V/H/S/85 – Movie Review
Director: David Bruckner, Scott Derrickson, Natasha Kermani, Mike P Nelson, Gigi Saul Guerrero
Writer: C Robert Cargill, Zoe Cooper, Scott Derrickson, Evan Dickson, Mike P Nelson, Gigi Saul Guerrero (Screenplay)
Cast
- Kelli Garner (What Josiah Saw)
- Freddy Rodriguez (Planet Terror)
- James Ransone (It Chapter Two)
- Jordan Belfi (Foster Boy)
- Gigi Saul Guerrero (El Gigante)
Plot: Unveiled through a made-for-TV documentary, five tales of found footage horror emerge to take viewers on a terrifying journey into the grim underbelly of the 1980s.
Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict on V/H/S/85
Total Copy (D. David Bruckner (The Night House))
Total Copy is the wraparound story, as a group of scientists are trying to understand a strange young man, Rory. They are showing him different footage in hopes of understanding more about him. Between each short, we see how the research has been changing during the process.
This might well be the wraparound story, but it feels like it has a life of its own. There are two ways to look at this. First, is the connection to the shorts doesn’t feel as connected as before. Secondly, the events escalate each time we return to the lab. It is a chaotic situation which doesn’t let you breathe between the stories. (4/5)
No Wake (D. Mike P Nelson (Wrong Turn))
No Wake starts when a group of friends head off on a camping trip. They arrive at the lake where not everything is as picturesque as they imagined. However, they look to make the most of their time on the water, until they come under attack.
This is a shocking opening that takes a celebration trip turned into a nightmare. It has fantastic effects and presents an unusual mystery as to what happened. This is an excellent start to the series we are about to watch. (5/5)
God of Death (D. Gigi Saul Guerrero)
God of Death starts when a new reporter working on a story of one of the oldest and largest buildings in Mexico. However, an earthquake hits taking out the studio and the cameraman struggles to escape. As a rescue team finds him, they try to evacuate the building as the aftershocks continue to hit. However, the chaos creates more panic than they could ever imagine.
This one mixes real horror of the event with the chaos of the situation. It uses the earthquake to create panic and uncertainty about what is going on. Along with the desperate battle to escape. All before revealing what causes the earthquake in the first place. The sense of panic to escape comes through perfectly as we become gripped by what is happening. (4/5)
TKNOGD (D. Natasha Kermani (Lucky))
TKNOGD starts when a performance artist presents her latest show about the connection to God. She is challenging the audience to question why computers and virtual reality are taking over the world, becoming the new God. However, her performance takes a dramatic turn for the worse.
This is an extremely interesting idea, and it gets to bring a shocking series of events to life. It challenges the early introduction to additional computer usage. However, it is another one which stands out because of the amazing effects used. While the story can feel a little bit more abrupt. (4/5)
Ambrosia (D. Mike P Nelson (Wrong Turn))
Ambrosia starts when a family presents their latest family get-together. However, the party is unlike anything you would expect, as celebrate their work. They have a yearly get-together to show off their work and present a new offering to their group. However, their party gets crashed by the police, forcing them to take arms to defend themselves.
In another purely chaotic entry, we see a dangerous group who enjoy what they do. The horror side of this is more about how these people operate in this world, while having a connection to what previously happened in No Wake. However, it can feel like we could have seen a lot more from this world. (3/5)
Dreamkill (D. Scott Derrickson (The Black Phone))
Dreamkill starts when a panicked woman believes she is suffering a break-in, while a dispatch officer tries to calm her down. This is until the intruder discovers her, forcing the officer to listen to the attack. However, Detective Wayne Johnson (Rodriguez) has received a tape of the crime a week before. He starts investigating a series of tapes he received, all showing off grisly murders.
This finishes off the short stories and gives us one of the most shocking ones yet. It uses the idea of a killer recording their crimes to show off to detectives. However, the twist reveals something far more sinister is going on. It will leave you floored by how things unfold. Even if this is the one I would most like to see an extended version of. (5/5)
Overall
V/H/S/85 is the latest installment of the horror franchise bringing to life a new series of disturbing horror stories. Each one uses exceptional special effects which add plenty of fear to what we are watching. The 1985 setting helps pull back from the more modern technology and the grainy film adds plenty to the viewing experience. This is an amazing addition to the franchise with a host of talented directors.
Where to Watch
V/H/S/85 arrives on Blu-ray, DVD and digital on 4 March 2024, courtesy of Acorn Media International.
Final Thoughts – V/H/S/85 is an excellent addition to the franchise.
