Bad Influence (2025)
Thriller / Psychological Drama
Bad Influence (2025) : Evelyn Cross, 29, dominates the digital marketing world. As a top creative at D-Next Media in New York, she stands on the verge of a major promotion. She’s brilliant, composed, and admired. But beneath the sleek surface, Evelyn hides a dark history—an intense teenage friendship, a suspicious fire, and a girl who vanished without a trace.
A Ghost from the Past Returns
Her world shifts when D-Next hires a new brand consultant—Elle, a stylish, magnetic influencer who instantly captivates everyone around her. Evelyn instantly recognizes her: Elle is actually Lila Hart, her estranged best friend from high school. Lila disappeared after a fire destroyed their school’s theater department ten years ago. Now, she’s back with a new name, a new life, and a plan.
Evelyn chooses to keep Lila’s identity secret, hoping to protect her own career and the carefully constructed image she’s built.
The Manipulation Begins
Elle quickly inserts herself into Evelyn’s professional and personal life. She charms Evelyn’s colleagues and even grows close to Evelyn’s boyfriend, Miles, a tech entrepreneur. Soon, Evelyn finds herself edged out of her own projects.
Strange things start happening—sabotaged work presentations, leaked messages, and fake news about her past. Evelyn begins to suspect Elle is orchestrating everything, but no one around her believes it.
Revelations Through Flashbacks
Flashbacks reveal the truth about their past. Evelyn and Lila were once inseparable outcasts, their friendship obsessive and intense. When Evelyn tried to pull away from Lila’s increasingly erratic behavior, Lila retaliated. The fire that consumed the school’s theater wasn’t an accident. Evelyn witnessed what happened but chose to stay silent.
Now, Evelyn realizes Elle’s return isn’t random—it’s revenge.
The Fight for the Truth
Evelyn seeks help from Jordan, a former classmate turned private investigator. Together, they uncover Elle’s history of reinventing herself and wreaking havoc in each new identity. Every time, she manipulates, destroys, and disappears.
Before Evelyn can go public, Elle strikes again. She uploads a deepfake video that frames Evelyn for starting the school fire. Evelyn’s reputation plummets, and her job hangs by a thread.
Confrontation and Consequences
Cornered but not broken, Evelyn stages a live-streamed company presentation. Instead of a marketing pitch, she delivers a confession—detailing her history with Elle and revealing the private investigation findings. She then plays a secret recording: Elle, in a therapy session, admitting she caused the fire to get Evelyn’s attention.
The boardroom falls silent. Elle tries to spin the situation as performance art, but the evidence breaks her carefully curated image. Her influencer empire collapses, and an investigation begins.
A New Beginning—or Another Game?
Evelyn walks away from her job, her online persona in ruins. She reconnects with Jordan and reflects on who she’s become without the lies that shaped her life. As they stand on a rooftop overlooking Manhattan, Evelyn says, “I don’t know who I am without the lies.”
Jordan replies, “Maybe that’s the point. Now you get to find out.”
Just before the screen fades to black, Evelyn’s phone buzzes.
