Influencers ending explained: How did CW finally get exposed?

Social media, obsession, and violence collide once again in the 2025 horror-thriller sequel Influencers. Written, directed, produced, and edited by Kurtis David Harder, the film continues the story of CW, the elusive serial killer who weaponizes online culture to disappear into plain sight.

The film stars Cassandra Naud and Emily Tennant reprising their roles as CW and Madison, joined by Georgina Campbell, Lisa Delamar, Jonathan Whitesell, and Veronica Long.

Premiering at the 29th Fantasia International Film Festival before landing on Shudder in December 12, 2025, the horror thriller film expands the franchise’s critique of influencer culture, parasocial obsession, and the internet’s appetite for spectacle.

While the first film focused on CW’s manipulation behind the scenes, the sequel pushes that idea further by asking what happens when violence is no longer hidden.

By the end of Influencers, CW is no longer a rumor or a theory. Her crimes unfold live, in front of an audience that can’t look away, even when the truth is undeniable.

The chain of events that led to CW’s exposure

CW’s exposure in Influencers is not the result of law enforcement or careful investigation, but a collision of ego, technology, and spectacle.

After killing Charlotte in France and later murdering her girlfriend Diane, CW escapes to Bali believing she still controls the narrative.

She thrives on impersonation and manipulation, convinced she can always stay one step ahead.

That illusion begins to crumble when Madison tracks her down. Madison, still harassed online and blamed for CW’s past crimes, is desperate to prove CW exists.

In Bali, both women cross paths with Jacob, a misogynistic influencer, and his girlfriend Ariana. CW attempts to control the situation by hacking Jacob’s computer and leaking explicit videos, exposing him and Ariana as hypocrites.

Ariana’s public humiliation leads her to take her own life, a turning point that escalates everything.

The final unraveling happens when CW murders Jacob. Unbeknownst to her, Madison has gained access to Jacob’s system and activates a live stream.

For the first time in Influencers, CW kills someone in full view of an online audience. The exposure is immediate and irreversible.

Comments flood the screen, but instead of outrage, many viewers speculate that it’s staged, obsess over CW’s appearance, or even praise her actions.

This reaction pushes CW past restraint. Realizing she has been fully exposed yet still fetishized and excused, she abandons any attempt at escape. CW embraces the chaos, hunting down Jacob’s friends and brutally murdering them as the credits roll.

Even in exposure, CW becomes a spectacle, reinforcing Influencers’ bleak message that visibility does not equal accountability.

Recap of Influencers

The horror-thriller sequel Influencers opens with Ariana’s suicide, immediately framing the story around public shame and digital cruelty. The film then shifts to France, where CW lives with Diane under a false identity.

Their seemingly peaceful relationship begins to unravel when CW becomes fixated on Charlotte, an influencer whose entitlement and attention-seeking behavior trigger her violent tendencies.

After murdering Charlotte, CW impersonates her online, keeping her account active even after her death. Diane notices CW’s erratic behavior and investigates, uncovering multiple fake passports and evidence of prior murders.

Horrified, Diane confronts CW and threatens to involve the authorities. CW kills her and flees, later creating an AI version of Diane’s voice to cope with guilt and maintain control.

Meanwhile, Madison lives in isolation, still blamed by the public for CW’s earlier crimes.

Determined to prove CW exists, she follows the digital trail left behind by Charlotte’s Instagram activity, which leads her to France and then to Bali.

In Bali, Madison encounters Jacob and Ariana, influencers whose toxic content mirrors the film’s critique of online culture. CW manipulates them while Madison attempts to uncover proof.

CW leaks compromising videos of Jacob and Ariana, destroying their carefully curated image. Ariana’s suicide becomes a pivotal moment that brings Madison and CW face to face.

The confrontation escalates into violence, with Madison briefly overpowering CW and discovering her hideout filled with evidence.

Jacob regains consciousness and frees CW, unaware of her role in Ariana’s death. Once Jacob realizes the truth, CW murders him during a live stream initiated by Madison.

As the world watches, CW descends into complete madness, killing Jacob’s friends and reveling in the chaos.

Madison leaves with the evidence, while CW remains exposed, unrepentant, and fully visible.

Influencers is now available for streaming on AMC+ and Shudder.