New Movies: Bad Influence (2025) by Chloé Wallace
- dailyentertainment95
- May 9
- 6 min read
Bad Influence (2025) by Chloé Wallace: A Forbidden Romance in the Shadows
Bad Influence (original Spanish title: Mala Influencia), directed by Chloé Wallace, is a romantic thriller poised to deliver a high-stakes story of forbidden love, danger, and unexpected connection. Based on a popular book, the film plunges into the world of a wealthy heiress and the enigmatic ex-con hired to protect her, setting the stage for a combustible romance amidst mysterious threats.
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23558084/
About movie: https://lane-casting.com/reel/bad-influence/
Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/mala-influencia (US), https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/mala-influencia (Australia), https://www.justwatch.com/ca/movie/mala-influencia (Canada), https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/mala-influencia (UK), https://www.justwatch.com/fr/film/mala-influencia (France), https://www.justwatch.com/it/film/mala-influencia (Italy), https://www.justwatch.com/es/pelicula/mala-influencia (Spain), https://www.justwatch.com/de/Film/mala-influencia (Germany)
Detailed Summary
Bad Influence introduces Reese Russell (Eléa Rochera), a privileged and headstrong teenage ballerina, whose life is suddenly overshadowed by a dangerous, unknown stalker. Her millionaire father, Bruce Russell (Enrique Arce), concerned for her safety, takes drastic measures by hiring Eros Douglas (Alberto Olmo), a brooding young man with a dark past, as her personal bodyguard. Eros, who has lived a tumultuous life in and out of foster care and juvenile detention, sees this as a chance for a fresh start.
As Eros dedicates himself to shielding Reese from the mysterious threats, their constant proximity inevitably leads to an intense and undeniable chemistry. What begins as a professional assignment soon evolves into a forbidden romance, challenging their boundaries and putting their lives further at risk. The film delves into Eros's struggle to maintain his professional distance while battling his growing feelings for Reese, and Reese's journey to understand and trust the man guarding her life. As they grow closer, they must also uncover the identity of the stalker, navigating a web of secrets and dangers that threaten not only Reese's safety but also their blossoming love.
Plot Summary
Bad Influence tells the story of Reese, a wealthy teenager facing a mysterious stalker. Her father hires Eros, an ex-con with a dark past, as her bodyguard. Despite their differing backgrounds and the professional boundaries, a powerful and forbidden romantic connection develops between them. As their love intensifies, they must work together to uncover the stalker's identity and confront the dangers that threaten their lives and burgeoning relationship.
Director's Vision
Chloé Wallace, known for her work on romantic dramas like A Perfect Story, directs Bad Influence, translating a popular book into a screen adaptation. Her vision for the film centers on creating a tense romantic thriller that explores the complexities of forbidden love, particularly between individuals from disparate backgrounds. Wallace aims to capture the high emotional stakes of the characters' developing relationship while maintaining the suspense inherent in a story about a mysterious stalker. The film is rooted in its Spanish origin, likely bringing a unique European sensibility to the romantic thriller genre, focusing on the emotional depth and character development that drive the central romance and the unfolding mystery.
Themes
Forbidden Love and Class Divide: The core theme explores the intense and challenging romance that blossoms between a wealthy heiress and an ex-con bodyguard, highlighting the societal barriers they face.
Protection and Vulnerability: The film delves into the dynamics of protection and the vulnerability of both the protected and the protector, as they navigate physical threats and emotional risks.
Redemption and New Beginnings: Eros's journey offers a theme of redemption, as he seeks to escape his dark past and build a new life, complicated by his feelings for Reese.
Trust and Secrets: The developing relationship between the leads is built on trust, but it's challenged by the secrets they keep and the dangers they face from an unknown antagonist.
Identity and Self-Discovery: Both characters, though from different worlds, embark on a journey of self-discovery as their relationship forces them to confront who they are and what they truly desire.
Key Success Factors
Compelling Romantic Thriller Premise: The "bodyguard falls for the client" trope, combined with a mysterious stalker, offers an inherently engaging and suspenseful narrative.
Source Material Popularity: Being based on a popular book, the film benefits from a pre-existing fanbase and a proven story structure.
Chloé Wallace's Direction: Her experience with romantic dramas suggests a strong capacity to handle the emotional depth and character development crucial for the romantic aspects of the film.
Chemistry of Leads: The success of such a film heavily relies on the chemistry between Alberto Olmo and Eléa Rochera to make their forbidden romance believable and captivating.
