10 Scumbag Horror Movie Protagonists We STILL Rooted For

3. Shawn Ruddy - Deadstream

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Shudder

Deadstream impressively does the inverse of Dashcam, by presenting us with an obnoxious Social Media Personality who is so thoroughly put through the wringer that it becomes increasingly difficult not to cheer on their survival.

The found footage film's protagonist is Shawn Ruddy (played by co-director Joseph Winter) - a disgraced Internet personality who attempts to win his audience back by spending a night in a haunted house.

And indeed, Shawn is a grating character from the first moment we meet him - a cringe-worthy clout chaser pandering to hyperactive teenage boys on YouTube, and willing to do anything to claw back his dwindling revenue stream.

Shawn is absolutely an a**hole, then, but as the supernatural shenanigans begin steadily ramping up, it becomes increasingly difficult to wish ill upon this guy, who evidently has to deal with far more than he bargained for.

He's just endearing enough to root for by film's end, even if you probably wouldn't want to hang out with him in real life.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.