[Review] SXSW: Deadstream Offers a Found Footage Gateway

Those with any internet presence or following are likely aware of the consequences of saying the wrong thing or hurting a group of people with their online actions. Getting “canceled” has become both a joke and a threat hanging over creators.

In Deadstream, Shawn Ruddy (Gabe Casdorph) is trying to make a thrilling return to his influencer lifestyle after his channel, Wrath of Shawn, lost monetization in an online stunt that went too far. He’s made his 20-minute apology video, he’s got a sponsor, and he’s ready to win back the money of the masses.

Ruddy breaks into an abandoned haunted house affectionately named Death Manor, where the ghost of Mildred Pratt resides, and where many souls have been trapped following her death by suicide. He’s going to live stream his adventures, setting up cameras in each room and loading up on occult safety items like holy water and a single clove of garlic. He swears to his suspicious viewers that he will inspect every sound.

We get the sense that Ruddy is of the same vein as “disgraced” YouTubers like PewDiePie, who’s referenced throughout the film, and are invited to laugh at the character’s insensitivity and desperation at his expense. Ruddy shares stories of those who haunt Death Manor and plays clips of ghost hunting adventures at the same house in years past as he sets up shop.

The pacing of the film starts out similarly to any haunted reality TV show – slowly. It’s done with such care and purpose that the audience is made to look in the background, in the corners of the screen, and anywhere else to find even a hint of the paranormal. This is all done with expert exposition as Deadstream pays deliberate and heartwarming homage to found footage horror movies of yore.

When Ruddy finally hears a bump in response to his ghost-coaxing, he’s startled by a fan of his channel who found his location, Chrissy (Melanie Stone). The viewers on his live stream encourage Ruddy to continue his investigation with Chrissy in tow. What follows is a fresh, smart, and funny horror-comedy full of blood, pus, and surprises. The two must work together to stop Mildred Pratt from adding their souls to her collection, finding ghouls and clues as they do.

If you’re looking for an indie horror film with skilled practical effects, a clear understanding of the found footage subgenre, and writing that serves as an open invitation to yell at the screen – Deadstream delivers. With comedy and commentary sprinkled generously throughout, the movie creates a fun and creepy gateway for fans of all ages.