Stream [2024] – Movie Review (3/5)

STREAM is a slasher movie full of iconic horror actors and made in a wonderful B-horror movie style, perfect for fans of this kitchy vibe. It did feel a little familiar to me, but nothing that ruined the fun. Read our full Stream horror movie review here!

STREAM is a slasher B-horror movie that pays tribute to all those that came before. Including its cast, which features several familiar faces for most horror fans. At just over two hours, it was too long, but it also has many characters.

NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH…

Deadstream, which has a completely different plot >

Sure, elements of the plot weren’t the most innovative. However, keep in mind that I watch a grotesque amount of horror movies, so that may not be the case for you. To me, it was a more fun and kitsch version of The Ringmaster.

Continue reading our Stream horror movie review below. Find it out on VOD now!

Killing for a game

With Stream, it all begins with the Keenan family wanting to spend some quality time together. The teenage daughter isn’t interested in this, but her little brother is excited, as are the parents.

Of course, a family getaway is never particularly relaxing, which isn’t the point either. The point of this trip is to spend time together as a family… and to keep that teenager out of trouble.

Well, unfortunately, they brought her directly into trouble. The kind that just might kill you. At this hotel, which the family had visited years earlier, a game is about to be played.

The kind where four deranged killers are killing for sport. In very sadistic ways, I might add. In fact, the events will be live-streamed (hence the title), and those watching online can place bets and have favorites.

The more creative the kills, the better.

It’s a sick and twisted game that reminded me a lot of the Danish horror movie The Ringmaster (2018). However, this one is more kitsch and slasher B-horror fun. The other was straight up terrifying.

A cast full of iconic horror faces

Horror fans should have a field trip with Stream, as one iconic horror actor after the next shows up. There’s even the late Tony Todd (Hell Fest), who became horror royalty with both Candyman and Final Destination. He is at the very end of the movie.

In a rather big role, we see Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator, The Frighteners,  Hysteria!), but before we get that far, Dee Wallace (E.T., Critters, Cujo) is in the opening scene. By this point, I was one happy horror camper!

WANT MORE WITH JEFFREY COMBS?

Check out Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls >

Then came Danielle Harris (Rob Zombie’s Halloween, Inoperable) as the mother in the Keenan family, and Charles Edwin Powell as the father.

Finally, we have director and co-writer Michael Leavy in a key role, while co-writer Jason Leavy is also in Stream. I love it when filmmakers dare to step in front of the camera (like Mike Flanagan did recently in a horror-comedy).

Watch Stream on VOD now

The director of Stream is Michael Leavy, and he clearly has a great eye for horror and knows what horror fans want. So does Steven Della Salla (Terrifier), Robert Privitera, and Jason Leavy, who co-wrote the movie with director Michael Leavy.

And yes, Michael and Jason Leavy are brothers who make movies together… particularly genre productions. And I am ready for more. Admittedly, I could have done with fewer (or just shorter) scenes of the more steamy variety.

Maybe a woman in the writer’s (or editing) room would’ve helped. Just sayin’.

Then again, I also acknowledge that including these scenes (exactly as they are) is part of the B-horror slasher tribute. However, a runtime of two hours is usually too much for horror movies. This one could’ve used a bit of tightening up, as well.

Having said that, I still think most horror fans (particularly anyone who likes a solid slasher that leans into all those iconic B-horror tropes) will have fun with stream. I know I did!

STREAM is out on Digital and VOD now.

Details

Director: Michael Leavy
Writers: Steven Della Salla, Jason Leavy, Michael Leavy
Stars: Jeffrey Combs, Charles Edwin Powell, Danielle Harris, Dee Wallace, Tony Todd, Sydney Malakeh