an effort to understand what is happening. Trent Culkin (Ghosts Of Red Ridge) andJohn Marrs (Outlaw Johnny Black) also star.Brandon Cahela wrote the screenplay.

Most of us have a love-hate relationship with social media. Yes, our phones provide hours of entertainment and allow us to connect with the larger world, but the proliferation of social media also fosters harmful comparisons and can leave us feeling inferior to bare acquaintances and outright strangers. And that’s to say nothing of influencer culture. This brand of salesmanship revolves around glamorous social media personalities who draw our attention to products and practices. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this form of subtle marketing, the line between genuine truth and paid sponsorship can be frighteningly thin. Kurtis David Harder plays with the deadly consequences of social media reach with Influencer, a psychological thriller set in a gorgeous locale. While vacationing in Thailand, three different types of female influencers collide in a deadly game of manipulation and death.

Madison (Emily Tennant) is a social media star traveling on...

Over the past few years, influencers have become increasingly common as characters in film. With the notable exception of Kurtis David Harder’s 2022 hit, they have tended to be represented in a derogatory, even misogynistic manner. Christine Vrem-Ydstie does something very different here, showing us someone whom we may or may not like – someone who might possibly be dangerous, and is certainly capable of being inane – but who comes across as an ordinary person who is simply trying to build up a small business. Until, that is, she experiences a ‘vision’ and goes off the rails.

Largely a one-woman show, it’s a great acting showcase. Appearing in every scene, its star has to put across protagonist Joanna’s two different professional personalities and carry the real woman through the shift from small time grifter to...

The Coven has announced a handful of key territory sales out of EFM on its exorcism film Shadow Of God, the company’s first production.

At time of writing deals had closed in Germany (Tiberius), Latin America (Gussi), Malaysia (Antenna), Benelux (Premiere TV), Philippines (888 Films International), and Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar (Blue Lantern).

Mark O’Brien stars as a veteran exorcist who believes he may be at war with a holy being with massive powers.

Jacqueline Byers (Prey For The Devil) and Shaun Johnston (TV’s Heartland) round out the key cast on Shadow Of God, which wrapped production in Calgary in December.

Exclusive: Terrifier 2 and 3 sales firm The Coven is making its first foray into production with exorcist horror Shadow Of God, which quietly wrapped principal photography in Calgary, Canada, last month.

The film follows an elite exorcist who suspects that he might be battling a holy entity with the ability to change the present world. Above is a first-look image.

Cast is led by Mark O’Brien, Jacqueline Byers (Prey for the Devil) and Shaun Johnston. The film is the third feature directed by Michael Peterson (Lloyd the Conqueror).

The Coven, which has its HQ in France but also has an office in the U.S., produces with Peterson Polaris Corp (Harpoon). Pic was written by Tim Cairo (Low Life). The Coven will handle worldwide sales at next month’s EFM in Berlin.

Producers are Peterson, Kendall Anlian, David Hiatt, Kurtis David Harder and Taylor Nodrick.

Recently, an Indian Youtuber and comedian reflected on how growing up in the 90s, their generation aspired to become astronauts and how, in today’s times, kids dream of becoming influencers. The idea of making it big on social media is extraordinarily tempting, and it has led to a major boom in content being produced these days, with people seriously giving their time to building an image online. Naturally, then, the new occupation finds its place in films with characters designed around the social media boom, reacting to its whims. A film centered around a character who is an influencer could be an interesting exploration of the ups and downs prevalent in life online, but director Kurtis David Harder barely scratches the surface in designing such a world. He is interested not so much in the headspace of an influencer but only in some situations that don’t really add...

Horror movies that authentically capture the experience of the online worlds we’ve built for ourselves are all too rare. More often, they can feel persistently out of touch and unaware of the particulars of how online spaces function. Some can successfully take aim at social media apps like TikTok and the way it has reshaped our relationships to each other. However, at the same time, getting too into the weeds of any one aspect of our online spaces can diminish the potential to explore social and emotional questions in favor of more technical ones. If a film can manage to strike a balance in exploring how technology has moved beyond being a tool into something that fundamentally alters us, then it is worth cherishing for that alone. The Shudder original Influencer does this in frightening yet focused fashion. Wearing its low budget on its sleeve and mostly transcending any flaws,...

