A new annual tradition that horror fans have happily adopted is the October release of a V/H/S installment, filled with fun-size bites of horror and creatively deranged found footage insanity. In recent years the franchise has made themes for each release, focusing on specific years (including 2002’s V/H/S/99 and 2023’s V/H/S/85) or specific genres, as was the case with last year’s sci-fi tinged V/H/S/Beyond (2024). This year’s edition finally fixes its gory gaze on the reason for the season, and every weirdo’s favorite holiday, in V/H/S/Halloween. * Hold For Spooky Applause *
Halloween has been in the bones of this franchise since the very beginning but it’s only now that we’re finally take the pumpkin plunge. V/H/S (2012) closed out with an ingenious segment titled 10/31/98 which follows a group of friends that accidentally stumble into the wrong house while trying to find a Halloween party. The final mystery tape of the film was written and directed by Radio Silence, who would go on to gift us Ready or Not (2018), and made clever use of a Nanny Cam Teddybear costume to justify why the footage existed (a detail that has gotten a little lost in the franchise as time has gone by). But now, after 13 glorious years of shaky scares, wild wraparounds, and iconic monsters (Raatmaaaaa!), V/H/S/Halloween is finally here to deliver the goods.
This new collection kicks off with a double-dose of high strangeness. As always, the wraparound story helps to set the mood (this year’s model, directed by Bryan M. Ferguson, is chock full of guts and tentacles, and 80s Halloween nostalgia) but V/H/S/Halloween comes out swinging with an opening segment that is pure madness. Coochie Coochie Coo, directed by Anna Zlokovic (Appendage) deals with an entity that hunts teenagers too old to be trick-or-treating, and isn’t afraid to get g-g-g-gross. It’s a wild pick for an opening segment but immediately lets you know that you should brace for absolutely anything in the next 90 minutes. Caspar Kelly’s (Your Pretty Face is Going To Hell) Fun Size also deals with Halloween rule breakers, but brings some genuine Adult Swim style humor right when it’s needed to help lift your spirits. An absolute highlight of this new bout, and a stern reminder to only take one piece of candy…
Along the way we also have Ut Supra Sic Infra, a story from Paco Plaza (Veronica) that shifts back and forth between a police reenactment tape and cell phone footage for a Grade A ghosty nightmare (and one of my personal favorites), as well as a grimy, camcorder serial killer slow burn called Kidprint from Alex Ross Perry (Her Smell) about some real ass small town stranger danger. But the closing segment, Home Haunt, is absolute Halloween Horror gold and undeniable found footage fun. This segment also features a hilarious cameo from a true Master of Horror and is a nonstop parade of practical effects, gore gags, and Halloween ghouls. It’s an absolute stunner of a closer and will surely become a fan favorite segment thanks to the brilliant work of writers/directors Micheline Pit-Norman & RH Norman.
“A nonstop parade of practical effects, gore gags, and Halloween ghouls.”
As a die-hard supporter of indie film and found footage in general, these movies have always been a beacon of emerging talent and a demonstration of creative storytelling for me. Half of what makes found footage anthologies so interesting is how each storyteller justifies the use of their camera, although over the years it seems the fans and I care more about those tiny details than some of these movies do. And it’s always a bummer to see valuable real estate being given to already established talent when you know there are countless filmmakers out there just begging for a shot at something like this. That balancing act is always going to be part of the business of getting new eyeballs on the franchise but even with those gripes in mind, V/H/S/Halloween does manage to do both at least some of the time.
The V/H/S franchise is perfect for every horror fan for the same reason it’s perfect for no one single horror fan. The segments are eclectic and diverse, and if you don’t like one story in particular, there’s probably something more your speed coming right up. Can’t stomach the gross Barbarian-style monster? Think happy thoughts until the haunted phone shows up. Not feeling the John Wayne Gacy-esque madman? There’s an evil record and a killer witch right around the corner! V/H/S/Halloween is another standout in an already stellar series of films and as ravenous spooky season fans, we are (once again) spoiled with a twisted collection of fun-sized bites of Halloween horror fun.
V/H/S/Halloween recently celebrated its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025 and will be available to stream on Shudder beginning Oct 3. Click HERE to follow our continued coverage of the festival and let us know what you’re favorite segment is over in the official Nightmare on Film Street Discord! Social Media is A Cesspool. Come Hang With The Cool Creeps.
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