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. The returning Cassanda Naud stars opposite Barbarian‘s Georgina Campbell.
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, 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.”
Influencers‘ cast also includes Lisa Delamar (Survive), Jonathan Whitesell (The 100), Veronica Long (Billy the Kid), and Dylan Playfair (Letterkenny). The film was produced by Jack Campbell, Chris Ball, Taylor Nodrick, Rebecca Campbell, Harder and Micah Henry and under the Jackrabbit Media banner, which will also rep international rights at Cannes.
“Kurtis has once again crafted a film that’s both sharply contemporary and deeply unsettling,” said Shudder SVP Emily Gotto. “INFLUENCERS seduces the viewer with atmosphere and aesthetic before cutting into something darker, smarter, and much more dangerous. It’s exactly the kind of visionary genre storytelling we’re proud to support.”
Added Jackrabbit CEO Jack Campbell, “We couldn’t be more excited to share INFLUENCERS with the world. Kurtis has elevated his vision in every way — the film is more elegant, more unsettling, and more twisted. We’re confident it will be one of the most talked-about titles at Cannes.”
In addition to Zach Cregger’s breakout horror film Barbarian, Campbell has been seen in films like The Watchers and Bird Box: Barcelona, as well as series such as Suspicion and Krypton. The BAFTA winner is represented by UTA, Independent Talent Group, Entertainment 360, and Felker Toczek Suddleson.
Returning to Shudder following work on Influencer and It’s a Wonderful Knife, Naud has also appeared on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Loudermilk, See, and a number of other series. She’s repped by Play Management.
Harder is known for his history of producing acclaimed low-budget genre films including V/H/S/94 for David Bruckner; Still/Born, which was named Scariest Film at the Overlook Film Festival; as well as What Keeps You Alive, which debuted at SXSW. He’s currently co-writing and directing a film for Screen Gems, and is also attached to direct 10-31 for Dan Kagan and C2 Films. He’s repped by Aperture Entertainment’s Adam Goldworm and Ashley Silver at Brecheen Feldman.
