“The Influencer Project,” a found-footage horror film directed by Mike Nybroe, follows content creator Chiara King as she navigates an escalating campaign of social media harassment during a sponsored trip to Copenhagen. Playing a version of herself, King portrays a bubbly influencer known for livestreaming from haunted locations, blending her niche in paranormal content with the dangers posed by an unseen stalker.
The film’s premise centers on Chiara’s visit to various Danish sites under the auspices of promoting brands and documenting her travels. Initially lighthearted, the tone shifts as she begins receiving threatening messages, surveillance photos, and a lethal weapon from a shadowy figure determined to intimidate her. This progression introduces a sense of genuine menace amid the typically upbeat social media backdrop.
Nybroe’s direction draws a notable parallel between King’s online content—focused on exploring spooky buildings for entertainment—and the real-life threat she faces. The film suggests that the performative exposure to fear and danger, whether staged or authentic, can serve to expand an influencer’s reach and following. This insight is entwined with broader reflections on the exploitation of content creators for commercial gain and the darker potential consequences of their online visibility.
Despite this promising thematic foundation, the movie transitions into familiar horror tropes, placing Chiara in a series of haunted settings that require her to evade mortal peril. Critics note that these sequences feel derivative, resembling a checklist of generic haunted house scenarios. Some interpret this as a deliberate commentary on the repetitive nature of influencer content, paralleling the film’s critique of social media culture.
Overall, “The Influencer Project” addresses contemporary concerns around online harassment and the commodification of influencers, though its impact is tempered by a conventional horror structure that dilutes the earlier tension and social critique.
