Deadware is a found footage film that does a lot with a very limited setup, and I quite liked it
Synopsis
In 1999, two friends use a webcam for the first time and stumble across a mysterious browser game that may be haunted.
Deadware Good Points
The One-Screen Format
When a movie takes place on one screen and in one place, it can get boring, but it works pretty well in Deadware. Host is still king though for these type of films.
1999 Setting
The late 90s details adds a nice touch to it all for those old enough to remember those times.
Performances
Jay and Megan carry the entire film just by talking, and they make it genuinely watchable, with their awkward, slightly distant friendship.
House of Hunger Game Is Genuinely Cool
The in-game world looks like something straight from an old GeoCities corner of the internet.
Simple Premise That Works
Two friends on a webcam accidentally finding something they shouldn’t is a very basic idea, but it’s all handled well, where less is more.
Simpleness
No big sets, and no shaky-cam chaos, just two people reacting to what’s on their screens, and it shows how much you can do with almost nothing.
Dialogue
It all just feels like real people catching up, and not like actors reading lines – it’s all feels fairly relatable too.
Early Internet Vibe
The old-school cursor movements, stiff animations, and slightly broken game logic all feel like exactly the kind of weird flash games people stumbled onto back then.
Bad Points
Pacing Can Feel Slow
Because everything plays out in real time, some sections do move a little sluggishly, especially early on before the creepy stuff starts.
One-Screen Format Limits Variety
Even though the format works, there’s no denying it restricts visual variety, and if you’re someone who gets bored without movement, this style might wear thin for you.
Emotion Never Gets Fully Explored
Jay and Megan clearly have history, but the movie only ever really hints at it, and some more depth would have been nice.
Ending
I admit I was a bit confused by the ending, and not in an interesting way, and thought it was a ‘me’ thing, but reading around, others were too, so I will add that point here.
Final Thoughts on Deadware
Deadware is a found footage film that does a lot with a very limited setup, and I quite liked it.
It definitely has a slow pace at times, but the focus and simplicity made it work for me.
Found Footage Horror Movies 
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