'Into the Dark': 'New Year, New You' paints a very dark and toxic picture of social media influencer culture

Friends turn against each other as a result of the social media pressure that we are shrouded by in the 82-minute long episode directed by Indie filmmaker Sophia Takal
PUBLISHED DEC 31, 2018

Horrifying twists to popular festivals have been a favorite trope of the horror genre for a while now, but Hulu's new anthology series, 'Into the Dark,' does a beautiful job of clubbing those festive horrors together in monthly thematic episodes.

Releasing once a month, these episodes focus on a terrifying twist to the festival that best represents  the month it release in, which meant that the one releasing on December 28, 'New Year, New You,' had a lot riding on it.

First of all, there haven't been many New Year centric horror on TV or even films for that matter. Secondly, the episode focuses on the booming social media 'influencer' culture, a relevant and ubiquitous modern phenomena that is just being mined for its cinematic possibilities. 

But the fourth episode of 'Into the Dark' does not disappoint, bringing out the vices that the desperate hunger to climb the social media ladder entails, and with its signature satirical twist to it, 'New Year, New You' is spot on, crisp, and relatable in ways that's often creepy.

RELATED TOPICS MANIFEST

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

"It really is a completely different story," said co-creator Matt Duffer about the spinoff
18 minutes ago
After a long delay, Apple TV+’s spy thriller ‘Tehran’ returns this January as Tamar goes rogue and the series secures a renewal.
1 hour ago
A single line in ‘The Pitt’ Season 2’s premiere quietly hints at another major exit, proving no doctor at PTMC is ever truly guaranteed to stay.
2 hours ago
Charlie Brooker confirms ‘Black Mirror’ Season 8 is in the works, teasing new stories as reality edges ever closer to the show’s dark predictions.
3 hours ago
‘The White Lotus’ heads to the French Riviera as a jaw-dropping 19th-century resort becomes the setting for Season 4’s next unraveling.
8 hours ago
After leaving viewers on a cliffhanger, ‘The Hunting Party’ Season 2 has finally confirmed the fate of a major character — and yes, it’s Oliver Odell
1 day ago
Set to release on Wednesday, January 28, the season 3 trailer hints at a darker tone with the addition of a beloved horror queen
1 day ago
HBO's CEO Casey Bloys announced the Season 2 premiere at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles.
1 day ago
The series centers on Kayce Dutton, who has sold the Montana ranch and is attempting to start fresh while riding alongside his son Tate
1 day ago
‘Chicago Med’ is back after its midseason hiatus, and the latest Season 11 episode wastes no time diving into the hospital-wide blackout
2 days ago