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Anthologies can be a little tricky to nail. Not only do multiple segments need to be of similar quality, but they also can’t be too thematically different; otherwise, the flow of the overall film gets put off course. Thankfully, V/H/S/Beyond – the latest V/H/S horror anthology – works quite well because the six segments presented within are strong, even if there are a few shaky moments. The film is science-fiction-themed, with zombies, aliens, and creepy experiments filling the runtime. But just because the stories have science-fiction premises doesn’t mean that V/H/S/Beyond holds back on the horror.
Because all six segments are short, it seems unfair to spoil their premises, so we’ll be briefly describing their setups and subsequently elaborating on the types of stories they are rather than going into specifics regarding each twist. The film works well because the individual endings land hard, and reading this should take that impact away. The first segment, Abduction/Adduction, is a wraparound in the middle of the other segments, breaking up the film’s pacing. It is documentary-style, and it was directed by Jay Cheel (Cursed Films). The segment takes a look at some found footage while also providing some context to footage documenting the unknown.
A Sum of Its Parts
The second segment, and the first full segment, is Stork. Directed by Jordan Downey (The Head Hunter) and written by Downey and Kevin Stewart (The Head Hunter), Stork follows a group of cops who storm a house to find some kidnapped children. Full of zombie-like creatures, the segment is a lot more House of the Dead than it is Resident Evil, and it’s an action-filled fun time. The next segment, Dream Girl, takes a while to get going but has a great ending. It was directed by Virat Pal (Recapture) and written by Pal and Evan Dickson (V/H/S/85).
Dream Girl follows two paparazzi who infiltrate a Bollywood set to take candid pictures of a star named Tara, only to find more than they bargained for in her trailer. Live and Let Dive sees a group of friends prepare to skydive, only for a UFO to invade their airspace. Directed by Justin Martinez (V/H/S) and written by Ben Turner, this segment is thrilling because of how quickly it moves once the UFO appears, with another horrifying ending. The penultimate segment is Fur Babies, which was written and directed by brothers Christian and Justin Long (Lady of the Manor).
Fur Babies follows members of an animal rights group who try to expose a lady who runs a doggy daycare center because she taxidermies her dogs. But, once they get there, things are rougher than they seem. The last segment was directed by Kate Siegel (Hush), and written by Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House). Stowaway follows a documentarian who investigates reports of random light sightings in the Mojave desert.
V/H/S/Beyond: Tension in Horror
V/H/S/Beyond’s pacing is quite good, which might be because of the quick in-and-out nature of the anthology. It is slightly a double-edged sword because it is then more difficult to get attached to the characters, which you need to be able to do in a horror film. But you probably won’t find yourself bored as each segment is packed with tension. With some of the shorts, the build-up is more interesting than the twist. You aren’t quite sure what the turn will be with Dream Girl or Fur Babies, so part of the tension is just waiting for that reveal.
In other segments, the tension comes from knowing exactly what will happen. In both Live and Let Dive and Stowaway, you’ll find yourself yelling at the screen for characters to make different decisions than the ones that they’re making, and it’s so engaging to watch them walk those paths. Most of the performances are good, with a couple of standouts. But, because it’s horror and found footage, most of the performances that stood out might just be because they’re fully in frame and well-lit. However, that doesn’t mean that the film isn’t well-shot because it is.
The found footage was a nice excuse to get weird with shot choice, specifically with framing and the angle at which the shot was filmed. Most of the segments have great shots that showed something unexpected, or that I had never seen before. However, some of the segments were too obscured in darkness for my taste, even if it made sense diegetically.
V/H/S/Beyond Has Something For Everyone
Unfortunately, V/H/S/Beyond’s effects are rough. That does add to the charm of a found footage movie, but when some of the creatures popped on screen I laughed. It’s arguable that the cathartic laugh is just as effective as a jump scare or scream, but V/H/S/Beyond is barely scary. The practical effects were effective, but more in a creepy way than a scary way. The individual premises are creepier than the finished segments end up being.
Each premise was interesting and put me on the edge of my seat. Each one does have a twist that comes in at various points throughout each segment, and none of them felt particularly obvious. They are also varied, which helps V/H/S/Beyond move. The segments are either creepy, packed with action, or a low-stakes thriller. Again, because they are found footage shorts, many of the performances don’t get too much of a chance to shine. But, the standouts were in Dream Girl and Stowaway.
Sayandeep Sengupta (The Office) played the paparazzi Arnab in Dream Girl and was instantly unlikeable, which is difficult to do in a short amount of time. Whereas Namrata Sheth (Guilty Minds) plays the star Tara, as equal parts blank and stressed. It’s an interesting but brief performance that makes the turn more compelling. Plus, her Bollywood number was great too. Alanah Pearce (Cyberpunk 2077) plays Halley in Stowaway, performing on her own for most of the segment’s runtime. Her great subtle performance endears you to the character and makes you feel all the more for Halley when her dumb decisions screw her in the end.
Be Kind, Rewind
Out of all of the segments, only Abduction/Adduction fell flat with me. The others were mostly great, sustaining tension throughout their individual runtimes and coming together nicely as a whole. If you’re a massive horror buff, some of these premises might not be new to you. For example, Fur Babies seems entirely borrowed from one of Long’s films in which he acted, Kevin Smith’s Tusk. But they’re all more than interesting enough to keep you engaged for the 114-minute runtime, even if they aren’t totally unfamiliar concepts to you.
V/H/S/Beyond is a thoroughly entertaining science-fiction horror anthology that might have you laughing instead of shrieking in fear, but you’ll be entertained nonetheless. Strong concepts, good cinematography, and solid performances take the stage away from weak effects, and if you’re a fan of horror or science fiction, you should have a very good time.
You can watch V/H/S/Beyond on Shudder now.
V/H/S/Beyond
V/H/S/Beyond is nearly everything you'd want from a horror anthology if only it was a little more terrifying.
Pros
- Most of the segments are well-written with engaging premises and decent twists.
- There are mostly good performances with a few standouts.
- Well-paced with great tension throughout.
Cons
- The visual effects weren’t great.
- Not very scary.
