A British journalist goes undercover as a converted Muslim to infiltrate
the ISIS propaganda channels, only to be seduced by her target. DRAMA
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Profile (2021)Directed by Timur Bekmambetov
Written by Britt Poulton, Olga Kharina, Timur Bekmambetov Starring Valene Kane, Shazad Latif, Christine Adams, Amir Rahimzadeh, Morgan Watkins, Emma Cater Based on the book In the Skin of a Jihadist by Anna Erelle |
You know, this is an interesting little film to get released when it did. I say this because the plot of this film has to do with a journalist who goes undercover to find out how the recruitment process for ISIS goes. Now, it would seem to make sense if this film had come out a couple of years ago when said terrorist organization was considered a legitimate threat. Instead, after the crazy year we had and the fact that, again, said group hasn’t been considered a threat for a while; we’re just now getting this film. Oh, and it’s based on a true story. Also also, it utilizes the recent trend of Skype films to tell its supposed true story. Before I get into the details, this is a weirdly presented film to me.
I want to begin by saying the style this film chooses I’m actually quite a fan of. There has been a slew of horror films which have used it effectively for a genuinely creepy experience. But they’re not based on a true story. Which makes the choice here odd to me. Mainly because at no point did I feel that invested into what was happening. The film would do this thing which presented what I was seeing as a virtual diary. So, as soon as I got invested, the screen would go to a main menu and jump a few days forward. This is jarring considering how much they want you to care about the protagonist’s deteriorating social and work life. The other thing which takes me out is the complete ludicrous levels the main character reaches in getting her story. For example, she seemingly FALLS IN LOVE WITH A KNOWN TERRORIST! I don’t know about other people, but it’s hard for me to get behind this story development. Before I close this out, I’ll say this much, the performances are good. To sum this up, I’ll describe to everyone my viewing experience: kind of bored at first because of the presentation, getting angry at the protagonist due to her actions, finally getting intrigued at the end, and then the film ended. Look, I shouldn’t have to say this, but feel the need to after seeing this: don’t join ISIS. They are a terrorist group who kills innocent people. |
Profile is a terrifying film because it's true. European women are seduced by Islamic extremists and driven to join ISIS all the time. Many of them are executed when they wise up, some live out the rest of their lives as sex slaves to terrorists. This particular case involves a journalist who goes undercover as a converted Muslim to try and snag a terrorist via online chat rooms, so she can pump the target for info on a story about the women I described earlier. But how far is too far? When does the line between fact and fantasy blur, and more importantly, who is catfishing who here?
Profile follows in the footsteps of Unfriended, Searching, and Host by utilizing webcams, Skype, Facebook, and other online programs. It's a super creative way to make a movie and it always impresses me, especially this time because it's not a horror movie. Kane and Latif are fantastic as journalist Amy Whittaker and terrorist Bilel. Their communiques are the heart of the movie, and there are moments that humanize Bilel so well that you forget he's a monster. Also, once Amy (Under the guise of Melody) starts getting in too deep, you really start to drift away from being on her side. At a certain point, this is no longer about the story, and that's when things get a little scary. I doubt this film will get a lot of attention. This fairly new subgenre tends to come and go. But Profile is a good movie with scary real consequences. It's frightening to know how easy terrorists can seduce innocent, lonely people via social media. Thousands of women are tricked into giving up their lives every year. At the very least, I hope this film can shine a spotlight on that. |