Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Deadstream Blu-ray Movie Review

Smash that Buy button!

Reviewed by Randy Miller III August 8, 2023

I really wasn't prepared to like Vanessa and Joseph Winter's Deadstream, as it falls smack into the mostly eye-rolling subgenre of what you might call "Internet horror" -- basically, supernatural stuff involving social media platforms that are already scary enough. It's not usually my cup of tea because I don't really care for all of those things in general, and also requires a very careful touch to be anywhere close to good. But based on the strength of the husband-and-wife team's previous work -- most recently "To Hell and Back", easily my favorite segment on the otherwise uneven found footage film V/H/S/99 -- my expectations were at least a little higher than "rock bottom".

Anyway, I loved it. Deadstream keeps the found footage train going and was clearly made with care, hitting almost all of the right notes during 87 tightly-paced minutes as we follow obnoxious disgraced YouTube personality Shawn Ruddy (co-writer/director Joseph Winter, who also appeared in "To Hell and Back") on the road to redemption after a wave of backlash for distasteful stunts. Hoping to appease his fanbase and sponsor, Shawn spends the night in a haunted house and livestreams the whole thing with a trunkful of equipment, setting up shop in an upstairs bedroom while thousands (soon, millions) of viewers log in to watch. A brief history of "Death Manor" is provided, including the long-ago suicide of failed poet Mildred Pratt, a few more deaths that led to its abandonment in the 1950s, and of course a subsequent spike in paranormal activity, so it's not long before Deadstream isn't a one-man-show anymore.

A rare horror-comedy that's actually scary and funny, Deadstream works extremely well as both a skewer of YouTube culture and a carefully-constructed found footage film that feels genuine: close attention was clearly paid to the visuals and sound design, which both expertly walk the line between authentic and lightly sweetened for dramatic effect. As its story rapidly unfolds (and features a handful of clever twists and well-placed scares that I wouldn't dream of spoiling), it goes into full freak-out mode during the final leg but still keeps its enjoyably humorous edge, including a few terrific running gags ("Strike!") and intermittent doses of fan interactions via scrolling chat relays and even response videos. This might be the only area that Deadstream relies on too much, but it's only a small distraction from what's otherwise a well above-average exercise in DIY filmmaking that deserves a wider audience. Needless to say, co-writers/directors Vanessa and Joseph Winter have squarely landed on my radar for any and all future projects.

Like most recent RLJ Entertainment discs under the Shudder imprint, Deadstream is available as a Wal-Mart exclusive Blu-ray Steelbook both in-store (maybe) and online. Unlike the others, however, it's not available as a standard Blu-ray as of this writing -- only a DVD, which has substantially driven up interest in what might otherwise be a fairly basic variant. But it's a fantastic release in any form; one that features solid A/V specs and a surprisingly deep collection of enjoyable bonus features that might remind you of "Special Edition" releases from back in the day.

Deadstream Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

I'll be mercifully brief with any kind of technical information regarding Deadstream, since its extras (covered below) actually go into some pretty interesting detail regarding the recording equipment, cinematography, and sound design. But let's just say that this all-digital production was a byproduct of above-average consumer grade cameras -- 4K GoPros and the like -- and its beefiest RED setup was only used for one scene that was purposely downgraded to a VHS-style image. That's a roundabout way to say that RLJ Entertainment's excellent looking Blu-ray is a perfect match for Deadstream's source material, which toes the line between high- res livestream footage and a cinematic sheen; due to recent advancements in attainable A/V equipment, indie films are no longer punching well above their weight class in native 1080p. This is a well-authored disc with few if any artifacts or noticeable defects beyond stylistic choices, with very solid overall fine detail and a stable, attractive image featuring supportive color representation, shadow detail, black levels, and contrast. A great- looking Blu-ray indeed, especially under the circumstances.

Deadstream Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Again, audiophiles will want to check out an included featurette about Deadstream's sound design, which explains the creative team's admirable decision to retain an authentic "found footage" livestream vibe with a little bit of dramatic sweetening during the second half. This is a largely front-forward DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix that nonetheless leaves plenty of room for discrete effects and spooky immersion from the rears, which again respects a natural aesthetic since all the music cues are diegetic and come courtesy of Shawn's custom "Dead Manor" cassette; it fits in naturally here, whereas lesser productions might just add in cheap jump scare cues instead. It's a fantastically organic mix, again all things considered, and likewise stands as yet another highlight on this well-rounded Blu- ray. Obviously a full-on Atmos mix would've put this one even further over the top, but it's almost impossible to complain here.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature only.

Deadstream Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release ships in an exclusive matte-finish Steelbook with spot-gloss highlights and poster-themed cover artwork that's slightly different from the more common DVD edition; most of the text has been repositioned and the key image now takes on a more ominous blue appearance. The back cover showcases a spooky close-up of one of the co-stars (whose name and fate I won't spoil here), while the interior splash image depicts Shawn ready to spin his wheel of "Stupid Things to Do". As mentioned earlier, a terrific mix of on-disc extras is also included.

• Audio Commentary - Co-writers/directors Vanessa and Joseph Winter, cinematographer/producer Jared Cook, and producer/actress Melanie Stone sit down for a casual group chat that predictably covers a solid amount of ground including their multiple duties on and off the set, early development and planning, revising the script, casting, practical effects, the joys and challenges of low-budget indie filmmaking, collaborating with other crew members, favorite scenes and moments, working non-stop in a haunted house, and much more.

• Monsters and Makeup FX: Bringing "Deadstream" to Life (14:00) - Key members of the makeup department speak about the films that influenced them growing up, their desire to continue the legacy of practical effects, developing visuals from the script, collaborating with the co-directors, and more.

• On the Set (11:54) - A collection of casual fly-on- the-wall recordings from the set, some shot from multiple angles, that capture a handful of Deadstream's most memorable scenes and moments.

• Bloopers (3:39)

• Daystream: Test Footage and Rehearsals (17:49) - Vanessa and Joseph Winter talk over a dry run-through of key scenes shot during the day, some of which vary quite a bit from the final version.

• Cameras and Lighting (11:19) - Cinematographer Jared Cook goes into full "film school" mode, actually providing a really nice overview of the equipment and techniques used to inspire future filmmakers.

• Sound Designing and Mixing (19:56) - Sound designers Doug May and Brenden Bytheway discuss their deliberate decision to mix Deadstream accurately while leaving a bit of room for flair.

• True Scary Stories From the Set (5:50) - Several key cast and crew members talk over spooky footage of the haunted house, detailing their own unsettling encounters while filming Deadstream.

• Deleted & Extended Scenes (8 clips, 3:51 total) - This cut footage, though brief and mostly inconsequential, includes a few interesting moments as well as slightly longer versions of Shawn's prank videos.

Deadstream Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Vanessa and Joseph Winter's Deadstream was an extremely pleasant surprise in a genre that usually disappoints me, and what's more is that RLJ Entertainment's outstanding Blu-ray Steelbook -- a Wal-Mart exclusive title, at least for now -- is a supportively well-rounded effort with great A/V specs and plenty of enjoyable bonus features. It's on my short list of this year's sleeper hits and deserves a spot on every horror fan's shelf whether you track it down now, closer to Halloween, or wait for a possible standard Blu-ray edition to arrive. Highly Recommended.