Summary Short
Bad Influence (2025) is a Spanish romantic thriller directed by Chloé Wallace. It follows Eros, an ex-con hired to protect wealthy teen Reese from a stalker, as a forbidden love blossoms between them amidst danger and secrets.
Production
Bad Influence is an international co-production between Spain and the United States. It is directed and co-written by Chloé Wallace, with Diana Muro also credited as a screenwriter. The film is based on a popular book, which served as its source material.
Production Companies: Crea SGR (Spain)
Distribution Companies: Netflix
Release Date on Streaming
Bad Influence (2025) is scheduled to be released on Digital & Streaming platforms starting May 9, 2025.
Why to Recommend This Movie
For Fans of Romantic Thrillers: If you enjoy high-stakes romance intertwined with suspense and mystery.
Based on Popular Source Material: If you're a reader who enjoys adaptations of popular books, particularly those with a romantic and thrilling plot.
Forbidden Love Trope: For viewers who are drawn to stories of unlikely couples overcoming societal barriers and personal demons to be together.
Director's Style: If you appreciate Chloé Wallace's previous work and her ability to craft emotionally engaging romantic narratives.
Why to Watch Movie
Intense Romance: To experience a passionate and dangerous love story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Intriguing Mystery: To follow the unraveling of a stalker plot and discover the secrets behind the threats against Reese.
Character Dynamics: To see the development of the complex relationship between a tough ex-con and a privileged heiress.
Escape into a Thrilling Romance: For a film that combines the excitement of a thriller with the emotional pull of a romance.
What Movie Trend Film is Following
Bad Influence (2025) is following the trend of "Romantic Thriller Adaptations from Popular Fiction," particularly those with a "bodyguard romance" or "forbidden love" dynamic. Its connection to Wattpad WEBTOON Studios also places it within the trend of adapting popular online fiction for the screen, catering to audiences already familiar with the story.
What Big Social Trend is Following
The film aligns with the social trend of "Exploring Class Dynamics in Romance" and the ongoing fascination with narratives where individuals from vastly different worlds find connection. It also touches on the broader cultural interest in "Dark Romance" and stories that feature morally complex characters or dangerous situations.
Final Verdict
Bad Influence (2025) promises to be an engaging romantic thriller, leveraging a popular story and the expertise of director Chloé Wallace. While detailed critical reception is yet to emerge, the film's premise of a forbidden love between a privileged heiress and her enigmatic ex-con bodyguard, set against the backdrop of a dangerous mystery, suggests a captivating and emotionally charged experience. Fans of intense romance and suspense will likely find the film appealing, offering a thrilling escape into a world where love and danger intertwine.
Recommendations for Filmmakers
Focus on Character Chemistry: For romantic thrillers, investing in strong casting that delivers palpable chemistry between the leads is paramount to making the "forbidden love" believable and impactful.
Balance Romance and Suspense: Ensure that both the romantic development and the thriller elements are equally compelling and seamlessly integrated, allowing each to elevate the other.
Leverage Source Material Wisely: When adapting popular books, understand what resonated with the original audience and strive to capture that essence while making the story cinematic.
Build on Genre Tropes: While utilizing familiar tropes (like the bodyguard romance), find ways to add unique twists or deeper character insights to make the film stand out.
Recommendations for Movie Industry
Invest in International Romantic Thrillers: Recognize the global appeal of romantic thrillers and continue to support co-productions that blend diverse cultural perspectives with universally engaging storylines.
Tap into Online Fiction: Explore the vast potential of adapting popular online fiction and webcomics, which often come with established fanbases and fresh narrative ideas.
Support Diverse Storytelling: Encourage and fund films that explore different facets of love and relationships, including those that challenge conventional societal norms or feature complex character backgrounds.
Strategic Digital Distribution: For films targeting specific genres and audiences, ensure robust digital and streaming distribution strategies are in place to maximize reach and accessibility.
Final Conclusions
Bad Influence (2025) enters the scene as a promising romantic thriller that aims to captivate audiences with its blend of dangerous secrets and an intense forbidden romance. With Chloé Wallace at the helm and based on a popular book, the film is poised to deliver an emotional and suspenseful ride. It stands as an example of how compelling character dynamics and high-stakes plots can transcend cultural boundaries, appealing to a global audience eager for a thrilling and heartfelt story of love against all odds.
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