When it comes to the found footage, horror-driven anthology-based V/H/S franchise, somewhat inevitably for a series so defined by its diverse pick n’ mix of stories, the results have been a real mix. We have had the good, the bad, and the ugly. The highs, the lows, and the in-between. And in this recent very healthy new Shudder released streaming era for the series, V/H/S/85 seriously challenges V/H/S/94 as the best entry in the franchise altogether.
The framing narrative ‘Total Copy’ (directed by David Bruckner) concerns scientists studying a young subject named ‘Rory’. Off the back of this, we have five segments in all (well, technically four, as one is essentially a two-parter); ‘No Wake’ and ‘Ambrosia’ (by Mike P. Nelson), the first concerning a group of young friends on a lake getaway, the second looking at an unusual family gathering. ‘God of Death’ (by Gigi Saul Guerrero) sees a Mexican news crew hit by a devastating event. ‘TKNOGD’ (by Natasha Kermani) sees a stage performance hit a tech nightmare. Then, finally, we have ‘Dreamkill’ (by Scott Derrickson), as a series of brutal taped crimes lead the police to a mind-shattering conclusion.
These found-footage horror tales never cease to be bizarre, gruesome, or intriguing, but V/H/S/85 has to be the most collectively interesting instalment in the franchise. All the segments range from entertaining to outstanding, with influences as wide as John Carpenter’s The Thing, Stephen King’s Pet Sematary, Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza’s REC, and Stieg Larsson, as well as real crimes like The Night Stalker spree.
More impressive, though, is the framing. For years now, atypically, these films have been impacted by the story off of which the many segments jump, but here, this wraparound story of sorts, that these segments are “taped over”, is the best frame narrative story this series has ever had, ending with one heck of a lunatic final image and mic drop of a closing credits track!
Despite the fun results throughout, not every aspect comes off smoothly, and one or two segments have a moment that jars a little, but overall the quality is massively consistent, and any minor flaws hardly halt the gory fun and thrills offered. Natasha Kermani’s ‘TKNOGD’ is very cool in its execution, and Scott Derrickson’s (apparently Black Phone universe set) ‘Dreamkill’ is marvellous and arguably the pick of the bunch.
As ever with this series, it’s not for everyone, of course, and some hoping for the deadly serious may come away a bit irked, but if you tap into V/H/S/85‘s very distinctive and psychotic wavelength, it’s a bloody blast from beginning to end. Please, Shudder, can you release one of these every year now because the consistent quality and varied stories are really becoming a regular Halloween treat to savour!
V/H/S/85 is a great, nasty, barmy mixtape of pure ‘80s chaos that you won’t want to skip!
V/H/S/85 arrives on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital on March 4th
