PopHorror Let's Get Scared
An army of horror icons assembled for Michael Leavy’s new horror film, Stream. and I am all for it, of course! The unbelievably stacked cast includes Jeffrey Combs, Dee Wallace, and Tony Todd starring alongside scream queens Danielle Harris and Felissa Rose and other horror mainstays like Terry Alexander, Daniel Roebuck, and Art The Clown himself, David Howard Thornton. There’s even a Tim Curry sighting. It’s crazy!
So does all that star power just make for a crazy IMDB page? Or is it actually a good film? Read on for our spoiler free review!
Stream Synopsis
When Roy and Elaine Keenan realize their family is drifting apart, they decide that something needs to be done. Roy forces his work to take a back seat and they seize the opportunity to recreate a vacation from their past. A peaceful stay in a quaint hotel is just what they need, however, that is not what is in store for them. With four deranged murderers patrolling the seemingly mundane halls, the odds are definitely not in the Keenan family’s favor. Roy must fight for his life and those of his family as their simple weekend getaway truly turns into a vacation to die for.
Michael Leavy is directing the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Steven Della Salla, Jason Leavy, and
Robert Privitera.
Check out the official teaser trailer below!
Let’s Play A Game
Stream is, at its core, a more sadistic, horror centric take on Schwarzenegger’s The Running Man (1987). But, instead of millions of brainwashed, entertainment starved Americans watching and betting on stalkers committing Government sanctioned murder on TV, you’ve got the aforementioned, demented thrillseekers watching and betting on players committing unsanctioned murder on the dark web. At the heart of it all, you have a delightfully evil ringmaster. No, not Richard Dawson. this time I’m talking about Jeffrey Combs.
I think horror fans can all agree, Jeffrey Combs in a national treasure. The man is brilliant in everything, and Stream is no exception. In fact, this film is very much a showcase for Jeffrey Combs’ dark genius. Combs always makes for a fantastic villain, but here particularly so. It’s just so fun to watch him work, and he’s front and center throughout. You will absolutely love this performance.
David Howard Thornton is also wonderful here as the ruthless Player 2. He doesn’t speak, and he’s wearing a mask, but his body language and ability to convey silent, masochistic delight at every turn speaks volumes, and is a thrill to behold. It’s like he takes Art the Clown to 11. It’s a sight to behold. I can’t wait to see what he does next.
Danielle Harris and Charles Edwin Powell do a fine job as the heroic leads. It’s so strange to think of Danielle Harris as “Mom” here, but I guess time really flies when you’re having fun! Shout out to young Wesley Holloway, who plays their young son, Kevin. You’ll wish all child actors in horror films were as good as this kid. I also have to give props to Daniel Roebuck, who steals every scene he’s in in hilarious fashion.
Beyond these top notch performances is some pretty impressive blood and gore. Terrifier director Damien Leone handles the FX wizardry here, and it is gloriously brutal. Gore hounds will be impressed, or at least highly satisfied by what’s committed to the screen here. There’s one bit (no pun intented) with a drill that’s especially gnarly.
Story wise, it’s pretty straightforward. There are a few twists and turns along the way. Some of the twists work better than others, but it’s all fun. I found myself wanting more screen time for some of the bigger names here, but that’s kind of how it goes when you assemble a huge, talented cast like this. The movie runs more than two hours, but you’d need five or six hours to fit in all you could do with this call list. Trust me, though, you won’t be bored. By the time it’s over, you’ll be wanting more and, fortunately, things are set up nicely for a sequel (or sequels). I can’t wait.
Final Thoughts
Stream is a heck of a lot of fun. Jeffrey Combs delivers a gloriously unhinged performance for the ages. The core cast features heroes and villains you can cheer for, all supported by horror royalty like Dee Wallace, Felissa Rose, Terry Alexander, and more. Violence and gore are plentiful, with bare breasts to boot, and there are some truly shocking moments along the way that will live in your head rent free long after the lights go out. If you love modern, indie slashers, bump this one to the top of your list. I highly recommend it.
Stream has been on the festival circuit and has had a limited theatrrical run. Watch for a wider release soon! Oh, and if you want to see a little more, including some of the crazy gore, you can check out the full UHD red band trailer below!
