V/H/S/Beyond (FANTASTIC) Goes Above and Beyond with Sci-fi Terror
Title: V/H/S/Beyond
First Non-Festival Release: October 4, 2024 (Digital/Streaming Platforms)
Director: Jay Cheel, Jordan Downey, Christian Long, Justin Long, Justin Martinez, Virat Pal, Kate Siegel
Writer: Evan Dickson, Jordan Downey, Mike Flanagan, Christian Long, Justin Long, Justin Martinez, Virat Pal, Kevin Stewart, Benjamin A. Turner, Oleg Vdovenko
Runtime: 114 Minutes
Starring: Libby Letlow, Alanah Pearce, Namrata Sheth
Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here
This film’s review was written after its screening at the Fantastic Film Festival in 2024.
The V/H/S series is known for its dark and twisted take on found footage by delivering a series of knockout short horror films. V/H/S/Beyond features six films exploring the intersection of horror and science fiction. Wraparound segment ‘Alien Abduction/Adduction’ is a mockumentary of alien video footage being analyzed by experts. ‘Stork’ showcases a police raid on a compound believed to hold kidnapped babies. Paparazzi invade the personal space of a famous actress in ‘Dream Girl.’ Skydivers get the ultimate experience in adrenaline rushes in ‘Live and Let Dive’ when their plane experiences an unexpected issue. ‘Fur Babies’ follows a group of animal rights activists investigating a doggy day care. Lastly, a woman follows a series of strange lights in the sky in ‘Stowaway.’
Imaginative, unpredictable, and deeply sinister, V/H/S/Beyond continues the series’s streak of delivering terrifying found footage thrills.
The weakest entry, ‘Alien Abduction/Adduction’ operates as an unrelated wraparound segment that dives more into the philosophy of real life found footage “evidence.” V/H/S has a wraparound issue that continues with this year’s segment. While some years flow better, this iteration chooses a fake mockumentary approach without engaging with the other shorts. Not a problem in of itself, but the presentation of the material is still dry. Skeptics battle believers over the authenticity of alien evidence before concluding with the video in question. The end result is a fine few minutes of alien horror that don’t live up to the hype of the preceding intertwining interviews.
Starting with ‘Stork’ as the first segment is the perfect choice to kickstart the terror in easily the scariest segment of the film. The raid serves as an excellent way to maximize tension from the beginning before devolving into something even more terrifying. Its large cast works in the short’s favor, as the audience barely has time to get acquainted with everyone before they, and the rookie, are thrust into the fire. Excellent design choices and wickedly fun moments of gore set ‘Stork’ apart from the rest, solidifying it as another top-notch V/H/S entry.
A departure from most of the other segments, ‘Dream Girl’ is an excellent slice of sci-fi horror that inadvertently touches on many societal issues. The pressure to perform is great for any aspiring star, and ‘Dream Girl’ takes that concept to unexpected places. Leaning into the mystery, this segment comes as the biggest surprise of the bunch, as the ending is certainly out of left field. The result is a bonkers finale that is as creepy as it is entertaining. Unintentionally social commentary heavy, ‘Dream Girl’ also has plenty to say about the state of modern entertainment and what it will subject women to in order to maximize profits, among other things. If you think that a Bollywood dance number doesn’t have a place in the V/H/S franchise, ‘Dream Girl’ will have you reconsidering.
‘Live and Let Dive’ starts out relatable enough for anyone who has skydived before and quickly descends into complete chaos in the best way. Much like ‘Stork,’ anxiety permeates through the film in the beginning. From there, ‘Live and Let Dive’ never lets the viewer rest as the ill-fated party encounters something they shouldn’t in the sky. Featuring a truly unnerving antagonist and a nearly all daylight shoot, ‘Live and Let Dive’ manages to evoke feelings of terror that few films, shorts or otherwise, manage. A creative, kinetic approach to horror, ‘Live and Let Dive’ cements its spot as one of the most iconic shorts in the series.
The weirdest segment by far, ‘Fur Babies’ is a diabolical stroke of genius that will leave you cowering in fear and dying of laughter. To spoil this segment would be a disservice to viewers, but it’s clear that Christian and Justin Long had a vision they were dying to create. Memorable characters and hilarious dialogue pairs well with the segment’s horrific take on science-fiction horror. This is easily the wildest one of V/H/S/Beyond, so be prepared for something fresh.
Final segment ‘Stowaway’ veers out of sheer terror and instead leaves a lasting impression from its great character work and terrifying implications. Easily the quietest entry in the film, and perhaps the series, ‘Stowaway’ hits hard because of its restrained approach. Its initially simple concept is dialed up not at its climax, but in its denouement. The ending hits like a gut punch not just for its horror but because of the tragic sentiments shared by main character Halley throughout the segment.
The most consistent V/H/S film to date, V/H/S/Beyond is a triumph in short form sci-fi horror. With nearly every segment a banger in some way, Shudder continues to knock it out of the park with the series since taking the reins. With ‘Stork’ as the film’s scariest short and ‘Live and Let Dive’ as the most enthralling, the high points continue to get even higher. V/H/S/Beyond truly understands that horror fans relish in the delightfully dark corners of the series, making it a must watch. It seems like the sky has no limit for the series and it is an exciting to see what new heights it reaches beyond its current limits.
Overall Score? 8/10
