Appofeniacs is a frenetic ‘connect-the-dots’ fever dream of a movie grounded only by the accuracy of its absurdity. Which is to say, it’s so absurd that it has to be real, because reality has become so absurd. But let me backtrack as we delve into one of my favorite movies to emerge from the genre film festival Fantastic Fest.
Off the bat, Appofeniacs behaves like a twisted love letter to Pulp Fiction, centering on generative AI instead of a mysterious suitcase. Escalation is the name of the game, and it does not disappoint. You never know how far a moment will go with this film. Is it edgy? Yes. Very. But it’s just as smart as it is sharp. Told in four, over-the-top vignettes that are woven together in the best possible way, Appofeniacs opens the door for a conversation in film that folks need to be having in real life.
Appofeniacs is an unassumingly clever machine of a movie. Even the title is a tongue-in-cheek play on words. ‘Apophenia’ is the psychological tendency to perceive meaningful patterns or connections between unrelated things. Finding an order in the chaos. Which is super apropos for anyone paying attention to the cause and effect of media and politics in the U.S. But to switch out the prefix for ‘app’ just tells you what this movie is. One of the most important things a movie with a message can do is know what it is; another one of those things is to avoid all pretense. Appofeniacs meets you where you are and walks you down an insanely fun rabbit hole where psychological thriller meets horror and existential comedy.
This might be one of the nerdiest flicks I’ve seen in a long time. Endlessly referential, and with layering and nuance so intentional that it has to be received by audiences. When I say ‘nerdiest,’ I am including that cinefile brand of nerd, which was to be expected for a showing at Fantastic Fest. Not just that, but on multiple occasions, the cosplay community gets shown hella love, and that aspect ends up playing a pivotal role in the plot. It’s one I didn’t see coming, which should probably be the tagline, because you have no idea how far this gimmick is going to go. And then, Appofeniacs goes there. Often.
Appofeniacs shows audiences the amount of sheer chaos and damage that one person can cause with a deepfake app and no moral compass. How a thoughtless and seemingly random drop in the digital ocean becomes a violent tsunami of creative kills and unhinged moments. Despite the madness, there’s a cautionary tale in Appofeniacs that feels on the pulse of right this second. A quiet weight grounds the scenes and the performances, just on the edge of dystopian. Because we are, in actuality, already on the downward slide to true dystopia. Appofeniacs will get you laughing, but you’ll also be looking side to side to make sure everyone else is too. This movie is a loud and clear call for the case for media literacy.
Appofeniacs is on the festival circuit, just premiering at the UK’s Fright Fest this past August. Memorable performances from Jermaine Fowler and Sean Gunn should put this one on the map for wide release. If it does, we’ll direct you toward it. Despite the inherent team effort of a film production, heavy praise must be directed toward writer/director Chris Marrs Piliero for getting this movie off the ground. It’s the kind of piece that needs a strong vision and direction to bring from page to screen. One of my faves this year.
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