I was very surprised by three things in this movie… 1. that I enjoyed it nearly as much as I did given the found footage/computer screen schtick that has been done before. 2 – that it was apparently filmed in 2018 and not released until 2021. Since I thought it was good. And 3. that it was directed by Timur Bekmambetov because I wouldn’t think that crazy Russian director of visually crazy movies would make something so visually restrained.

Profile is about a female London reporter who goes undercover via Skype (it takes place in 2014) as a recent convert to Islam who might be looking to join the fight in Syria. She’s really looking for a recruiter so she can write a story about their tactics in converting Western women to the jihadi cause. She lands one, a handsome former British citizen now fighting in Syria and they begin to get a little too close.

There’s a slight squirm factor in this movie’s depiction of Islam and Muslims… just a little of that Islamic paranoia. But that’s the film and it focuses on recruiters and jihadi fighters which are a real thing. So be it. What matters is whether its an effective thriller and, yeah, it really was.

I was surprised by how into the film I got and how I wanted the lead to play it smart and not get too emotionally invested in this charismatic killer. I found myself tense and worried… which says something about its ability to manipulate and play up the fear, paranoia, and hope. Hope she doesn’t fall for him, hope she doesn’t do or say something too revealing. I’d argue it’s perhaps too manipulative… but that’s what a thriller is supposed to do, no?

Was also impressed that this was probably the best “From the point of view of the computer screen” movies I’ve seen. These are usually horror movies and can be bad to ok to watch but I never feel they are quite natural and believable. But this one’s use of Skype and various software programs really worked for me since they were the tools she was using against the recruiters and the tools they use to catch their fish.

So, yeah, this is pretty good. I’m genuinely surprised that it worked on both the computer screen schtick and simple and pure “getting in too deep with the baddies” angle. We’ve seen this basic story and setup before, but not via email and instant messengers so that was a fun twist. It’s a good, effective little thriller.

Score: 86