The V/H/S films create terror through found footage, piecing together recordings from across genres to unsettle viewers. Its seventh entry, V/H/S/Beyond, continues exploring this style, premiering segments last fall at Fantastic Fest before streaming on Shudder. This review aims to untangle each chapter’s contributions and how the series evolves its format.
We open with documentarian Jay Cheel investigating alien encounter tapes. His loose framework ties segments exploring the draw of hidden truths glimpsed fleetingly. From here, stories scatter across science fiction, stitched together by their recurring focus on deforming perceptions of reality.
First, police officers in “Stork” track missing infants through a hellish housing complex. Its frenzied flair draws from shooters, gripped tension unrelenting until a jolt finale. Next, “Dream Girl” follows Paparazzi pursuing an idol whose gift takes a monstrous turn. It crafts rising intrigue into a mind-warping nightmare.
In “Live and Let Dive,” skydivers’ freefall becomes an airborne massacre as invaders materialize. Martinez ratchets dread from the pilots’ plight, a visceral preview for terrors beneath. Other chapters continue plunging viewers into weird and disturbing visions, each chapter showcasing creators’ daring ingenuity while reflecting on the limits and allures of knowledge.
As ever, strengths and flaws emerge unevenly across segments. Yet V/H/S/Beyond makes its most compelling case yet that this anthology’s power lies less in consistency than in the collective shock of its sampled stories. By scattering tales across the Final Frontier of fear, it bolsters the series’ impulse to startle afresh with every new addition.
Examining the Eerie
The wraparound segment in V/H/S/Beyond sets an intriguing tone for the anthology to come. Documentarian Jay Cheel takes on a project exploring purported recordings of alien encounters. His work centers around a pair of mysterious tapes said to capture something beyond explanation.
Cheel’s documentary fakes being a streaming series focused on fringe phenomena. Through it, we’re introduced to each segment’s director and concept. But Cheel’s investigative angle becomes tired over the course of the film. While it ties the segments together thematically around glimpsing the unknown, the wraparound ends up lacking its own substance.
The creepy material Cheel scrutinizes serves to entice viewers about unexplained events perhaps witnessed accidentally. Such obscure findings hidden on worn tapes constitute the very essence of found footage horror. We want to peer through the visual static and make sense of blurry images seemingly too strange to be of this world.
Yet Cheel’s analysis brings little to decode. Where the segments take imagination to bizarre new heights, he contributes only surface exploration. His mockumentary amounts to an excuse to piece together other creators’ chilling works rather than a compelling narrative in its own right. While setting an apt atmosphere, Cheel’s work proves less satisfying than the bizarre visions he precedes.
The wraparound sets an initial unsettling tone through its suggestion of inexplicable things perhaps caught on camera. But compared to the gripping segments, it remains on the periphery and loses momentum, failing to cultivate its central notion of uncovering the unknown to the same extent as the masterful shorts it introduces.
Terrifying Tales
V/H/S/Beyond explores a variety of chilling concepts through its anthology segments. Each installment brings a fresh twist on found footage horror blended with science fiction thrills.
In “Stork,” police officers led by Jordan Downey respond to a disturbing case. The action intensifies as monsters menace the group. Tight shots ramp up anxiety to a fever pitch. Though ending on a peculiar note, this police thriller never lets up.
Virat Pal’s “Dream Girl” initially intrigues through the lives of paparazzi stalking a star. But their discovery spins into technological terror, morphing pop culture into a nightmare. Pal takes risks to ratchet up dread to an unsettling conclusion. However, shaky cinematography becomes disorienting.
Justin Martinez’s “Live and Let Dive” cleverly mixes skydiving with alien invasion. As their plane crumbles, parachuters plummet into an urgent fight for survival amid massive aliens. Martinez thrives on this suspense, hurtling scenes with visceral stakes. The premise seamlessly merges sci-fi with genuine fright.
In the unhinged “Fur Babies,” a deranged figure poses a new threat. Christian and Justin Long twist their style into a bizarre—yyet hilarious—ddisplay of body horror lunacy certain fans will relish.
“Stowaway” envisions First Contact through found footage. A woman’s discovery aboard an unidentified vessel leads to surreal revelations communicated visually. Kate Siegel and Mike Flanagan craft nuanced dread.
Collectively, these shorts showcase the series’ revival by marrying consistent quality with creative risks. Diverse approaches keep viewers on edge, whether exploring action, psychological scares, or strange worlds.
Masters of Horror
V/H/S/Beyond benefits immensely from its impressive lineup of horror icons behind and in front of the camera. Each brings their unique directorial perspective and acting abilities to new heights.
Mike Flanagan has crafted masterworks of gradual unease like Oculus and Hush. His segment “Stowaway” strikes a surreal note rarely seen in found footage. Flanagan instills dread through subtlety, leaving visuals open to interpretation. Kate Siegel likewise excels at building an unnerving atmosphere in “Stowaway,” a perfect directorial debut for the gifted Midnight Mass star.
