Though we’ve seen plenty of internet horror movies over the last several years, IN2U manages to feel fresh and unique. In this short film, a shape-shifting monster targets a young man who uses an Only Fans-like account to earn some extra money. The short evolves into an intriguing bit of body horror by the last minute or two.

The film, directed by Adrienne Acevedo Lovette with a script by John A. Rice, stars Christian Prins Coen as Cam, an attractive young man who spends much of the short shirtless, posed in front of his computer, talking to subscribers of his AllMyFans account. Soon into the runtime, he receives a mysterious message from someone with the handle IN2U (Dre Davis). Initially, the monster appears as an attractive young woman on camera. Yet, from the get-go, she taps into all of Cam’s insecurities, including his loneliness. The initial back and forth that that the two have is one of the most effective sequences. It hits upon the isolation that often exists behind the screen, even for a model such as Cam.

From there, the tension grows, as IN2U promises that she’ll meet Cam face to face and eventually, arrives at his house. Without spoiling anything, I’ll note that the ending really employs some shocking special effects to show the next evolution of the monster. It’s a great closing sequence.

Because the short only stars Davis and Coen, along with Emily Mesa, who plays Cam’s sister Macy, so much rides on the performances. Thankfully, everyone here does a good job. Coen’s performance in the lead role makes Cam feel incredibly vulnerable, no matter how much he smiles. Davis has some downright creepy scenes, and Mesa adds a dose of comedic relief and makes the sibling relationship between Cam and Macy feel believable and natural because of the way they joke around.

IN2U is a creative and clever take on influencer/internet horror. The film’s concept somewhat resembles It Follows, but behind a screen. This short contains some genuine unnerving scenes that touch upon broader themes of isolation and loneliness. I’d love to see this turned into a feature-length film.