Death of a Vlogger Review (2019)

Synopsis

An ambitious vlogger experiences the dark side of the internet when his latest video, which features an alleged haunting, goes viral.

My Thoughts

Cheap But Smart Scares

The film uses some simple tricks, but they are done well. You don’t need a CGI demon when you can make an audience’s stomach drop with something that’s basic but well-timed.

The Fake-Out Confession

The moment Graham admits he faked some of the ghost stuff is good storytelling, and suddenly you’re second-guessing everything. The film even rewinds clips and shows how he did it, which makes you feel a bit embarrassed for being fooled. But then he swears some of it wasn’t fake, and now you just don’t know what to believe.

Graham

He looks and sounds like an actual vlogger, not an actor pretending to be one, and when the spooky shit ramps up, you actually feel bad for the guy.

Erin Adds Balance

In horror, the girlfriend role is often just screaming filler, but not here. She’s not over-the-top, and her reactions make sense. She just gives the whole story a bit more weight, like she’s the last tether keeping Graham from completely spiraling.

Steve Steals It

Steve, the ghost-hunting vlogger, is the wildcard here, and from the moment he turns up, you know things are about to get messy. He’s funny, he’s cocky, and he adds some proper energy whenever he’s on screen.

Comedy That Doesn’t Break It

Mixing horror and comedy can go very wrong, and often you end up with neither. But here, the laughs don’t kill any of the tension, they make it worse, in a good way.

A Clever Use of the Internet

The commentary about online cruelty is well done. Graham fakes a few clips, and the internet destroys him for it. The idea that your whole reputation can collapse overnight just because of a bad video, just like in real life.

Plays With Believability

The film makes you feel complicit in it all. You watch, you doubt, you question, and by the end you’re just as tangled as Graham is.

Claustrophobic Ending

The final act, when Graham tries to escape his flat, is suffocating, and you feel trapped with him. The way it’s shot makes you feel like the walls are literally closing in on the character and yourself.

Not Always Convincing

To be fair, not every moment works. Some of the supporting cast come off a bit stiff, like they’re reading lines off a sheet. And a couple of “found footage” shots look way too clean, like, no way would an actual dodgy webcam capture look that polished.

The DIY Spirit Works

What really sells it all though is that DIY vibe. It’s literally a film pretty much shot in someone’s flat with almost no money, and yet it feels bigger than half the stuff churned out by studios. That scrappy, homemade quality sells it well.

It’s Funny, But Not a Joke

The balance of tone is clever. You laugh, but the film never winks at you like, “Aren’t we clever?” If it had leaned too far into parody, it would collapse.

The Aftertaste

When it’s over, you don’t just forget it, as it makes you replay moments in your head, wondering what was real and what wasn’t. And it makes you think about how ruthless the internet really is.

Is Death of a Vlogger Worth Watching?

I’m a big fan of Death of a Vlogger. It’s really well done, and leaves you wondering and thinking about it after, which is always a positive.

If you haven’t watched it, I definitely recommend it.

Watch the trailer for Death of a Vlogger
Check out Death of a Vlogger on IMDB

Where To Watch Death of a Vlogger

Check on JustWatch

Director and Cast

Director: Graham Hughes
Main Cast: Graham Hughes, Annabel Logan, Paddy Kondracki, Joma West