As someone who enjoys thrillers and horror films, I’ve often been bothered by how female killers and villains are typically depicted by male directors and writers—usually as purely evil characters without any redeeming qualities or anything viewers can connect with, unlike their male counterparts. This was a significant issue for me in the initial film (Influencer), where writer-director Kurtis David Harder presented CW in this manner, alongside other sexist and racist elements. Following that disappointing experience, I decided to give this sequel a chance, hoping Harder would address these concerns. Fortunately, he did—and significantly! CW is now given a full name, Catherine Weaver, and develops a romantic storyline that helps humanize her and adds layers to her character. (I’ll admit that the later romantic arc involving a same-sex relationship particularly enhanced my appreciation for her.) Furthermore, CW's actions are shown to be driven by motivations many viewers can understand in today’s social media and influencer culture landscape, unlike the first film where she seemed like an evil psychopath with no discernible reason or method behind her crimes—a common trope used by Hollywood male writers and directors when portraying female villains. I also appreciated that Catherine's strength was amplified considerably, making her more appealing and adding much-needed complexity to how viewers emotionally perceive her, all thanks to Cassandra Naud’s excellent performance. Beyond these improvements, the writing itself is notably better in both its complexity and depth compared to the first movie. For example, the plot twists are revealed subtly, humorously—but also shockingly and disturbingly—in ways that make for a very rewarding viewing experience. Most importantly, Harder isn't afraid to tackle important social issues like toxic masculinity, the “tradwife” trend, the rise of the alt-right, the superficiality and materialism prevalent in influencer culture, the damaging consequences of "revenge porn," etc., through bold thematic statements. I really appreciate when filmmakers not only entertain but also aim to communicate and educate their audiences. Despite these positives, some issues prevented me from giving this movie a perfect rating: it lacks racial and socioeconomic diversity, promotes drug use, and features products from brands like Apple that have been associated with harmful practices. Overall, I’d suggest this film to fans of thrillers or horror movies who enjoy tragic romance and dark comedy. I hope CW's story doesn’t end here because I’ve become quite fond of her character, and I truly hope Harder creates a third installment to this promising series.

Source on TMDB