Chatter Box Film

A review for the 2025 film Bad Influence/Mala influencelia – directed by Chloé Wallace.

This film follows Reese (Eléa Rochera); a teen girl at school who is also a dancer, whose dad hires a young bodyguard for her named Eros (Alberto Olmo). Soon they fall in love while Reese is still being threatened by someone with scary messages, all while more secrets about the family’s past are revealed 

Bad Influence is a great romantic drama that makes you warm quickly to the characters. Reese comes across as very innocent at the start, but as the film progresses, we realise she is more capable than we think. Eros had a bit of a difficult past, but he is also kind. One thing I liked about his character is that he tried to let Reese sort out her arguments with other kids at her school, and wouldn’t get angry to jump in. This was different from the stereotype of bad boys in films who always get super possessive and angry with others. This was what made me like his character more, despite him sometimes letting his anger get the best of him.

The cast is great, and Eléa and Alberto play off each other with great chemistry and connection. The film could also be funny and even self-aware at times, with the bad boy stereotype, which made the film more realistic and relatable. I also liked the outfits and shoes the characters wore throughout this film. Another interesting detail I noticed about this film was that it was the first time I had seen Lidil products used in a TV or film. The movie also has some good small dance scenes.

I believe this film may have had a low budget or experienced some editing cuts, as there were moments where scenes felt incomplete. For example, there was a part where a character went to make a phone call, but the film cut from just before they entered the room to them immediately walking out, making it feel like a few seconds were missing. One character is seeking revenge, and while their motive is understandable, they seem to be targeting the wrong person, which was a bit confusing. There’s also a moment when a gun goes off off-camera — I would have preferred to see that action on screen. Additionally, the film didn’t explain why the lead character was being bullied, which left a gap in the story or if they did it wasn’t clear. I would have liked more action throughout the film.

Bad Influence was a great film that blended romance, drama, and mystery. It has a strong cast and a good story, but I wish it included a few more exciting scenes and offered clearer storytelling for the smaller moments.