Deathstream (2022)

This is the most pleasant surprise of the year for me personally. I do think West's two films were at the top with me, for sure, but I had NO IDEA this little FF horror satire on YouTube/Twitch/TikTok influencer culture mixed with demonic blood and guts possession comedy would just pop up and be so much fucking fun! Now I read from some of the LB reviewers I follow this had all the wonderful Evil Dead II vibes, and that had me VERY EXCITED, and, sure enough, they couldn't have been more accurate. Shawn can really scream, too! Now, I don't know how much influencers get paid, but, damn, this guy had all the nicest equipment for what looks like a JACKASS knockoff nutjob committed to doing crazy shit for likes, subscribes, and sponsorships. 

What I thought was really cool is how those cameras are used, the way the dynamic duo directorial team of Vanessa and Joseph Winter have developed creative workarounds for what we horror fans (and I've done this a lot, I'm the first to admit) gripe in terms of "why would he or she stay where danger is when all signs point to <i>get the fuck out</i>?", and the makeup and CGI effects mix look just enough low budget to charm me. I thought Chrissy was adorable so I was seriously pissed at how Shawn was treating her...his narcissism and unwillingness to "share starpower" with her just grinded my gears. I loved how she pops up out of nowhere and the explanations for how she got to the creepy old house in the middle of the woods with a freaky history were odd enough to leave that feeling of unease. But I just crushed on Melanie Stone's Chrissy immediately because she was so appealing the moment she appeared...and then you add icky makeup, teeth, and eye color change and BINGO, the yikes emerge and she's biting into his neck and crotch!

But I'll tell you what popped me: Shawn is able to subdue her with a hatchet to the head and add a cam around her called "Mildead Cam". I was like, "Damn you for going there!" Because I giggled like a wicked kid stealing candy from another kid's jack'o'lantern bucket. The ending was a bit predictable, but because Shawn can't help himself in terms of showboating and staying in that damn house instead of immediately leaving when the chance was there. The finger coming off, the explosion of blood from a square hole in the floor, the go-to specters just at a distance caught on camera, the pond water possession bathtub near-drowning, trip out a window on the second floor complete with yucky leg injury, and a demon head exploding yellow goo in Shawn's face are examples of a bad decision to go to the wrong place in order to try and resurrect a career on social media when behavior during stunts cost him reputation and monetary benefits.

I'll finish by saying, I was especially wowed by how Shawn depends on folks elsewhere watching his livestream for help, clicks on past articles and videos to develop back story for the house's past occupants, and takes time (hilariously, even when danger was lurking and actual demons had attacked him) to read comments and respond! I spend way too much time on YouTube and totally believe this kind of influencer would do that!