Shudder's newest title Influencer references the social-media presence of the central characters who document their entire lives online for likes and sponsorships. It also refers to a more insidious type of influence, though, wielded by the deceptively unassuming CW (Cassandra Naud), who preys on the narcissism and insecurities of those social-media personalities for her own devious, violent ends. Director and co-writer Kurtis David Harder relies on that influence to toy with the audience, too, in a thrilling and clever way that makes Influencer fascinating to watch.

As Influencer begins, it seems like the protagonist and title character is Madison (Emily Tennant), who posts upbeat updates about her vacation adventure in Thailand, while onscreen she sits glum and alone, ensconced in a luxury resort away from all the local culture she touts in her content. She's putting on a fake front for her subscribers, while she's miserable on a trip she...

On this week’s episode of Nightmare on Film Street your horror hosts Kim and Jon are joined by Influencer co-writer/director Kurtis David Harder. Influencer is a twisty-unpredictable indie thriller, like a Hitchcock mystery caught in the web of a crafty online predator and to celebrate the Shudder premiere of the film, Kurt joined us to chat about his favorite horror movies, shooting on location in Thailand, and how easy it is to steal someone’s online identity these days. Join ussss….

Support The Show:

Nightmare on Film Street is a labor of love – and Terror! Support us on Patreon at nofspodcast.tempurl.host/fiendclub to unlock frightfully good rewards; like bonus episodes, watch parties, exclusive merch, producer credits, and much more!

Released:

May 25th, 2023

Links:

Apple Podcasts – Spotify – Fiend Club – Street Team – Discord – Merch – Leave a Review

The post [Podcast] Nightmare Alley: Influencer Interview with Director Kurtis David Harder...

On this week’s episode of Nightmare on Film Street your horror hosts Kim and Jon are joined by Influencer co-writer/director Kurtis David Harder. Influencer is a twisty-unpredictable indie thriller, like a Hitchcock mystery caught in the web of a crafty online predator and to celebrate the Shudder premiere of the film, Kurt joined us to chat about his favorite horror movies, shooting on location in Thailand, and how easy it is to steal someone’s online identity these days. Join ussss….

Support The Show:

Nightmare on Film Street is a labor of love – and Terror! Support us on Patreon at nofspodcast.com/fiendclub to unlock frightfully good rewards; like bonus episodes, watch parties, exclusive merch, producer credits, and much more!

Released:

May 25th, 2023

Links:

Apple Podcasts – Spotify – Fiend Club – Street Team – Discord – Merch – Leave a Review

The post [Podcast] Nightmare Alley: Influencer Interview with Director Kurtis David Harder appeared...

Cassandra Naud is striking if a little opaque as a predator seducing image-obsessed tourists in Thailand

In this smartly arranged thriller by Kurtis David Harder, Canadian actor Cassandra Naud holds her own as a kind of social media Tom Ripley, out in Thailand preying on vacuous, smartphone-toting influencers while coveting their silky lifestyles. Broken down into four parts following different characters, the film dabbles in but doesn’t wholly conform to the now-standard satirical takedown of 21st-century popinjays. There’s something darker and more solipsistic at work here: Naud’s repeated spiel of “They won’t even notice you’re gone. Nobody cares” is just as rehearsed and trite as other airheaded Insta-platitudes.

Her character, CW, first gets her claws into Madison (Emily Tennant), a fellow American making nice for her feeds but actually moping around the Thai coast because she’s having a hard time with her British boyfriend...

Step into the twisted but beautiful reality of Influencer, where social media’s shiny veneer is peeled back to expose the dark secrets lurking beneath. Directed by Kurtis David Harder, with a wickedly clever script co-written with Tesh Guttikonda, this thrilling ride takes us from idyllic Thailand landscapes to the unnerving depths of an influencer’s world.

