A social media prankster is about to have the worst night of his life in this insane horror comedy based on a short film.

Chad Ryan is a well-known social media prankster who has drawn the ire of many and yet has gained quite a following. Well, fellow influencers, Steve, Spencer, and Jennifer have an idea to get back at Chad. They plan to take him to Steve’s home state of Louisiana and take him to a house where a serial killer, Burrows, had apparently went crazy and did his bidding only to never be found. The idea is to play the ultimate prank on Chad as retaliation.

When the group arrives at the house, they start to play things off while Chad disappears when his phone is missing. Soon enough, Steve, Jennifer, and Spencer disappear as well only to either disconnect or only show the ceiling from their phones. When Chad finally finds his phone, he thinks everything is all a prank. Soon enough, he gets the horrifying truth. Burrows is in fact back and Chad realizes that what started out as a prank has become a horrifying reality. Can he escape and with his reputation, will he care more about the views or his life?

Based on a short film, this feature film from director Travis Bible brings to mind another recent film, Deadstream, in which a viral prankster enters a haunted house and well, from there, insanity ensues. This time around, we have not only a viral prankster in the titular Chad, played with occasional and fun flamboyancy by Spencer Harrison Levin, but fellow influencers Steve, Jennifer, and Spencer, played respectively by Michael Bonini, Taneisha Figueroa, and Cameron Vitosh.

Of course, like many of these “live stream found footage” films, we start with an introduction to the characters and their enjoyment in what they are about to do. Thankfully, these films don’t have to rely heavily on gore to keep the viewer engaged. In this case, the comments of the live stream mixed with the reactions of the characters keep the film going and even go to reference the classic Blair Witch Project at one point. Of course, what keeps the film going in much of the second half is Chad’s actual reaction to getting axed in the shoulder but of course, due to his reputation, no one, not even 911 themselves, believe him.

This leads to a sort of downward spiral into psychosis for Chad, and even when he does find help in two local redneck frat boys, it plays off like your typical horror film and the audience continues to watch, either rooting for Chad to survive or as the title indicates, get the axe.

#ChadGetsTheAxe is a wild, wacky, and terrifying live stream found footage film that starts out with some great laughs courtesy of the core characters in the first half and then the live stream audience in the second half, but Spencer Harrison Levin’s obnoxious prankster finally learning what karma could possibly do is the heart of the film. If you like Deadstream, you’ll most likely enjoy this film.

WFG RATING: B+

The Horror Collective presents a Gorilla Tree Film Co. production in association with #Chad, Kemerica Entertainment, and Soup Soup Production. Director: Travis Bible. Producers: Kemerton Hargrove and Frances O’Hanlon. Writers: Travis Bible and Kemerton Hargrove. Cinematography: Ron Senska. Editing: Travis Bible and J.C. Dolan.

Cast: Spencer Harrison Levin, Michael Bonini, Taneisha Figueroa, Cameron Vitosh, Terry J. Nelson, Brandon Doyle, Cairo Spencer, Shun Hagins, Ryan Anthony Williams.