New To Blu: Profile (2021) - Reviewed


Social media finds its way to the screen with this week's release of Profile on blu-ray. Initially screened in 2018, the movie was pushed to a 2021 cinematic release but struggled due to the coronavirus pandemic and was moved to the streaming market. This week it finally hits blu-ray after 3 years. 

Much like 2018's Searching, viewers are taken down the rabbit hole of the evils of Facebook and Skype as a journalist is sucked into a world of terrorism and possible human trafficking. Director Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch, Wanted) switches the scope of his typical action fare to one of modern commentary that shows how Islamic terrorists use the web to scour for new recruits and female victims. Reportedly based on a true story, Profile is a tension laced dose of reality that gives us an insider look at how technology is not always our best friend but can quickly become the enemy. 



Profile
is told from the perspective of Amy (Valene Kane), an amateurish journalist attempting to earn her keep at a prospective online news outlet. The story that unravels is based on the non-fiction book In The Skin of A Jihadist by Anna Erelle which tells of her entrance into the ISIS recruitment network. The film captures the inner workings of how the male terrorist leaders abuse the tools of social media to manipulate young women into entering the Jihadist movement at the cost of their freedom and often times their lives. The ensuing tale shows how they uses lie and deceit to enroll new recruits into the terrorist underworld and how they victimize females into either submission or death. 

This is an eye opening piece of modern cinema that definitely has a message behind its production. With so many stories of girls disappearing in recent years, this is another film that should be seen to understand the tactics behind the systems of terrorism. It's not just about bombing or killing innocent people. It's also about making money to support their violent agendas. Profile takes a hard look at the whys, the hows, and the usage of weak wills to get their way. 

Timur uses his ever evolving directorial talents to create a story that rests firmly on its two main leads. As he's normally directed larger action ventures, Profile allows him to concentrate more on character and emotion. Valene Kane as Amy portrays a near perfect representation of victimhood across social media platforms as Shazad Latif uses charisma and charm to influence her choices. Both starring actors do their best with a limited script that shows the bad sides of technology in our modern world. If you're a parent, this one is another terrifying look inside the cross platform abuses that happen every day.

This movie went mostly unnoticed but definitely deserves a watch. Check out the blu-ray or watch it on Amazon Prime. 

Also, check out Andrew's review here

-CG