“[Influencer] constantly subverts expectations with a plot that darts in unforeseen directions. “

Madison (Emily Tennant), a popular social media influencer, seems to have it all as she flaunts her envy-inducing life on Instagram. However, her trip to Thailand turns out to be far from glamorous. That is until she crosses paths with CW (Cassandra Naud), an enigmatic traveler who offers her a taste of authenticity and companionship during a long-distance break-up. As they share local experiences and delve into the stark contrasts between Madison’s virtual existence and CW’s offline freedom, the story takes an unexpected turn.

Step into the twisted but beautiful reality of Influencer, where social media’s shiny veneer is peeled back to expose the dark secrets lurking beneath. Directed by Kurtis David Harder, with a wickedly clever script co-written with Tesh Guttikonda, this thrilling ride takes us from idyllic Thailand landscapes to the unnerving depths of an influencer’s world.

“[Influencer] constantly subverts expectations with a plot that darts in unforeseen directions. “

Madison (Emily Tennant), a popular social media influencer, seems to have it all as she flaunts her envy-inducing life on Instagram. However, her trip to Thailand turns out to be far from glamorous. That is until she crosses paths with CW (Cassandra Naud), an enigmatic traveler who offers her a taste of authenticity and companionship during a long-distance break-up. As they share local experiences and delve into the stark contrasts between Madison’s virtual existence and CW’s offline freedom, the story takes an unexpected turn.

Are you ready for a Summer of Screams?

Our Summer 2023 Horror Preview is here! The 2023 slate of horror releases looks packed. Tentpole titles like The Boogeyman, Insidious: The Red Door, Talk to Me, The Last Voyage of the Demeter, and more aim to set the box office ablaze. And that’s all nothing compared to the volume of genre offerings heading to streaming, Digital, and VOD.

There’s enough horror here to keep us busy until the Halloween season. It’s a densely packed slate this summer, and trust us: this is only the tip of the iceberg for what’s ahead.

Here’s what is coming soon to help you prepare!

The Ancestral – May 2 (Screambox)

This haunter hails from the director of Furie and The Princess, Le-Van Kiet. And it’s Now Streaming on Screambox.

In the film, “After suffering a family tragedy, a widower moves his two daughters to a centuries-old ancestral home.

"You probably brought me all this way to kill me... in the middle of the ocean... 'no one can hear you scream.'" Shudder has revealed the official trailer for an indie horror movie titled Influencer, made by a Canadian filmmaker named Kurtis David Harder. Yet another horror take on the darkness of influencer culture and how these people a vapid, shallow narcissists. This premiered at a few genre film festivals last year, including the Brooklyn Horror, and will be out for streaming on Shudder this May. While struggling on a solo backpacking trip in Thailand, social media influencer Madison meets CW, who travels with ease and shows her a more uninhibited way of living, but CW's interest in her takes a darker turn. Starring Emily Tennant as the "influencer" Madison, joined by Cassandra Naud, Sara Canning, Rory J. Saper, Paul Spurrier, and Justin Sams. This looks better than it sounds in the text description,...

Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thrillers, and the supernatural, will be releasing writer/director Kurtis David Harder’s horror film Influencer on May 26th. The movie will also be available to stream on AMC+, and with just a couple weeks to go until its streaming premiere date arrives a trailer for the film has dropped online. You can check the trailer out in the embed above, and take a look at the Influencer poster at the bottom of this article.

Influencer racked up multiple awards while making the festival rounds. Harder wrote the script with Tesh Guttikonda, crafting the story of Madison, a popular social media influencer who is having a lonely and uneventful trip in Thailand despite what she tells her followers on Instagram. While reflecting on her boyfriend canceling the trip, she meets CW, a fearless and enigmatic traveler who offers to take her to...

The director of Shudder’s horror movie Spiral, Kurtis David Harder is back with new movie Influencer, and Shudder has released the official trailer. You’ll find it down below.

Influencer begins streaming on May 26, only on Shudder and AMC+.

