Inspired by practical FX-driven creature features from the 1980s and a fascination with toxic internet culture, the independent horror film DEADSTREAM will have its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival on March 11, 2022, as part of the Midnighters lineup.

After a public controversy left him disgraced and demonetized, a washed-up internet personality tries to win back his followers by livestreaming himself spending one night alone in a haunted house. When he accidentally pisses off a vengeful spirit, his comeback event becomes a real-time fight for his life (and social relevance) as he faces off with the sinister spirit of the house and her own powerful following.

Writers and directors Vanessa Winter and Joseph Winter, who also stars alongside Melanie Stone, have created a rollercoaster horror-comedy told in real-time at a single locale in Utah, utilizing an abandoned home in the woods that has its own haunted reputation.

“Filming Deadstream was such a surreal experience. It was right at the beginning of the pandemic and our tiny social-distanced crew was making a monster movie at a notoriously haunted house literally in the middle of nowhere. It was a very collaborative process with shooting days spread out over the course of six months. Our goal was to mesh the kinetic intimacy of a livestream with the outrageous cinematic fun of creature horror from the 80s,” says Vanessa and Joseph Winter.

The filmmakers collaborated with creature designer Troy Larson and makeup artist Mikaela Kester to craft elaborate and inventive practical FX on a shoestring budget. “We started out thinking about creating a lean, do-it-yourself horror movie, but found ourselves continually adding increasingly elaborate creature FX,” says the Winters. “We tried to pump the brakes on some of these wild ideas, but Troy and Mikaela wouldn’t let us! They even pushed some gags further with their inventive approaches to get the most out of our resources.”

Vanessa and Joseph Winter, a Utah-based writer/director duo, fell in love while arguing over how to hang wallpaper for a student film and haven’t stopped making films (and arguing) together since. Practical creature FX with absurd twists are the hallmarks of their viral horror shorts for CryptTV and Knott’s Scary Farm. Their demonic genre-bender, “Devil’s Got My Back,” was an official selection at the New York Television Festival.

Blue Finch Films is handling worldwide sales for DEADSTREAM.

SXSW Film Festival Screening Schedule

Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
March 11, 2022 @ 10:30pm

Online Only
March 12, 2022 @ 9:00am

Stateside Theatre
March 14, 2022 @ 2:00pm

Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
March 16, 2022 @ 9:45pm