For our latest digital feature of December 2025, we spoke with filmmaker Kurtis David Harder about his horror-thriller Influencers, the sequel to Influencer, which premiered on Shudder on December 12. The sequel centers on CW who now leads a seemingly peaceful life with her girlfriend, all while concealing a disturbing fascination with murder and identity theft.

On an anniversary getaway, their path crosses with Charlotte, a charismatic and daring influencer whose interest soon becomes invasive. When CW succumbs to a violent urge, events quickly spiral beyond control, and as Diane starts piecing together the truth, CW’s meticulously curated world begins to crumble. Cassandra Naud and Emily Tennant reprise their roles from the first film, returning to a story that blends social media commentary with suspenseful daylight horror.

Exclusive photos for Popternative Magazine by Mike Ng
Studio: Cocreate Space

What were your initial thoughts about coming back to this story for a sequel?

Kurtis: I think the first film was a bit of an experiment; we were kind of playing with structure, and kind of going into this whole Patricia Highsmith caper in kind of the modern world. And so, I think coming in this one, we really just leaned into all the stuff that we really had fun with in the first one. So, we play with the first one a little bit more in this one. It was about having a lot more fun with the idea of really letting CW loose in this one. It was about building on everything that we loved about in the first film.

What was the process like developing the script for Influencers with CW in mind, and how did those early conversations with Cassandra Naud about her character differ this time compared to the first film?

Kurtis: CW is such a fun character because she wears all these masks, and you don’t entirely know exactly what’s beneath them, and even when she’s alone, is in a relationship, we’re seeing a very different side. But is that just another mask? And that was so fun in exploring the character and coming into another [film] where we’re seeing just very different situations, and we’re able to see what CW would do in this one. I sent that first draft to the team, I actually wrote the first 30 pages very quickly, the whole France section, and I was like, “Hey, you guys want to come back and do this again?” And I think that was really cool to kind of have that first little set off point and getting to talk to everybody about where I was taking it.

Both Influencer and Influencers feel like they have a dual focus on influencer culture and the idea of vacationing in remote places. How did you think about balancing those two elements when shaping the story?

Kurt: So a fun little fact about the first film was the very first draft didn’t have anything to do with influencers; it was more about travel and kind of playing into those expectations and looking for familiarity in a foreign place. It was more focused on the idea that we trust another American or Canadian in a foreign place, whereas if we were back home, we wouldn’t trust these people. So, that was kind of the core theme of the first film, playing into that idea that we look for familiarity, and it might not be the best thing for us. When the influencer side of it evolved, it was very natural.

Coming into this one, it was just kind of expanding on those ideas. We’re exploring different sides of social media. We’re seeing, kind of the red pill culture, we’re seeing the makeup, travel, and lifestyle influencers. And I think it was about building on those ideas of what we put out online, and how true it is with the people posting this stuff. And I think travel goes hand in hand with that when you’re talking about lavish lifestyles of these people that are living, not fake lives, but just kind of filling a fantasy for their audience.

Were there specific conversations about embracing “daylight horror,” bringing blood and violence into bright settings?

Kurt: I think the tropical nature goes hand in hand with both films. Without going into too many spoilers, the third act [in the sequel] kind of goes off the rails, but it’s all actually in the morning. I think it was fun to play with that whole idea that there are scary stuff that happen at night, but for the most part, both movies are taking place during the day.

Since you’ve written, directed, and produced, and sometimes produce projects you’re not creatively leading, does it all feel like one big hat at this point, or do you still separate those mindsets depending on the role?

Kurt: Yeah, I think as a storyteller, I’ve gravitated towards producing as a necessity at first, but I also really enjoy it. I think I’ve spent a good chunk of my career producing films for other people, and it just helps you as a storyteller as well, because you’re there to help another person tell their story, and you’re understanding what they’re going through. And as a filmmaker, for me, when I’m doing these very long travel shoots, if you were to just go the regular route of producing it, like a regular movie, it wouldn’t be possible. So, I think for me, having that producer background helped find creative solutions to get the biggest bang for your buck.

On the second film, did the process feel like two separate journeys, before shooting and after, or did it all feel like one big journey with different steps in between?

Kurt: It just happened so quickly. I think it feels like one big, hazy adventure, because when I wrote the first 30 pages, it was in a couple days. And we were on set or prepping and shooting less than six months later. So, it was a very quick process to jump in and realize, “Oh, we’re doing a sequel, we’re now flying to Bali.” It came together so quickly that it was a bit of a bit of a whirlwind.

With Influencers now streaming on Shudder and some of your other projects already on the platform, what’s it like being part of a streamer that champions horror?

Kurt: I mean, Shudder is incredible. It has been so cool. Our first film, Still/Born, came out on Shudder during their second year out. They had just started when we started working with them, so to see them grow as well has been so special. And to be a part of that has been also amazing.

_

Influencers is streaming on Shudder.

Follow Kurtis David Harder: Instagram
Follow Popternative Magazine: Instagram