Film Review: Glamping (5/10)

What begins as an influencer's dream cabin getaway, quickly becomes a film where Hashtags overcome Horror.

Glamping follows college influencer Olivia Tate, played by Rosemary Idisi, who decides to take her friends on a “glamorous camping” trip that turns out to be anything but. Idisi — also the film’s writer, producer, and CreatorVerse winner — leads this heavily Gen Z-coded thriller centered around acceptance, love, and self-validation. Alongside her are Geffen Aviva, Joseph Purcell, and Chris Angelis, all of whom bring energy to the screen.

The story takes a few sharp turns that’ll keep you guessing — though by the end, I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

STORY (1/2)

Most of the story unfolds on what looks like a random college campus somewhere in the U.S., which doesn’t do much to ground the movie. With a name like Glamping, I expected some kind of stylish, high-end camping trip, but the only thing glamorous here is Olivia’s dorm room — and it’s unrealistically perfect. The movie tries to tackle just about every trending topic: influencer life, feminism, tarot, self-discovery, hustle culture — you name it. There’s a solid plot somewhere in there, but it gets buried under all the noise. The ideas are there, just not all connected.

VISUALS (0/2)

This is where Glamping struggles the most. The cinematography and production design don’t fully sell the world the story promises. The camera work feels uncertain — static when it should move, handheld when it should breathe — and the lighting often flattens scenes that should’ve been rich with texture and unease. Wardrobe continuity is another problem: bikinis in one scene, fall jackets in the next, suggesting either time jumps or continuity oversights that disrupt the flow.

Given Olivia’s character is a fashion student and stylist, costume design could’ve been a narrative tool — a visual expression of her curated persona unraveling in nature. Instead, outfits feel disconnected from both character and context. The lack of visual cohesion ultimately weakens the film’s identity. Glamping needed a stronger aesthetic hand — something that understood how image and illusion feed each other, especially in a story about social media masks.

SOUND (2/2)

Here’s where the film redeems itself. The sound design and score elevate Glamping beyond its visual shortcomings. The transformations between music and silence are effective, creating a sense of anxiety that feels genuine. The soundtrack blends moody synths with acoustic tension, grounding scenes that might otherwise feel hollow.

Dialogue clarity is consistently strong — an underrated achievement in indie thrillers — and the ambient layering during key moments (especially outdoor sequences) enhances the sense of isolation. If there’s one department that feels professional and deliberate, it’s this one. The sound team understood the assignment, giving the film’s emotional beats a pulse.

CHARACTER (1/2)

Geffen Aviva stood out to me the most. Her performance felt natural — subtle but strong — and she really leaned into the nuances of her character. Even though her storyline left more questions than answers, she brought depth to it. The rest of the cast did well with what they were given, and everyone had believable chemistry. The hair and makeup team clearly did their part too, but the wardrobe choices (again) pulled me out of the story.

FACTOR X (1/2)

Despite its flaws, Glamping is strangely watchable. It’s the kind of movie that works best when you don’t take it too seriously — part social commentary, part chaotic passion project. Its biggest strength is enthusiasm: you can feel the ambition in every frame, even when it doesn’t land. The mix of horror, self-help satire, and influencer drama makes it unique, even if the execution can’t quite juggle it all.

What it lacks in coherence, it makes up for in earnestness. Idisi clearly has a voice and vision worth nurturing — Glamping just feels like the early version of what could be a much stronger film down the road.

At its core, Glamping is a film about image — how we present ourselves, how we’re seen, and what happens when those two realities clash. It’s ambitious, messy, and full of heart, even when its craft can’t keep up with its ideas. The sound design shines, performances are sincere, and themes feel timely — but disjointed pacing, uneven visuals, and surface-level storytelling keep it from rising above average.

Still, Glamping deserves credit for taking swings in an age of safe storytelling. It might not hit the bullseye, but it’s aiming for something honest — and that counts.

FINAL SCORE: 5/10

Where to Watch: TUBI