Since the V/H/S anthology horror franchise has moved to Shudder post the franchise’s nadir V/H/S: Viral, the results have been excellent. In fact, after three sequels already, this is becoming a much anticipated yearly treat from the horror streamer, and that is a really neat trick! 

So, after arguably the best outing in the series in V/H/S/85, does V/H/S/Beyond keep the momentum going? Absolutely! Beyond may not be the best in the series but is certainly another winner in the Shudder era of the franchise. 

Unlike prior instalments, Beyond aims for a more sci-fi overarching theme to its segments with a frame story (Abduction/Adduction) presented as a documentary looking into supposed VHS taped evidence of an alien encounter. The intervening segments are as follows: Jordan Downey’s Stork, Virat Pal’s Dream Girl, Justin Martinez’s Live and Let Dive, Christian and Justin Long’s Fur Babies and Kate Siegel’s Stowaway.

The sci-fi/alien theme was technically prevalent and rather inspired, though one or two segments stray a bit from the theme, and there is the odd break in the found footage rules at times (a soundtrack in one of the segments) and the wraparound frame narrative was very weak (V/H/S/85 remains the only instalment that nails the wraparound) never really delivering on the build but there is tonnes of fun to be had with the sheer insanity and inventiveness on show through all the short stories. 

Stork is a Raid style bloodbath with a twisted payoff tapping into a fun mythos, Dream Girl is a Bollywood infused Carrie inspired takedown of celebrity worship, Live and Let Dive a frantic and grisly dive into UFO chaos that is incredibly shot, Fur Babies is varying degrees of messed up and Long has used a few beats of his own horror career on this one, and Stowaway is a building and human drama into pursuing an obsession and losing yourself, ending with a nightmarish result.

Throughout there are excellent creature designs, buckets of practically accomplished gore, and real standout stories (Justin Long, the hell is wrong with you man?!), and moments (another reason we’ll never skydive!!). Gruesome, constantly interesting and off the leash crazy at points. 

We look forward to next year’s entry in what has now become a much welcome pre-Halloween Shudder tradition, and at this rate, it could run to infinity and, ahem, beyond.

V/H/S Beyond is showing now on Shudder.