Shudder’s Emily Gotto says, “Influencer is a thought-provoking and suspenseful exploration of the world of social media, and we are thrilled to share it with Shudder members this spring as part of an already exciting lineup of some of the best in horror filmmaking.”

“Influencer tells the story of Madison (Emily Tennant), a popular social media influencer who is having a lonely and uneventful trip in Thailand despite what she tells her followers on Instagram. While reflecting on her boyfriend canceling the trip, she meets CW (Cassandra Naud), a fearless and enigmatic traveler who offers to take her to some of the most Instagram-worthy locations. Together they share authentic meals and drinks with locals,...

It’s a brand new month, which means new titles have arrived on various streaming platforms. This month brings the potential for hidden gems in the form of international titles, obscure horror darlings, and new releases to your favorite streaming platforms.

Here are ten noteworthy horror titles available for streaming in May 2023 on some of the most popular streaming services, along with when/where you can watch them.

The Ancestral – Screambox

This haunter hails from the director of Furie and The Princess, Le-Van Kiet. In the film: “After suffering a family tragedy, a widower moves his two daughters to a centuries-old ancestral home. When both daughters fall prey to sleep paralysis and night terrors, their father seeks the help of a local psychologist. These chilling secrets and frightening visions eventually prove that not everything is what it seems in the old family house.”

Livid – Shudder

Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo...

Summer 2023 Film Highlights Here’s what’s coming to Shudder this Summer! Please let us know if you have any interest in covering the below films. Influencer Directed by Kurtis David Harder Streaming on Shudder May 26th Director: Kurtis David Harder Writer: Kurtis David Harder, Tesh Guttikonda Cast: Cassandra Naud, Emily Tennant, Rory …

The post Shudder Summer 2023 Film Highlights appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Exclusive: Mark Padilla has been appointed as President of Worldwide Sales and Acquisitions at Jack and Rebecca Campbell’s indie film sales and production company, Jackrabbit Media.

An industry veteran with over two decades of experience in independent film, Padilla brings extensive knowledge and expertise to Jackrabbit, which will be instrumental in the company’s ongoing growth and success.

Padilla has executive produced starry indies including The Doorman with Ruby Rose and Jean Reno, The Virtuoso with Anthony Hopkins, and Think Like a Dog with Josh Duhamel and Megan Fox. He has also held executive positions at such companies as Double Dutch International, Myriad Pictures, Essential Entertainment, Arclight Films and Dk Media, worked as an international acquisitions consultant for multiple distribution companies worldwide, and served as a jury member for assorted film festivals.

In addition to his work in the industry, Padilla currently teaches two courses at UCLA Extension that...

The director of Shudder’s horror movie Spiral, Kurtis David Harder is back with new movie Influencer, and Deadline reports that Shudder has acquired the film for multiple territories.

Influencer will debut on Shudder in Spring 2023.

“Influencer tells the story of Madison (Emily Tennant), a popular social media influencer who is having a lonely and uneventful trip in Thailand despite what she tells her followers on Instagram. While reflecting on her boyfriend canceling the trip, she meets CW (Cassandra Naud), a fearless and enigmatic traveler who offers to take her to some of the most Instagram-worthy locations. Together they share authentic meals and drinks with locals, discussing the differences between Madison’s online presence and CW’s lack of one.

“After showing Madison all of the amazing sights, things take a different turn when CW brings her to a surprise location — a deserted island that is completely off the grid.

Exclusive: Shudder has acquired multiple territories for the indie thriller Influencer from Kurtis David Harder — the filmmaker with whom it’s previously been in business on titles like Spiral. The award-winning feature, which launched its festival run at last year’s Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, will bow on the streamer this spring in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Latin America.

Influencer tells the story of Madison (Emily Tennant), a popular social media influencer who is having a lonely and uneventful trip in Thailand despite what she tells her followers on Instagram. While reflecting on her boyfriend canceling the trip, she meets CW (Cassandra Naud), a fearless and enigmatic traveler who offers to take her to some of the most Instagram-worthy locations. Together they share authentic meals and drinks with locals, discussing the differences between Madison’s online presence and CW’s lack of one.

