“Blood on the ground means points on the board.” That is both a tagline and motto for the highly imaginative and gleefully gory “Stream” – a horror feature built by slasher enthusiasts for slasher enthusiasts. Without question, “Stream” is a true labor of love from many of the folks behind the Terrifier series. They were able to get their movie made thanks to a lot of dedication, a helpful crowdfunding campaign, and the gnarly vision of director, editor, co-writer, and co-producer Michael Leavy.

“Stream” is built upon a gonzo concept which (in vintage slasher form) seeks to maneuver us from one spectacularly gory kill to the next. It’s a hearty feast for genre lovers, serving up helpings of creative carnage impressively brought to screen through the practical makeup and effects wizardry of Terrifier’s Damien Leone. But its concept is wildly entertaining outside of the kills with its terrific setting, wacky premise, self-aware humor, and handful of killer cameos (which I won’t dare spoil).

Written for the screen by the tandem of Michael Leavy, Jason Leavy, Robert Privitera, and Steven Della Salla, the bulk of the story takes place in a newly renovated rural Pennsylvania hotel called The Pines. Roy Keenan (Charles Edwin Powell) and his wife Elaine (Danielle Harris) feel their family is in desperate need of a getaway. So along with their rebellious 17-year-old daughter Taylor (Sydney Malakeh) and tech-obsessed 11-year-old son Kevin (Wesley Holloway), they book themselves a fun weekend at The Pines.

But upon arrival it’s pretty obvious (at least to us) that something is off. There is no internet, no cell service, and no phones in the rooms. There’s also no Mrs. Spring (Dee Wallace), the hotel’s kindly owner who the Keenan family know from past stays. Instead they’re greeted by the antsy Mr. Lockwood (Jeffrey Combs). Among the colorful array of other guests are two hunky French twenty-somethings, a crusty retired cop, an obnoxious drunk and his frustrated wife, three partying frat kids, and a handsy newlywed couple.

Unfortunately for our hapless guests, their reservations aren’t for a relaxing stay at a nice country inn. Instead they’re fodder in a brutal game hosted by Mr. Lockwood. In this game, the guests find themselves locked inside the hotel as four masked psychopaths stalk and savagely slay them for points. The more stylish and creative the kill, the more points they score. As they do, Mr. Lockwood broadcasts the competition on the dark web for a worldwide audience who bet big money on their favorite killers. It’s warped, depraved, and slyly indicting.

Mr. Lockwood’s four maniacal “all-stars” are the methodical #1 (Jason Leavy), the sadistic siblings #2 and #3 (David Howard Thornton and Liana Pirraglia), and the brutish #4 (Mark Haynes). While none of them utter a word, Leavy finds a way to give each of them their own sickly twisted personalities. And those personalities inevitably leak over into their kills which run the gamut of grisly and deranged.

As you might expect, it can be comical how characters and their actions don’t always make sense. And it’s best not to think too hard at certain junctures in the story. Yet as any fan knows, slasher movies have a style and spirit all their own. And that’s a big reason so many of us enjoy them. But “Stream” doesn’t just settle for following formula. Leavy and company let their imaginations soar, taking some big original swings and having a blast doing it. Even better, slasher fans will have a blast as well.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS