Appofeniacs – Movie Review (4/5)

APPOFENIACS is a new horror movie that focuses on the dangers of AI deepfakes when used purely for evil. Or rather, to create chaos which can (and will) escalate to have wild consequences. Read our full Appofeniacs movie review here!

APPOFENIACS is getting its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest, where I’m sure it will resonate with audiences. In fact, I can’t imagine it won’t be relatable for anyone who watches it.

We live in a world where it feels appropriate to question everything we see – even if not everyone does. No matter how real something looks at first glance, AI and deepfake production have gotten scary good in record time.

Continue reading our Appofeniacs movie review below.

Would you fall for these AI deepfakes?

When watching Appofeniacs, we obviously see AI deepfakes that are not AI, but have been created for the purpose. But the question remains: Would you fall for it?

I have seen plenty of obvious AI productions and various deepfake videos, but they are getting extremely good. In this movie, we’re confronted with a tool that makes AI deepfakes in seconds.

Videos that are indistinguishable from the real thing.

WHAT ARE DEEPFAKES?

Simply put, a deepfake is a video showing a person whose face and/or body has been digitally altered, so they appear to be someone else. Here are some funnier examples of deepfakes >

A real creep, Duke (Aaron Holliday), decided to create some havoc and make several personal deepfake videos with complete disregard for any consequences. However, there are huge consequences, and this movie focuses on them.

Lives are ruined and even ended left and right for no reason. It’s all based on deepfake videos full of lies. But lies that somehow resonate with those who watch it. Just as Duke intended!

Why are people easy to manipulate?

The title of Appofeniacs comes from the word “apophenia”, which is our all-too-human tendency to find patterns or connections in random or unrelated things. Be that data, objects, or events.

To experience this in real life, look at the comments on any social media platform where news is shared. Regardless of religion or ideology, we want to find patterns and have things fit together in ways that support our assumptions.

When we combine confirmation bias with paranoia, conspiracy theories can run amok.

In Appofeniacs, this is used by someone who just wants to annoy people he doesn’t like. He uses a new tool to create deepfake videos of various kinds and sends them to relevant people or shares them on social media platforms.

The results are instant: If you watch a video of someone spewing hate or having an affair, it may confirm something you already suspected (or feared), and it’s easier to accept it.

The lesson of this movie is as obvious as it is difficult to live by: Question everything! And also, please just talk to one another. Communication can help avoid some of the worst examples we see in this movie, though all are believable!

Appofeniacs is screening at Fantastic Fest

Chris Marrs Piliero is the writer and director of Appofeniacs, which will undoubtedly be a hit at the film festival where it’s enjoying its North American premiere.

Previously, Chris Marrs Piliero has made music videos for Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, and Ariana Grande. Now, he has made the move to feature films, and it is looking very good. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Also, the casting of Appofeniacs featured some amazing talent, including Michael Abbott Jr., Sean Gunn, Jermaine Fowler, and even the director. Chris Marrs Piliero steps in front of the camera in a cameo as a barista!

While Appofeniacs deals with something we’re all witnessing in the real world, it highlights the dangers and horrors of AI deepfakes with a nice touch of dark humor. We’re so easy to manipulate… both to anger and laughter.

Appofeniacs is getting its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025. The world premiere was at FrightFest in London.

Details

Director: Chris Marrs Piliero
Writer: Chris Marrs Piliero
Cast: Sean Gunn, Jermaine Fowler, Aaron Holliday, Michael Abbott Jr, Simran Jehani, Amogh Kapoor, Will Brandt, Paige Searcy, Harley Bronwyn