Right, well I have to say that I was a bit reluctant about sitting down to watch the 2022 thriller "Bad Influence". Why? Well, the movie was just having that particular Life Time movie aura to it, and with Jennie Garth at the helm, I just wasn't convinced.
However, I opted to go against that little voice at the back of my mind and actually take the time to sit down and watch what writer Adam Rockoff and director Bill Corcoran had to offer with "Bad Influence". And I am actually glad that I did, because this was a surprisingly good and enjoyable movie.
The storyline was rather nicely written, and it definitely had some appeal to it. I was rather quickly submerged into the storyline, so writer Adam Rockoff did manage to churn out a rather enjoyable and wholesome storyline. It wasn't a massive rollercoaster of a thriller, but it provided me with adequate entertainment.
Now, aside from an adequate storyline and script, what made "Bad Influence" work was the cast ensemble and their acting performances. First of all, I must say that Jennie Garth definitely stepped up and managed to put aside that Kelly Taylor mantle on the shelf, proving to me that there was much more talent to her than just that. But then again, I haven't seen her in anything since the time in "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Melrose Place". But truth be told, it was actress Keyleigh Shikanai that carried the movie phenomenally well with her performance as the somewhat mentally distraught cult leader Violet Lawrence. I was so impressed with her performance in "Bad Influence".
I was genuinely entertained by "Bad Influence" from director Bill Corcoran, and it is a movie that is well-worth taking the time to sit down and watch. However, the contents of the movie is just not strong enough to support more than a single viewing.
My rating of "Bad Influence" lands on a well-deserved six out of ten stars.
