Mean Spirited Review: Ghosts, Grudges, and Gore!

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Sometimes, you want to sit down and watch something strange, funny, and a little spooky.

Not every movie needs big stars or fancy effects to be fun.

Some of the best stories come from small teams who love what they’re doing.

That’s what the Mean Spirited movie feels like: a story made by people who had a wild idea and ran with it.

It’s not trying to be perfect.

It just wants to take you on a weird little ride with laughs, scares, and a few “uh-oh” moments.

This blog will tell you why Mean Spirited is a movie worth watching before it disappears.

You’ll learn about it, who made it, what it looks like, and why people are still talking about it.

Let’s take a look!

Why You Need to Watch Mean Spirited Right Now

Mean Spirited is a fun, weird, and creepy movie about friends, online fame, and scary surprises.

It mixes jokes with spooky stuff in a way that’s both silly and smart.

The movie talks about what happens when old friends get back together, but everything goes wrong.

There’s laughing, fighting, and some very strange events.

It’s the kind of movie that keeps your eyes on the screen, even when it gets uncomfortable.

People are still talking about this movie.

It won’t be online forever, so it’s a good time to watch it now.

The film is gaining attention again due to recent film events and word-of-mouth buzz.

What makes it stand out is how it talks about people who make videos online.

If you’ve ever watched someone vlog or act silly for clicks, this movie gives you a new way to think about them.

One-liner verdict: A smart but not-perfect horror-comedy that pokes fun at YouTube stars and still makes your skin crawl.

Film Overview and Plot Summary

This section shares an overview of Mean Spirited.

From when it came out to who made it, the table below gives a quick look before we dive into the story.

FILM DETAIL INFORMATION
World Premier August 28, 2022
Streaming Date February 7, 2023
Platform Fandango at Home, Amazon Video, Apple TV, AMC+, Shudder
Runtime 1 hour 36 minutes
Rating Unrated (horror scenes, rude words, crude jokes)
Director Jeff Ryan
Writers Jeff Ryan, Joe Adams
Production First-Names Films
Main Cast Will Madden, Daniel Rashid, Jeff Ryan, Michelle Veintimilla, Maria DeCotis, Will Martin

Andy, a YouTuber, films his life and visits old friend Bryce, a small-time actor, at his mountain house.

Andy brings some friends along to record silly videos for fun.

But once they get there, things start to fall apart.

Old fights come back, people get mad, and strange things begin to happen in the house.

What starts funny turns dark, with scary scenes, creepy signs, and trust falling apart.

The story is about friendship, jealousy, and the dangers of trying too hard to be liked online.

It starts like a vlog and ends like a horror story, taking you on a bumpy but exciting ride.

Performance and Cast Analysis

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The actors make the movie work.

Will Madden plays Andy, a loud and selfish vlogger who can’t stop acting out.

His silly behavior is funny at first, but slowly becomes frustrating, just like real online stars.

Daniel Rashid plays Tom, the quiet and kind friend.

He’s easy to like and brings calm to the chaos.

People watching will feel bad for Tom as things go wrong around him.

Jeff Ryan, who also directed the movie, plays Bryce.

Bryce is rich, famous, and hiding secrets.

He smiles a lot but has a spooky side.

The other actors, Michelle Veintimilla, Maria DeCotis, and Will Martin, help bring the group to life.

They act like real friends.

They joke, fight, and cry.

It feels real.

Because they all act like people you might know, the scary parts hit harder.

You care about the group, even when they mess up.

Visual and Technical Elements

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Mean Spirited uses the found-footage style.

That means it looks like it was filmed with phones, cameras in cars, and selfie sticks.

It’s messy, but it feels real, like watching a video blog.

The movie uses these tools well.

It doesn’t look fancy, but that’s the point.

You feel like you’re inside the house with them, seeing everything as it happens.

The special effects are simple but work.

When the spooky things show up, it doesn’t look fake.

You’ll feel the fear grow slowly, not all at once.

It looks cold and empty.

There are crosses, statues, and weird signs that make things feel wrong.

These details add to the fear

Themes and Storytelling

Mean Spirited movie has a lot to say about people who post online.

It shows how far people will go to be liked or followed.

Some will fake their whole lives, and others will hurt friends just for more views.

The story explores friendship and its breakdown due to jealousy and secrets.

Andy wants to feel special again.

Bryce is hiding things.

The others are caught in the middle.

The movie also shows what happens when people lie to each other for too long.

In this case, it even gets scary, with ghosts, signs, and more.

The story feels real because so many people today try to become internet famous.

Some even act fake to get more likes.

Mean Spirited shows this in a way that’s funny, sad, and spooky all at once.

What Critics Say

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Reviews are mixed, with some liking the film and others not so much.

Many liked how it made fun of online fame and showed the ugly side of being popular on the internet.

Things people liked:

  • Strong acting (especially Will Madden and Daniel Rashid)
  • Found-footage filming felt real
  • Funny and spooky in the first half

Things people didn’t like:

  • Some characters were annoying
  • The story felt copied at times
  • Jokes didn’t always land
  • Not scary enough for horror fans

If you like movies that feel like real life but also get weird, this is a good one to check out.

Comparison to Similar Films

Here’s how the Mean Spirited movie stacks up against other movies like it:

FILM SAME STUFF DIFFERENT STUFF
Deadstream YouTuber horror, found-footage More silly, faster, louder
Creep Found footage, quiet fear Darker, slower, more serious
Host Online group, short horror Shorter, tighter, scarier

Each movie looks at online life and scary stuff differently, so if you liked those movies, you’ll find something to like here.

Final Verdict and Recommendation

Mean Spirited movie is not a perfect movie, but it’s a fun one.

It mixes laughs and scares with just the right amount of awkward.

The acting is strong.

The story is weird in a good way.

The jokes can be silly, but that’s part of the fun.

You may not like every character, but that’s okay.

Not everyone online is likable either.

It’s best watched with friends.

You can laugh, gasp, and cringe together.

It’s even better if you’ve ever rolled your eyes at a YouTuber.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

If you liked Mean Spirited, try:

Deadstream, Creep, Host

A silly, creepy, and smart little movie.

Watch it soon, before it disappears!

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