'Appofeniacs' Review
- Connor Petrey
- Sep 19, 2025
- 1 min read
Release Date: --/--/-- [Festival Run]
Genre: Horror.
MPAA: Not Rated.
Distributor: TBA.
The Verdict: A Must-See
Appofeniacs is an unsettling brush with reality as we dive deeper and deeper into the uncertainty of AI. Now the choice to make a horror film about AI is not an uncommon trend in the modern age, but unlike an evil smart house or a futuristic Skynet takeover, Appofeniacs tackles most prominently the act of “deepfakes”.
Darkly satirical, things get out of hand in a rush as there is no escape for anyone from technology for its anxiety-inducing 90 minute runtime. Presented in an anthology manner with interconnecting stories that all surround one man’s unearned vengeance that after doing one singular incorrect thing in his eyes ruins a life.
Apophenia is defined as the tendency to perceive a connection or meaningful pattern between unrelated or random things. Which in terms of a deepfake truly makes a ton of sense, where unrelated footage can be altered to say whatever the desired party wants. This can trigger such things as theft, racial slurs or admittance to a crime.
Director Chris Marrs Piliero has crafted a haunting exploration of the horrors of AI in some of the most shocking ways. The story intertwines before coming to a head in a ridiculously satisfying third act that will leave audiences unsure about how they got to this point. It’ll concern, intrigue, irritate and haunt viewers long after the credits roll.
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