Fantastic Fest 2025 Review: Appofeniacs

Chris Marrs Piliero’s Appofeniacs is a zany, bloody debut where Aaron Holliday’s Duke sparks a deepfake-fueled night of chaos.

Artificial intelligence and deepfakes are reshaping headlines, and with Appofeniacs, filmmaker Chris Marrs Piliero drags that paranoia into the genre arena with a debut that is stylish, frenzied, and wickedly funny. Known for his award-winning music video work, Piliero channels that same chaotic energy into a feature that thrives on bad choices snowballing out of control.

The film follows one of those nights where everything unravels — friendships crack, secrets surface, and reality itself feels unstable. At the center of it all is Duke, played with combustible energy by Aaron Holliday. He’s the spark that sets the chain reaction in motion, pulling everyone deeper into a mess they can’t escape.

The ensemble is fully locked in. Jermaine Fowler brings a balance of charisma and edge, while Michael Abbott Jr. (Banks) and Simran Jehani (Poppy) lean into a darkly comic couple dynamic that adds both humor and unease. Paige Searcy (Lazy) sharpens the chaos with her own distinct rhythm, and Sean Gunn turns in a delightfully eccentric performance that fans will be talking about.

What makes Appofeniacs click is its ability to stay entertaining even as it digs into heavier ideas. Deepfakes here aren’t just a gimmick — they’re a reminder of how fragile identity is when technology bends reality. Piliero doesn’t preach; instead, he wraps those anxieties inside a nightmarish thrill ride that’s as fun as it is unnerving.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Appofeniacs is a zany, bloody, and relevant debut, with Aaron Holliday’s Duke driving the chaos and Chris Marrs Piliero proving himself as a filmmaker to watch.

Writer/Director: Chris Marrs Piliero

Cast: Sean Gunn, Jermaine Fowler, Aaron Holliday, Michael Abbott Jr, Simran Jehani, Amogh Kapoor, Will Brandt, Paige Searcy, Harley Bronwyn