Watch The Impact, Social Media Stars

The Impact is a drama about the lives of two social media stars, played by Gavin Ferry and Cynthia Johnson, whose lives are altered when their platforms are utilized for a political campaign. The movie is directed by a promising filmmaker named Rachel Kodger, who is known for her unique and unconventional approach to storytelling. Gavin Ferry and Cynthia Johnson play the characters of Chris Michaels and Sam Thompson, respectively. They are two online personalities who have amassed a large following of die-hard fans. Their online personas are night and day, with Chris portraying a carefree party animal, while Sam is portrayed as an intellectual and socially conscious individual.

The film takes place during the lead up to a contentious mayoral election in a major city. The two candidates are neck-and-neck in the polls, and their campaigns are both running increasingly aggressive social media strategies to try and tip the tide in their favor. In a bold move, the campaign manager for one candidate reaches out to Chris and Sam to try and enlist them to refer the public to their candidate's platform.

At first, the two are taken aback by the idea of getting involved in politics. They have always strived to remain neutral when it comes to issues or candidates. However, when they think about the potential impact of their involvement, they start to become more tempted by the promise of broadening their reach and increasing their influence.

They are also both stirred by the pressing issues that are at the forefront of the election. The film does a great job of portraying the complex socio-political landscape that these two characters are operating in, with themes ranging from police brutality, gentrification, and institutional racism.

As the election draws closer, both candidates start to resort to increasingly aggressive tactics. It is not long before Chris and Sam's personal lives become caught up in the ensuing chaos. The two start to become isolated from each other as their loyalty to the different candidates grows more sky-high.

The film is visually stunning, and Kodger masterfully balances the high stakes drama with moments of levity and heart. There are some genuinely tense scenes that will have you at the edge of your seat, but there are also plenty of moments of introspection where the two characters contemplate the cost of their involvement in the political sphere.

Throughout the film, the two characters are forced to confront the limits of their own ideals. Gavin Ferry and Cynthia Johnson both deliver brilliant performances, managing to balance the different layers of their characters with ease. They are flawed individuals, but you can't help but root for them.

Overall, The Impact is a thought-provoking film that forces its audience to consider complex moral questions. It serves as a cautionary tale for the role social media can play in politics and how the platform can be weaponized to manipulate the public. It is a film that is both gripping and beautifully made, easily ranking among the best dramas of the year.