“Be sure to smash that like button, fam,” is the go-to phrase if you’re making fun of YouTubers. It’s such a part of that platform’s algorithm that it feels weird when people don’t have a variation of that in a video. And because we know the schtick of streamers so much, it’s perfect to spoof in movies. If it also happens to be a horror movie? All the better. As Shudder’s upcoming exclusive Deadstream shows, YouTuber culture and ghost-hunting culture are a glorious thing to merge. Here’s our exclusive look at the trailer for the movie which premieres October 6.
The movie is the feature writing-directing debut of husband and wife team Vanessa and Joseph Winter. Joseph Winter also stars in the movie as Shawn, a disgraced internet personality who 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. Vengeful spirits are the worst.
I’ll be honest. I used to find found footage horror movies a real bore. There’s only so much “Quiet…quiet…LOUD!” I can handle. But so many great films have come out in that genre in the past few years, it’s hard to ignore. Shudder has a great selection of them, from the pandemic-produced Host to the various V/H/S offshoots. And if you haven’t seen the Japanese faux documentary Noroi: The Curse, you are missing out.
Deadstream premiered earlier this year as part of the 2022 SXSW Film Festival as part of the Midnight Section. The film has played the festival circuit continuously since where it continues to win audiences over with its mixture of comedy and scares. The Winters also have a segment in V/H/S/99 which will debut on Shudder October 20.
Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.
