V/H/S is an American horror anthology franchise that includes eight found footage films, two spin-off films, and one miniseries. Based on an original concept by Brad Miska, the plot centers on a collection of increasingly disturbing recordings presented in various formats. Produced through collaborations between multiple filmmakers, the installments are largely standalone, though recurring elements suggest connections between some of the films.
The original film, V/H/S, received mixed reviews, but was praised for its implementation of found-footage filmmaking and diverse stories, and was a financial success. The next two films in the franchise were met with mixed to generally negative reviews, and were not as financially successful as the first. Though the second film, V/H/S/2, was a success with film critics, it did not earn as much at the box office as its predecessor. The third installment, V/H/S: Viral, was generally negatively received critically, and made even less at the box office than the previous film. Financial information has not been released for the remainder of the films in the franchise, but their critical reception has improved. The fourth film, V/H/S/94, received the most positive reviews of the franchise. The fifth film, V/H/S/99, received lower but still generally positive ratings. The sixth film, V/H/S/85, received generally positive reviews. The seventh film, V/H/S/Beyond, received generally positive reviews. The eighth film, V/H/S/Halloween, also received generally positive reviews.
The first spin-off film, Siren, serves as a continuation of one of the segments from the first film. It was met with a general positive critical reception. The Snapchat released miniseries, titled V/H/S: Video Horror Shorts, received praise for its short-form format and expansion of the franchise to new media. The second spin-off film, Kids vs. Aliens, also served as a continuation of one of the segments from the second film. It was met with a mixed reception.
Contents
Origin
Created in a collaboration between Brad Miska and various filmmakers, the producer developed the concept for the overall premise of V/H/S with horror producer Roxanne Benjamin, who ran the "Bloody Disgusting Selects" film distribution label at the time. As the co-founder of a horror-themed website, Bloody Disgusting, he used his connections to directors and writers and to further realize his creation. Miska described the process as a "trust fall" exercise, with the creatives developing the initial premise, which he designates as a "wrap-around" of each film; followed by the additional segments that feature as the horrific videotapes that the characters in the recurring wrap-around sequences discover. Calling the franchise "a 'fill-in-the-hole' type project", Miska encouraged creativity from the respective filmmakers, with each segment being distinct in style and story.
Films
*The "Gorgeous Vortex" segment was completed for the film, but was left out of the final cut.
†Faux-TV commercial embedded in the middle of the "Storm Drain" segment.
Main series
As a group of small time criminals record their crimes, they agree to a hire that asks them to break into a home to retrieve a specific VHS tape. As they commence their search they discover the home owner, an elderly man, has died while watching a series of tapes on his assortment of stacked televisions. As they continue to look for the requested video, each tape contains a sequence of terror recorded by home video camera. These recordings include: a group of boorish friends who plan to meet some women at a nightclub, only to be brutally attacked by a deadly siren; a young couple vacationing in the American southwest and the lethal burglary of their hotel room by a stalker; a group of friends who take a road trip to visit a secluded area in the woods and are faced with an unidentifiable murderous entity that appears as tracking errors on their camera; a video chat where a young woman contacts her med student boyfriend regarding an agitated bump on her arm, which is revealed to be the result of a tracking device placed within her by extraterrestrials who are conducting experiments on unknowing individuals; and a group of young men who attend a party on Halloween night only to arrive at the wrong house, and must face paranormal phenomena with poltergeists, and an exorcism conducted on a woman by a cult.
All the while unbeknownst to the thieves, one by one they begin to inexplicably disappear after each tape is viewed. Meanwhile, the deceased homeowner begins to reanimate and begins an attack on the remaining survivors.
A mother hires a private investigator named Larry and his girlfriend Ayesha, to look for her college-age son named Kyle, who has inexplicably gone missing. As the pair break into his dorm, they discover a stack of VHS tapes in his room, alongside a laptop computer that is in the middle of recording footage. After watching a clip of Kyle's recording on his computer, where he discusses the strange nature of these tapes and their influence on their viewer, Ayesha is tasked with watching the recorded videos while Larry continues to search the home for more evidence. Each tape includes a sequence of horror including: a man who attains a prototype ocular implant from his ophthalmologist, and is told that he may experience some glitches, only to experience various encounters with ghosts; a cyclist's ride through a forested state park, who comes across a bloodied and ailing couple that reanimate after dying only to attack everyone around them, turning them into zombies; a documentary crew that visits an Indonesian cult to record their mysterious rituals, and finds themselves in the middle of a mass suicide all while a demon arrives to rule over its worshippers; and a group of friends who record their slumber party, only to be attacked by a number of aliens who seek to abduct the young boys.
