IMDb 5.8 2023 HD

A Bad Influence

A Bad Influence

2023
Drama
89 min NR USA
5.3 / 10
5.8 IMDB

Introvert Anthony attends his best friend's housewarming party, which goes fine until brash, loud-mouthed Steve arrives. Things go from bad to worse as Anthony struggles to control the…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Andreas Toumbas
Starring
Amelia Conway / Vanessa Madrid / Steve Maresca / Chris Charteris / Andreas Toumbas / Kerstyn Walsh

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

awkward relatable chaotic frustrating comedic tense character-driven uncomfortable social commentary disruptive understated engaging

Reviews

P
Phoebe Chen
Mar 21, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The premise of 'A Bad Influence' is instantly recognisable: the quiet host versus the out-of-control guest. Amelia Conway brings a sympathetic vulnerability to Anthony, a man clearly out of his depth. Steve Maresca is a compellingly irritating presence,…

S
Silas Croft
Mar 21, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

A masterclass in escalating social discomfort, 'A Bad Influence' is a tightly plotted character study. The film wisely centres on Anthony's perspective, allowing us to feel his mounting dread as Steve’s behaviour spirals. Steve Maresca is electric as…

G
Genevieve Dubois
Mar 21, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

'A Bad Influence' offers a premise that promises a certain kind of relatable, cringe-inducing comedy, and it largely delivers on that front. The dynamic between the reserved Anthony and the uninhibited Steve is the engine of the film.…

M
Marcus Bellweather
Mar 21, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This is a film that understands the sheer, unadulterated horror of a bad influence descending upon a civilised gathering. 'A Bad Influence' excels in its portrayal of Anthony's mounting exasperation as he attempts to contain the boisterous Steve.…

E
Eleanor Vance
Mar 21, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

A keenly observed, if somewhat familiar, exploration of social anxieties, 'A Bad Influence' hinges on the palpable friction between its central characters. Amelia Conway, as the introverted Anthony, effectively conveys a quiet desperation, while Steve Maresca embodies the…

FAQs

The film starkly contrasts the introverted nature of Anthony with the brash, loud demeanour of Steve. Anthony's struggle to manage Steve highlights the internal conflict of someone who prefers quiet and order being forced to confront and control external chaos. This dynamic is central to the film's plot, as Anthony's efforts to rein in his friend's alcohol-fuelled antics become the primary driver of the escalating situation and comedic, or dramatic, tension.