A dopey live streamer facing online criticism hopes to gain back his following by broadcasting an overnight stay in an abandoned haunted house.

Found footage horror movies have ebbed and flowed in popularity over time, but they’ve remained a reliable format due to their inexpensive budgets and ever-changing interpretation. Quality may vary.

The subgenre has seemingly graduated from the cliché of finding an old camera in the woods, with fresher concepts for sourcing footage like live broadcasts, zoom calls, ring cams, etc. So, it’s no shock to receive a horror movie that looks and feels exactly like someone’s YouTube channel.

DEADSTREAM (2022) is mostly a comedy, satirizing obnoxious influencers and their warped bids for attention from sponsors. Here the footage isn’t found, but rather experienced in real time with an actively growing audience reacting to the viral daredevil. Shawn gets in over his head immediately when he deliberately traps himself inside “Death Manor”, accidentally summoning the raunchy spirits that reside. A surprise visit from a suspicious super fan further complicates Shawn’s evening while ghoulish pranksters relentlessly chase him as he hides under blankets, periodically checking in for advice from the comments.

If you’re chronically online like me, you’ll enjoy Deadstream. Like, comment and subscribe!