What is the V/H/S horror franchise? A beginner’s guide to the found footage hit.
A new V/H/S movie seems to drop every few months - OK, that’s an exaggeration, but they are released pretty frequently. So, what the heck are these movies?
Simply put, they’re anthology horror films, but with a twist. Each entry features a collection of low budget, found footage stories from a wide range of filmmakers, all presented as lost VHS tapes.
Some of these tapes even possess eerie, supernatural influences over unsuspecting viewers, and frankly, they’re the stuff of nightmares!
The V/H/S franchise kicked off in 2012 with a critically acclaimed debut that featured a who's-who of rising horror directors, including Adam Wingard (Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire), Ti West (MaXXXine), and Radio Silence (Abigail).
Produced by the horror media outlet Bloody Disgusting, the film quickly gained traction, leading to a sequel, V/H/S/2.
This follow-up expanded on the concept with four new shorts woven together by a fifth narrative, bringing back Wingard and introducing directors like Jason Eisener (Hobo with a Shotgun) and Eduardo Sánchez (The Blair Witch Project), solidifying the series as a full-fledged franchise.
Since then, five more sequels and two spin-offs have followed, including retro-themed instalments like V/H/S/94, V/H/S/99, and V/H/S/85, with yet another entry on the horizon. The best thing about this series is that each film stands on its own - none rely on the others.
The latest instalment, V/H/S/Beyond, arrives on physical media this week. Taking inspiration from cult favorites like Jason X, Leprechaun in Space, and Hellraiser: Bloodline, this entry leans heavily into sci-fi horror with six new stories.
This time, directors include Hollywood actor Justin Long (Barbarian), Justin Martinez (Southbound), and Kate Siegel (Ouija: Origin of Evil).
With an average critic and audience approval rating of 70% across the franchise, V/H/S has earned its place as a modern horror staple.
Despite its micro-budget roots and found footage aesthetic, after ten films, it stands proudly alongside the likes of Freddy, Jason, and Pinhead.
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