It’s become an annual spooky season tradition to have a new V/H/S film on Shudder in early October. For the first time ever, the anthology series tackles the season in V/H/S Halloween. Fortunately, the latest in the long-running series is a mostly strong collection. It features a home haunt that kills, severed body parts packaged as chocolate candy, and all sorts of unhinged mayhem. Collectively, it makes for a gnarly watch that’s fitting for the season.
The film’s six segments include the framing narrative “Diet Phantasma,” directed by Bryan M. Ferguson, “Coochie Coochie Coo” directed by Anna Zlokovic, “Ut Supra Sic Infra” by [REC] director Paco Plaza, “Fun Size” by Casper Kelly, “Kidprint” by Alex Ross Perry, and “Home Haunt” by Micheline Pitt-Norman & R.H. Norman.
“Diet Phantasma” has some of the best practical effects out of any of the segments. It’s about an evil corporation that tests killer diet soda on unsuspecting people. They want it on the shelf by Halloween, but the corporate overloads can’t stop it from butchering people. The concept is silly, and as the wrap-around narrative, it doesn’t tie into any of the other segments. Still, it’s a heck of a lot of fun and gory as hell.
Zlokovic is a director to watch. Her first feature film, Appendage, is a sharp horror-comedy and creature feature. “Coochie Coochie Coo” is a bonkers tale about teenagers that are a bit too old to trick ‘r treat. They end up at the wrong house, trapped in an utter nightmare with a demonic mother intent on making the teens part of her warped family. After watching this one, you’ll never look at milk the same way again.
Plaza is probably the most well-known director of the bunch, and for the most part, he delivers with his segment. As someone who crafted one of the most influential found footage films with [REC], he rewrites the rules of found footage and sets his story around a crime scene investigation that details how a bunch of young people disappeared after wandering into a tunnel on Halloween night. Plaza uses a methodical pace to build tension and unravel a mystery that leads to a gruesome ending. Oh, and his segment also contains a creepy cursed phone.
“Fun Size” is the segment that warrants the most buzz. It’s clever, funny, and bloody. A group of friends that are, again, a bit too old to be trick r’ treating, venture to a house and violate the sacred rule to only take one piece of candy. After they break the rule, they’re attacked by the bowl of candy and pulled into a factory where they’re, well, chopped up, coated in chocolate and caramel, and packaged for the next batch of trick r’ treaters. This is definitely the breakout segment. It’s wildly creative and maintains the Halloween spirit.
“Kidprint” has an interesting premise. However, compared to the others, it never quite reaches its full potential. Thankfully, the last segment, “Home Haunt,” ends on a high note. For years, a family has crafted their own haunted house. Suddenly, their home haunt comes alive and slaughters people, all thanks to a haunted LP that opens a portal to hell. This is really a great segment that just feels like the Halloween season, especially the grainy footage of the mom, dad, and son building their own props and various scenes. This also has some great kills and a fantastical ending that features a witch impaling children with her broomstick.
V/H/S Halloween features all kinds of murder and mayhem. The anthology largely succeeds at showcasing the Halloween spirit and unleashing blood, guts, and gore in the process. This is one of the stronger entries in the V/H/S series that we’ve seen in a while and a demented love letter to the holiday. I foresee this entry having a lot of rewatch value every October.
