The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland List: Films by YouTubers/Internet Celebrities

How often do you sit there thinking about what to watch? You might have an endless watchlist that keeps piling up (I certainly have one myself). Sometimes you are just in the mood for a type of film or a certain filmmaker or actor and want to take yourself into a deep dive. As someone who watches so many movies, I have people asking me for recommendations all the time. One of the best feelings as a cinephile is recommending a film and that person loves it. Take this wealth of cinematic knowledge and experience and enjoy some recommendations on me. Genre. Subgenre. Filmmaker. Actor. Composer. Writer. Genre. Story. Trope. Cliché. Any other cinematic elements or them. Here is The Wasteland List:   

Films by YouTube/Internet Celebrities

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

It is hard to believe that Dan Trachtenberg got his start making movies on YouTube then went on to become the king of the Predator franchise, right? But before that, he had a strong hand in reinventing the Cloverfield franchise in an intense and thrilling claustrophobic film like 10 Cloverfield Lane. The Oscar worthy supporting turn by John Goodman is worth the watch, but Trachtenberg does an amazing job as well crafting this tight and unnerving thriller.

Lights Out (2016)

Long before her joined the DCEU, David F. Sandberg made quite the splash in low budget horror, right? Lights Out is a wild high concept idea that is quite simple…don’t turn off the lights. From its unnerving opening sequence to its deeply moving tale of trauma, Sandberg offers up something special in this 81-minute package.

Shazam! (2019)

The same guy went on to make this? There are a few little horror elements that Sandberg sneaks in but Shazam! is one of the most fun films from this era of DC Comics adaptations. Zachery Levi excelled in the role of a teen in a superhero body and offers up a fun and thrilling comic book movie adaptation.

Prey (2022)

How did a former YouTube filmmaker revitalize one of the most beloved genre franchises around? Trachtenberg took the brilliant concept of a warrior alien race and placed it into a period setting as indigenous warriors go toe-to-toe with the Yautja in a frontier setting. Amber Midthunder delivers a compelling turn as a young Comanche woman trying to prove herself while Trachtenberg delivers plenty of bloody battles involving Yautja taking on humans and animals alike.

Talk to Me (2022)

How much can a pair of Australian brothers accomplish in the modern horror landscape? Quite a lot with Talk to Me acting as a thrilling and unnerving coming out party for the Philippou brothers. A strong central performance from Sophie Wilde, a crazy premise, and a perfectly designed curse hand makes Talk to Me such an impactful horror experience.

Bring Her Back (2025)

How did the Philippou brothers’ follow-up such a great debut like Talk to Me? They went even crazier and allowed the weight of a twisted tale to rest on the powerful shoulders of Sally Hawkins’ impressive antagonistic performance. Bring Her Back has some wild lore, dark magic, tragic consequences, and a disturbing child performance for the ages…that knife.

Predator: Badlands (2025)

Can you make a Predator movie with Yautja as the protagonist? Hell yeah, you can…especially when you have the infinitely talented Trachtenberg behind the camera and a big bold effects drive epic in his hands. Badlands is hilarious, thrilling, and one of the coolest sci-fi action flicks in recent memory with Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Elle Fanning delivering a pair of excellent performances.

Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)

Did Trachtenberg discover the ultimate way of exploring the Predator franchise? With Killer of Killers, there are no limits to time and space that this franchise can explore using animation. A trio of killer tales with Vikings, samurai, and fighter pilots, Trachtenberg delivered one of the greatest animated action films of all time and opened the door for endless possibilities with the Predator franchise.

Shelby Oaks (2025)

Can a YouTube critic take the reins and make the leap to the filmmaking side of the industry? The most divisive entry on this list, Shelby Oaks is a strong first entry in what will hopefully be a fruitful filmmaking career for critic turned artist Chris Stuckmann. Leveraging YouTube, found footage, and darkly twisted narratives, Stuckmann crafted an impressive experience for a limited budget and a little help from Mike Flanagan and Neon.

Sorry, Baby (2025)

How does one start as a Reductress writer and content creator then make the leap into filmmaking? Barry Jenkins discovered Eva Victor and we all benefited because their debut feature, Sorry, Baby, is an absolute revelation. Victor does it all with inspired direction, sharp writing, and a truly affecting central performance as they capture a tale full of love, trauma, and exploration (and an extremely adorable cat!).

The Backrooms (2026)

What a moment for YouTubers turned filmmakers when a random internet post with creepy hallways can turn into a massive box office smash, right? Kane Parsons is a talented young storyteller who takes audiences to the most unnerving and haunting of pocket dimensions with The Backrooms. A pair of elite talents like Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve bring life to his impressive feat of tension and outrageously impressive production design.

Obsession (2026)

What can a filmmaker make with just $750,000? Curry Barker delivers one of the funniest and downright unnerving horror experiences in recent memory with the impressive Obsession. The performance of Inde Navarrette will live on as one of the great female turns in horror while the rest of the cast and Barker deliver such an engrossing and memorably cautionary tale.