Synopsis:
A disgraced internet personality attempts to win back his followers by livestreaming one night alone in a haunted house. But when he accidentally pisses off a vengeful spirit, his big comeback event becomes a real-time fight for his life.

Editing: Joseph Winter, Vanessa Winter
Music: Joseph Winter

Cast: Joseph Winter, Melanie Stone, Jason K. Wixom, Pat Barnett, Marty Collins

Directors: Joseph Winter, Vanessa Winter
Writers: Joseph Winter, Vanessa Winter
Cinematography: Jared Cook

I have a love/hate relationship with found-footage films. I can watch something like The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity, or Creep and appreciate how each uses the format, while other entries leave me bored. Deadstream lands firmly in the “good” column: the premise and the way it leverages the camera are spot on, and it’s some of the most fun I’ve had with this format.

Joseph Winter co-writes, co-directs with his wife Vanessa Winter, and stars as Shawn Ruddy, a disgraced YouTuber planning his wildest stunt yet to win back sponsors and fans. He’s the type who makes shock-prank videos for views. Shawn isn’t especially likable, but one of the film’s smartest tricks is making him at least somewhat sympathetic as events spiral.

For his comeback, Shawn admits his biggest fear is haunted houses and vows to spend the night locked inside one. He literally strands himself—tossing his car’s spark plugs into the bushes and his keys down a drain—then rigs the place with GoPros to monitor every room while explaining the house’s grisly history.

It doesn’t take long for things to get creepy, with plenty of jump scares and plenty of laughs. Shawn’s high-pitched squeals and his bickering with chat over what’s “real” are pitch-perfect send-ups of YouTube/Twitch dynamics.

Once the ghosts and ghoulies show up and the blood starts flowing, it’s a ridiculous amount of fun—especially because nearly everything is done with practical effects. The creature designs are great and add a strange grounded quality to a story that ping-pongs between the supernatural and Shawn’s outsized persona.

I’ve seen Spree and a few other “content creator” horror takes that miss the mark; Deadstream nails it. The commentary on influencer culture hums in the background while you ride a chaotic rollercoaster with Shawn. Think Blair Witch meets Evil Dead II—the scares hit as quickly as the jokes.

(Deadstream screener provided for review)