20 Incredible Modern Horror Movies That Came Out Of NOWHERE
11. Deadstream
It’s relatively rare for the protagonist of a film to be its most irritating character and the one most worthy of a grisly demise. Undoubtedly, Annie from Rob Savage’s Dashcam remains the premier example of such a person – at least in terms of movies from this decade – but obnoxiously cocky and proud vlogger Shawn Ruddy in Deadstream might take the silver medal.
A delightful homage to Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead trilogy and The Blair Witch Project (among other things), the highly humorous and horrific picture sees humiliated influencer Shawn facing off against over-the-top supernatural horrors while livestreaming in a haunted house known as Death Manor.
Filmmakers Vanessa and Joseph Winter conjure plenty of grotesque creature designs and amusing gags after Shawn stupidly completes a séance to summon various spirits. The standout one is the diabolically cheeky Mildred Pratt – a poet who took her own life – but there are others who are crucial to Deadstream’s nostalgic blend of superb practical effects and tonal shifts.
Plus, the movie cleverly evokes survival horror video game franchises such as Resident Evil and Silent Hill by having Shawn backtrack, find objects, and discover clues and backstories to explain what’s going on and how he can escape Death Manor.
Suffice it to say that the finale is as startling as it is gratifying, too, and Deadstream’s glowing reception definitely put the Winterses on the map.