Livestream presents an interesting one continuous shot concept, but the execution is lacking.
Synopsis
As a team of livestreamers embark on a haunted house challenge, they quickly realize that the scares may be more real than they anticipated.
My Thoughts
Livestream kicks off with five internet ‘personalities’ and the first 45 minutes or so are just them dicking about, so not a great start.
They play music, argue, and film themselves doing nothing of interest, and I will admit, I wasn’t enjoying the film so far, as nothing really happens and you’re just watching these people on a screen with no atmosphere, tension or anything, and I did think about turning it off at this point.
But, eventually, something happens, but even when the horror kicks in, it’s still weirdly boring, and the fact that it’s all being shot from this one phone camera makes it end up being a total ballache.
Half the time, the camera’s pointed at the floor or someone’s feet, or worse, it’s dropped just perfectly to frame something dramatic, like Oh no, someone’s dead! But also, look at this perfectly centered shot of the body, which is pretty convenient, innit?
Throughout the whole film, there’s this chat window on the screen, like an actual livestream, with real-time viewer comments, and the chat was probably the best part.
They are posting negative comments about what is happening, and I was agreeing with pretty much everything they were saying, not sure if that was purposeful and the film just trying to be self aware, but I don’t think it worked if that is the case in the way it should have.
The characters also never actually interact with the chat, despite the fact they’re clearly looking into the camera, and the comments are telling them important stuff.
And speaking of the characters, the film does do a decent job of nailing the obnoxious influencer characteristics, even if the actors don’t really have much to work with.
I normally enjoy livestream format films, with Deadstream being the best ever, and that part of the film is done fine, it just doesn’t really offer enough to keep your interest, even with the concept of doing the film as one long continuous livestream.
The horror aspects are OK I suppose, not terrible, not great, but you have seen it all before, and that’s the biggest problem, that the film is just very safe and not very interesting. We have no big twist, no clever ending, it just plods along and ends.
So yeah, Livestream could have been a fun film, but it isn’t executed too well, and I didn’t really feel it offered enough, and it’s a film that is just there with not much going on.
Livestream Trailer
Livestream on IMDB
Good Points
Creative Concept – The idea of doing the whole film as one continuous livestream is bold. Gotta respect the ambition, even if the execution wobbled.
Believable Chat Commentary – The live chat felt spot-on. Dumb, chaotic, occasionally funny, and basically exactly what you’d expect from internet viewers.
Realistic Depiction of Influencers – Whether intentional or not, it did a good job portraying the obnoxious, self-absorbed influencer vibe with the characters.
Bad Points
Way Too Slow to Start – Nearly half the movie is just pointless filler before anything remotely interesting happens, and the pacing of the film isn’t good at all.
Zero Interaction with Chat – Massive missed opportunity, as the chat was more aware than the characters, and they completely ignored it.
Too Much Dead Time – Literally and figuratively, with long, awkward scenes of nothing, plus dead characters lying still for minutes while the movie does… nothing
Is It Worth Watching?
If you’re deep into found footage horror and you really enjoy seeing new spins on the format, then Livestream might be worth a look just to see how it plays with the single-camera, real-time concept.
But… if you’re looking for something actually scary, well-paced, or filled with interesting characters? Yeah, maybe give it a miss, as it drags for a good chunk of the runtime, the characters are grating, and the scares are pretty underwhelming.
Where To Stream Livestream
Director and Cast
Director – Victor Soares
Main Cast – Sarah Moliski, Nika Khitrova, Mao Sun, Victor Soares, Anthony Moore, Nicholas Edmunds, Giulia Nassa, Savannah Schakett, James Michael Cowan, Bruno Magri, Tiffany Dennis.
Found Footage Horror Movies 
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