British content creator Chiara King stars in "The Influencer Project," a thriller that explores the dark undercurrents of social media culture through a parafictional portrayal of an influencer’s life. Directed by Mike Nybroe, who also acts in the film, the story follows a character named Chiara King as she navigates a sponsored trip to Copenhagen arranged by her manager, Alice, played by Jazmine Summer.

The film's narrative unfolds through a mix of selfie-style footage captured on Chiara’s smartphone and more traditional cinematography from a crew headed by director Mike, supported by sound technician Daniel (Daniel Parmo) and cameraman Victor (Luca Storm). Initially, the storyline reflects the familiar tropes of influencer culture: shopping at trendy Copenhagen boutiques such as Baum und Pferdgarten, dining at upscale restaurants, and participating in a livestreamed visit to a so-called haunted house, a popular theme on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

However, the scripted endorsements and staged moments are undercut by an escalating sense of menace after Chiara begins receiving threatening messages from an anonymous antagonist calling themselves “KingSlayer.” The messages demand silence and threaten extreme violence, including rape and murder, though the reasons behind these warnings remain unclear for much of the film. Chiara faces a dilemma: abandoning the trip to ensure her safety means forfeiting lucrative contracts valued at $100,000.

The film leaves audiences to weigh Chiara’s character between greed and resilience, questioning whether her determination to continue despite danger should be condemned or admired. Nybroe and his team integrate this tension into the film’s presentation through an unending stream of comments scrolling alongside Chiara's livestream, simulating the relentless and often chaotic digital dialogue surrounding online personalities.

Described by some as a mix of sharp satire and exploitative content, "The Influencer Project" aims to critique the commodification and performative aspects of influencer culture, while others view it as a reiteration of overused social media tropes paired with sensationalist thriller elements. The film reportedly draws partly on real-life stalking incidents, adding a dimension of topical relevance to its portrayal of the risks faced by public digital figures.

"The Influencer Project" is scheduled for release in cinemas across the UK and Ireland starting October 16.