Taking a razor-sharp scalpel to the obsession with clicks, views, and online popularity, in a similar vein to Eugene Kotlyarenko’s Spree, Zimmerman’s Headcase, starring Siobhan Connors and Pat Moonie, is a gory, darkly comic horror treat.
When did the role of the Social Media Influencer first appear? The role dates back to the early ’00s as YouTube began to grow and was further fuelled by apps like Instagram from the 2010s onward. Social media influencers now appear at every possible social event, from film screenings to fashion shows and charity gigs. Hell, many of them would turn up to the opening of a tin of beans if it increased their likes and follows. Their lives are often built on an algorithm of clicks and views, which is frequently short-lived unless they manage to carve out a career from their online presence. After all, in a world of endlessly scrolling videos and soundbites, what or who goes viral one minute is rarely the centre of attention a few months later.
I, for one, would hate my life becoming an online algorithm and the pressure that comes with knowing you’re only relevant if you can maintain those likes, clicks and follows that buy you a pass to every social event you are now addicted to. That pressure to create new content, which keeps your viewers engaged as you sell yourself, has driven many an influencer to cut corners, fake content, or lurch to extremes to maintain their fragile sense of ‘celebrity.’ Karen is one of those influencers who is desperate for a new angle in Spencer Zimmerman’s dark comedy short, Headcase.
Karen isn’t one of those social media influencers who can sit back and enjoy the ride due to having a god given talent that will earn them a career offline when they so desire. Karen is a newbie who has just begun to find her voice by joining the growing number of influencers discussing wellbeing and mental health online. This trend sees many influencers attempting to act as therapists to fulfil their own need for attention—a somewhat twisted psychological relationship with viewers at best. However, with a potential brand deal on the table, it seems to be working for Karen. Therefore, it’s more than inconsiderate when a man steps out in front of her car while she’s attempting to record content and drive. But even worse, on inspection, this inconsiderate man lying in front of her car with blood pouring from his head is dead! However, every cloud has a silver lining, and always looking for something new, Karen is about to turn this horrific event into something she needs. Content!
Taking a razor-sharp scalpel to the obsession with clicks, views, and online popularity, in a similar vein to Eugene Kotlyarenko’s Spree (2020) and Marcus Harben’s Followers (2021), Zimmerman’s Headcase, starring Siobhan Connors, Pat Moonie, and Gigi Saul Guerrero, is a gory, darkly comic horror treat. In Karen’s twisted world, the head of the guy she had never met until she rudely ran over him becomes her muse as she debates how to turn trauma into trending content, in her fake world of online mental health musings. Of course, as Karen will soon discover, you can only walk around with a talking severed head for so long before you attract the kind of attention you didn’t want! As events continue to spiral out of control, there’s a hell of a lot to love in this wickedly sharp, blood-soaked exploration of wannabe influencer culture.
Headcase held its world premiere at Fantasia Film Festival on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
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