Set to hold its World Premiere at the forthcoming Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, Bloody Disgusting has the first art and stills from Influencer, the latest genre offering from Spiral and Summerland director Kurtis David Harder.

In the film…

“Despite what she tells her loyal followers on Ig, social media influencer Madison is having a lonely and disappointingly uneventful visit in Thailand. Her experience does a miraculous 180 when she meets CW, another traveler who seems to thrive on her own. After showing Madison all the amazing sights, CW saves the best surprise for last—a deserted island completely off the grid.

The fest describes the film as a “sneakily twisted thriller that begs the question, are we the stars of our own stories or is no one?”

Cassandra Naud, Emily Tennant, Rory J. Saper, and Sara Canning all star.

Influencer will also screen at Newport Beach, Nightmares, and FilmQuest.

Kurtis David Harder is also a producer,...

The second and final wave of The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival have been announced and it's filled with horror movie premieres, special events, and much more!

The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival announces today the second and final wave of titles for their upcoming 2022 edition, presented by Shudder, running October 13th to the 20th with screenings held at Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg and Williamsburg Cinemas.

The 7th edition of New York City’s celebrated genre event will close with the U.S. Premiere of the “straight cut” of Gaspar Noé’s Irreversible, also a highlight of the festival’s Fear In Focus: French Extremity sidebar, coinciding with the film’s 20th anniversary, and will spotlight Charlotte Le Bon’s supernatural coming-of-age feature debut Falcon Lake — hot off of its North American premiere at TIFF — as Centerpiece. In addition, Bhff is proud to host a special event screening of the new genre anthology Give Me An A.

The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival announced today an impressive second wave of titles for their explosive 2022 edition running from October 13th to the 20th with screenings held at Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg and Williamsburg Cinemas. Following last year’s return to theaters, BHFFs presents its most robust slate to date.

From the press release:

The 7th edition of New York City’s celebrated genre event will close with the U.S. Premiere of the “straight cut” of Gaspar Noé’s Irreversible, also a highlight of the festival’s Fear In Focus: French Extremity sidebar, coinciding with the film’s 20th anniversary, and will spotlight

Charlotte Le Bon’s supernatural coming-of-age feature debut Falcon Lake — hot off of its North American premiere at TIFF — as Centerpiece. In addition, Bhff is proud to host a special event screening of the new genre anthology Give Me An A. Executive produced by Natasha Halevi, member...

First footage from horror-thriller Influencer, which shot in Thailand late last year.

US sales veteran Jack Campbell and Rebecca Campbell have launched the Arizona-based Jackrabbit Media to focus on sales and acquisitions of third-party features, AVoD aggregation and in-house productions.

The husband-and-wife team plans to produce two to three commercial films a year and will be at their booth on the Croisette next week in Cannes to introduce the slate and business plan to longtime and new industry partners.

Jack Campbell serves as Jackrabbit Media president and CEO and has been in sales for 21 years. Rebecca is COO and hails...

First footage from horror-thriller Influencer, which shot in Thailand late last year.

On the eve of Cannes sales veteran Jack Campbell and Rebecca Campbell have launched Arizona-based Jackrabbit Media focused on sales and acquisitions of third-party features, AVoD aggregation and in-house productions.

The husband-and-wife team plans to produce two to three commercial films a year and will be at their booth on the Croisette to introduce the slate and business plan to longtime and new industry partners.

Jack Campbell serves as Jackrabbit Media president and CEO and has been in sales for 21 years. Rebecca is named COO and hails from...

Rlje Films Presents Spiral Available On DVD & Blu-ray January 19, 2021 Rlje Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, has picked up select rights to Spiral from Shudder, AMC Networks’ streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural. Spiral will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on January 19, 2021. Directed by Kurtis David Harder (What Keeps You Alive), Spiral was written by Colin Minihan (Z), and John Poliquin (Still/Born). …

The post Spiral – Available On DVD & Blu-ray January 19, 2021 appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.