Justin Long lends his comedic chops and knack for transformation to “Fur Babies.” References to Tusk show his talent for body horror’s darkly absurd. Jordan Downey ramps “Stork” to maximal intensity through shaky-cam action. Virat Pal immerses viewers in a sinister Bollywood milieu within “Dream Girl.”
These auteurs elevate what could have been routine with creative flourishes. Yet credit is due too to consistently strong performers. Justin Long commits fully to twisted roles that elevate creepy concepts. Kate Siegel underplays terror for chilling effect.
Across genres, these talents know how to unnerve. Their involvement attracts genre fans while maintaining quality. With such experienced creators at the helm of every installment, V/H/S/Beyond maintains focus on compelling narrative and visuals over pulpy thrills. It’s a horror anthology made by horror aficionados.
While segments vary in style and scares, none feel like niche work from amateurs. This collection feels handcrafted to satisfy seasoned shock-seekers and newcomers alike—a true cinematic experience not to miss.
Cinema of Fear
V/H/S/Beyond showcases its directors’ artistry through pioneering uses of found footage conventions. Each installment experiments with the format, crafting distinctive atmospheres that immerse audiences in terror.
A variety of cinematic styles plunge viewers into unique horrors. “Stork” ramps tension through shaky camerawork amid frantic action. Meanwhile, “Dream Girl” shifts between static shots and handheld chaos to horrify.
Several segments pop with pristine production values that heighten realism. The climactic crash in “Live and Let Dive” amazes with visceral clarity. Elsewhere, “Stowaway” fosters dread through artifacts of a grimy recording.
Subtle manipulation of lighting and shadows also unnerves. Flashlit revelations in the decrepit dog facility unsettle more than explicit gore ever could. Surreal visions aboard the alien derelict stir unease through suggestion over spectacle.
Across mediums, meticulous execution of scenes elevates concepts. Filmmakers like Kate Siegel and Justin Martinez understand suspense thrives on patience. Their acute feel for pacing sustains anxiety through the unknown.
This anthology offers sci-fi a new frontier for fear. V/H/S affords boundless avenues of experimentation, whether crafting action chops or probing esoteric places of the mind. It empowers storytellers to shapeshift found footage into forms more terrifying than ever imagined.
Tales to Terrorize
V/H/S/Beyond delves into an array of unsettling notions through its anthology segments. Each installment channels familiar themes in new, nightmarish ways.
A sense of mystery permeates as characters glimpse the unexplainable. “Stowaway” encapsulates this with surreal glimpses aboard an alien vessel. “Live and Let Dive” similarly thrusts skydivers into an airborne enigma.
Science fiction serves as a conduit for fresh horrors. Segments graft contemporary fears onto extraterrestrial concepts or theoretical technologies with unforeseen risks. “Dream Girl” transforms social media stalking into a digital fever dream.
While separate, consistent quality and creative variety tie the anthology as one cohesive work. Distinct storytelling modes satisfy a range of fright proclivities.
Segment directors apply personalized styles to a common format. Their calculated selection maintains focus on compelling narratives rather than exploitation. As a result, segments prove equally gripping as standalone shorts or as part of the full feature.
V/H/S/Beyond exhibits how the franchise continuously refines its recipe for consistent dread. By affording auteurs liberty within the framework, a new installment diversifies scares without sacrificing scare quality or the series’ identity. The formula proves ripe for further innovative chillers.
A Chilling Future for the Franchise
V/H/S/Beyond proves this long-running anthology series still has fresh tales of terror to reveal. By marrying sci-fi concepts with their signature found footage format, this installment taps into a limitless well of nightmares.
Across segments, consistent quality and visual flair elevate each disturbing story. Filmmakers are afforded freedom yet maintain focus on compelling narratives and characters over empty shocks. As a result, segments prove reliably gripping regardless of personal tastes.
By broadening the world of possibilities yet retaining trademark horror aesthetics, V/H/S/Beyond revitalizes the franchise for years to come. It establishes a template, granting auteurs room to shape-shift genres while cultivating authentic fear.
Indeed, this outing feels the most fully realized entry yet. For seasoned shock-seekers or newcomers to the series, it offers a cinematic experience not to be missed.
With Halloween on the horizon, genre fans will find V/H/S/Beyond an essential addition to their scary movie marathons. Its unsettling tales and unique visions make it a chilling harbinger of frights to come from this enduring anthology.
The Review
V/H/S/Beyond
With V/H/S/Beyond, the anthology series proves it remains at the vanguard of modern horror storytelling. By maintaining focus on compelling directors' visions over exploitation, this installment emerges as a cohesive nightmare comprised of unsettling individual pieces. Although found footage horror isn't for everyone's tastes, V/H/S/Beyond succeeds in consistently entertaining and unnerving genre fans. With top-tier talent pioneering new screams, the future looks bright for where this franchise may venture next.
PROS
- Engaging anthology format featuring unique stories
- Impressive lineup of directors and cast
- High production values and polished execution
- Creative sci-fi blending enhances horror conventions
- Consistently delivers chills and surprises
- Revitalizes found footage genre with fresh perspectives
CONS
- Not everyone's tastes due to genre
- Occasional segments may not appeal to all viewers
- Relies on horror suspension of disbelief
