A common trope in today's horror movies involves an influencer desperately seeking that perfect story to achieve Internet fame. While this may seem irritating at first, it can actually be quite entertaining. Observing the lengths these individuals go to for likes and attention can be shocking and fascinating. This is especially true when the rising star encounters challenges—like the paranormal obstacles faced in the 2022 film Deadstream.
Disgraced live streamer Shawn Ruddy is attempting to regain the followers he lost after releasing a series of offensive videos. He plans to livestream himself spending the night at Death Manor, a condemned haunted house in the woods. As Shawn recounts the story of Mildred Pratt—a wealthy Mormon heiress and failed poet—it is revealed that she committed suicide in the house. Subsequent residents have all died under mysterious circumstances.
Almost immediately, he starts to hear strange noises in the house, which turn out to be caused by a superfan named Chrissy, who has unfortunately followed him to his solo livestream. After the two discover a spirit board, they attempt to make contact with a spirit named Mildred. Chrissy convinces Shawn to recite a mysterious Latin phrase aloud to "put the ghosts to rest." However, as you might expect, it has quite the opposite effect.
Shawn's "comeback night" quickly turns into a struggle for survival when chaos erupts and escape seems impossible. Told from various camera perspectives, including a head-mounted camera, Shawn is desperate to evade Mildred and her ghoulfriends. He can only succeed with the assistance of his livestream audience, who provide knowledge of occult rituals, as well as his own determination to prove himself and his worth.
As a fan of the found footage genre, I always try to give movies with shaky camera work and grainy imagery a chance. Deadstream was one of those films. Initially, I considered skipping it because the main character reminded me of an ex, but I decided to push past those bad memories and watch it one lazy summer afternoon. I'm so glad I did. Although I'm not typically into horror comedies, Deadstream had me not only laughing but also scared to walk up a flight of stairs, fearing that someone’s dead body would jump out at me from a hanging rope.
Deadstream offers more than just blood and laughter; it demonstrates how a good B-movie can be created with a small cast and a single isolated setting. The house, the surrounding woods, Mildred's minions, and, of course, Mildred herself create a downright creepy atmosphere. This eerie vibe is reminiscent of the Blair Witch Project, yet it carries the sass and destructiveness of the Evil Dead deadites. Additionally, the story features a redemptive arc that is quite impressive. Once you get to know Shawn, it seems impossible for him to recover from his past... or is it?
