V/H/S/Beyond Review
For the past four years, Christmas has come in October for us sickos. A new V/H/S film has been released on Shudder. This year we got V/H/S/Beyond, this time the anthology of horror films are all based in a science fiction theme.
In case you don’t know the V/H/S films are an anthology of short horror films usually with a frame narrative story. There has never been a theme in the prior six anthology films. Just a collection of horror shorts from different filmmakers.
This has become one of my favorite franchises, which appeared to have died in 2014 with the dismal V/H/S: Viral. However, It was revived by the streaming service Shudder in 2021 and has not looked back.
Though I’d prefer to watch any movie in a theater setting, the streamer seems to fit this franchise perfectly. Generally low-budget and made by newcomer filmmakers, these horror films can be a bit too gonzo for a major studio to attempt to make money.
Much like the frame narrative shorts in these films, this franchise has a devoted cult that keeps V/H/S alive, attempting to spread the horrors to anyone, because many of these shorts are better than a lot of the studio horror movies we do get.
I’m going to write a brief review of each horror short with a quick plot description.
Frame Narrative: “Abduction/Adduction”
The frame narrative is the intro to the film and we cut back to between the shorts, then we end with this one as well. Here it is a mockumentary-style short with a few different men being interviewed about two V/H/S tapes that allegedly provide proof of alien existence.
They give back a story about this house purchased by Chinese immigrants who made a fortune in business. It provides a nice breakup between the shorts, then it smartly ends by showing us what is on the tapes, sending us off with a brief moment of horror.
4/5 Stars.
Segment One: “Stork”
A police unit named W.A.R.D.E.N. raids a house that is the suspected destination of multiple missing babies in the area. Given ten guesses you won’t expect what they find. It’s a bit too glossy for a V/H/S short. It is a fun time, however, like if Dawn of the Dead was shot from a police body cam.
3.5/5 Stars.
Segment Two: “Dream Girl”
Two Mumbai paparazzi are given a heads up to get behind-the-scenes footage of new Bollywood sensation Tara. However, things don’t go as planned when one gets caught in her trailer one night during a shoot.
My least favorite short of this anthology. I applaud doing something different from anything entered into this franchise. Yet, it doesn’t totally work.
I never thought we’d get a Bollywood-style dance number in a V/H/S Short, so that was fun. I may not have loved the journey but they do land the plane on this one.
3.5/5 Stars.
Segment Three: “Live and Let Dive”
A group of friends goes skydiving for a friend’s birthday. Would it surprise you to know things do not go as planned? We go from my least favorite short to my favorite short in this entry and possibly one of my favorites ever.
A perfect mix of CGI and practical effects. Playing on a fear of heights and falling. There is a great jump scare towards the end of the short. This is everything you want in a V/H/S short.
4.5/5 Stars.
Segment Four: “Fur Babies”
A group of activists against animal cruelty attempt to get footage of animal abuse at a doggy daycare. Two of them pose as a couple looking to board their dog. They meet the owner Becky, and the horrors that await are far more than this group bargained for.
As I said before this franchise provides opportunities to new filmmakers. Justin Long debuts as a writer/director with this short. Choosing to be behind the camera rather than act. He has a serious eye for horror, this one is for the real sickos, but I’d recommend only for the real horror hounds.
Justin perfectly blends horror and comedy, with moments of gruesome terror followed by a comedic beat, Then short ends perfectly on a terrifyingly gruesome note. Also, a special shout out to Libby Letlow who plays Becky. She perfectly nails Becky. We all know a Becky, the dog lover version of Annie Wilkes.
4.5/5 Stars.
Segment Five: “Stowaway”
Written by horror great Mike Flanagan and Directed by his wife and first-time director Kate Siegel. A woman who seems to have abandon her husband and daughter has gone out to the Mojave desert to catch UFO lights.
She gets evidence and then some. Showing the audience and not telling what is happening makes it clear this comes from a good writer. Mike has trust in his audience that we will understand what is happening at the end and letting us put it together makes it all the more terrifying.
Kate provides good direction, proving she has a visual eye. Especially those last shots. Though Kate was a new filmmaker I am a little conflicted on having someone so well connected getting to make a short, same for Justin Long, but damn if they weren’t good. I’d have a stronger complaint if they were bad.
4/5 Stars.
Overall, this is the strongest entry in the franchise since maybe V/H/S/2. I loved the overarching theme of Science Fiction. The film ends with three very strong entries into the franchise and concludes with a moment of horrifying imagery to leave us on a high. I just hope we keep getting a V/H/S every October.
4/5 Stars.
