Dead Meat is an AmericanYouTube channel dedicated to horror and horror-adjacent media. It is known mainly for the web seriesTheKill Count, which covers the body counts of horror media, along with comedic commentary and behind-the-scenes information. The channel was created by James A. Janisse and is owned and operated by Janisse and his partner Chelsea Rebecca.
After having some success with comedy YouTube channels, Janisse spent November 2016 to April 2017 in pre-production on a new horror-focused channel. The name "Dead Meat" was chosen as it is a common turn-of-phrase in the genre. The first Dead Meat video, a Kill Count of Friday the 13th, was uploaded on April 7, 2017.[1]
Content
The Kill Count
James A. Janisse, the host of the Kill Count, at VidCon in 2024
The channel is known primarily for its Kill Count series, where Janisse summarizes horror films, counts the number of deaths within them, and offers behind-the-scenes insights. At the end of each episode, a breakdown of the kills, known as "the numbers", is shared, which includes a final tally, a gender breakdown, and awards for the coolest kill (Golden Chainsaw) and lamest kill (Dull Machete).[2][3] The channel is mainly hosted by Janisse, with Rebecca and channel co-writer Zoran Gvojic occasionally serving as auxiliary hosts.[3]
In 2018, Rebecca launched the Dead Meat Podcast, with Janisse as a co-host. The podcast explores horror films, industry trends, and cultural significance, featuring reviews, interviews, thematic discussions, and games based around the horror genre and related trivia.[5] Content on the Dead Meat Podcast includes behind-the-scenes information and research, such as an episode on “final girls, which drew on the work of Carol Clover.[6] In 2025, the Dead Meat Podcast became part of Bloody Disgusting’s BloodyFM podcast network.[7]
California wildfires charity stream
In early January 2025, Dead Meat announced some videos would be delayed as members of their team had to evacuate due to the Los Angeles wildfires.[8] They hosted a livestream on January 11, 2025, and raised over $20,000 USD for wildfire relief.[9]
Reception
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In 2023, Justina Bonilla of The Hollywood Reporter described The Kill Count as “giving viewers a deeper understanding and appreciation of the art and technicalities of horror.” Mike Flanagan, a critically acclaimed horror director, praised the channel, saying “It’s not just commentary, it’s not just critique, it’s excellent entertainment in its own right, and beautifully produced by James and Chelsea”.[10] In 2025, Variety included Janisse and Rebecca on their Horror Impact Report.[11]
Other activities
In 2018, Janisse played the role of Raymond in the second season of Crypt TV's Look-See.[12] Janisse and Rebecca had a cameo in the 2022 film Scream as two fictional YouTube movie critics for a YouTube channel called Film Fails.[13] Dead Meat began presenting the annual Dead Meat Horror Awards in 2022, which celebrates achievements in the horror film genre.[10][14]
In 2024, Janisse and Rebecca served as executive producers and were featured in a music video for musician T-Pain's song "Does She Know?".[15] It was also announced that Janisse would be appearing in an upcoming horror anthology called Grind.[16][17][18] During the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, the Janisse and Rebecca co-hosted a special episode on their channel with The Monkey director Osgood Perkins and actor Elijah Wood, discussing the best horror films of 2024.[11]
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