Spin-off films
A feature-length adaptation and continuation of the "Amateur Night" segment from V/H/S, the plot of the film includes:
Jonah and his groomsmen plan a wild night of debaucherously clubbing activities for his bachelor party, one week prior to his wedding day. Organized by his irresponsible brother, Mac, and their best friends, the group finds themselves at a rundown uneventful strip club. After finding that Jonah is not happy, Mac hears of an underground club. Convincing his brother to go, the group drives through the night for an extended amount of time. Upon arriving at the location, they are all unnerved by the events inside the building and its patrons. Just as they're about to leave, the owner greets them and promises them a night they'll never forget, allowing each of them their own room. Because Jonah doesn't want any sexual encounters, he is given a room with a mysterious woman dancer named Lilith, chained up and behind glass. In conversing with her, he is convinced that she is an enslaved sex worker, and determines to break her out of the establishment. Working with his brother and friends, they escape the advances of security and free the woman.
As they drive away, they begin to realize that Lilith is not the timid and frail woman she seemed to be, but is instead a terrifying creature from Greek mythology known as a siren, who will stop at nothing to claim her prey and take possession of Jonah.
A feature-length adaptation of the "Slumber Party Alien Abduction" segment of V/H/S/2, that was directed and co-written and edited by Jason Eisener. The filmmaker once again served as director from a script he co-wrote once again with John Davies; while Brad Miska, Josh Goldbloom, Jason Levangie, Marc Tetreault, and Rob Cotterill serve as producers. The plot is similar to the original segment, following two siblings who must overcome their differences on Halloween night when aliens attack while their parents are absent.
The project is a joint venture between Bloody Disgusting, Cinepocalypse Productions, Studio71, and Shudder Original Films. RLJE Films and Shudder served as distributors. Kids vs. Aliens had its premiere at Fantastic Fest 2022 on September 23, 2022. It was released exclusively via streaming on Shudder, on January 20, 2023. Eisener stated that there are tentative plans to make a sequel.
Television
A social media miniseries distributed exclusively to Snapchat, titled V/H/S: Video Horror Shorts, was released on October 28, 2018. Each episode detailed a different segment, similar to the videos depicted within the films.
Stray Dog: Casey Gustavo is throwing a slumber party with her friends Soon and Marta when they find a stray dog outside whom they name Drake. After convincing Casey's parents if they can keep him, they discover that he does not like bright lights and hides while also displaying glowing yellow eyes. Casey gives him a bath, where he suddenly attacks her before disappearing. Soon and Marta check on Casey who is non-responsive and proceeds to eat everything in the fridge. Casey's father checks on her where she mutates into a Thing-esque monster who proceeds to attack and kill her parents and her friends.
Cast: Chloe Gonzales as Casey, Maytlin Pezzo as Soon, Sarah Glassman as Marta, Andi Wagner as Mom, Ric Olivera as Dad
Rearview Window: While her mom goes out to get pain medication, Jasmine rests in the backseat of her car with a broken leg. She watches various people passing by and comments on them until she sees a man forcibly kidnapping a woman and placing her in his van. Having been spotted, Jasmine begins to panic and is unsure if she is hallucinating from her medication. Eventually, her mother returns, but just as she calms down, she transforms into the kidnapper who blocks out the camera.
Cast: Sidney Nicole Rogers as Jasmine, Stephanie Collins as Mom, Braydon Szafranski as the Kidnapper, Ted Elrick as Homeless Man, Sarah Lind as the Kidnapper's Victim, Sam Eidson as Scooter Man, Billy Gaggins as Burrito Man, Ashley Smith as Fighting Girl, Arthur Hinson as Fighting Guy
The Nest: Lily follows her brother Rob and new girlfriend Jenna into the woods to spy on them, as Rob is apparently cheating with her. Lily begins to find strange things littering the woods and comes across a domicile made of sticks. Upon entering, she sees Jenna feeding Rob a black liquid, claiming that someone is making her do it. Strange entities suddenly arrive and take Rob away for a supposed sacrifice. Jenna claims that he is supposed to be the last one as a way to prevent herself from turning into them. Lily suddenly finds herself surrounded by more entities as she is attacked, presumably, by a now transformed Jenna.