Featured Audience Ratings

• Anthony L

  
  *Spoilers* Found Footage has been overdone a little of late, let's hope that V/H/S is the last of it. V/H/S is basically 50% brilliant and 50% crap. The film that binds the films together (tape 56) is probably the worst part of this film, it's brings nothing to the overall… More
  *Spoilers* Found Footage has been overdone a little of late, let's hope that V/H/S is the last of it. V/H/S is basically 50% brilliant and 50% crap. The film that binds the films together (tape 56) is probably the worst part of this film, it's brings nothing to the overall film, doesn't lead into the other films very well and is unnecessarily nasty at the start which I'm sure must have put many people of right away. The first film, Amateur Night, is probably the best of the lot. It has real scares, is creepy throughout and reaches a brilliant conclusion. Second Honeymoon is boring in comparison, the twist ending is disappointing to say the least, not to mention far too graphic to be on the right side of acceptable. The Sick Thing That Happened to Emily When She Was Younger was original and effective, probably the cleverest of the films but again, I think it could have been explored better and dare I say, saved for it's own feature. Tuesday the 17th is the token spoof film that seems totally out of place. Although, as ridiculous as the pixelated bad guy was, I quite liked him. The last film, 10/31/98 is probably the most fun of the films. The mysterious collective of directors, Radio Silence go for all out action, no need for character development, they get down to business, an idea that serves the film well. Overall, the film is definitely worth watching, along with The Cabin in the Woods, this defines a genres to the point where others need to up their game (or stop). The overall aspect I most object to (apart from the fact very little of it is filmed on VHS d'oh!) are the constant sexual and often sexually-violent scenes. What is it with horror films and guys with hand-held cameras? It's probably the most disturbing factor for me and it doesn't sit well, it's not nice seeing women treated like this and it's not nice seeing young men constantly portrayed as rapists. Let's see an end to it and some female horror directors would be a nice change too!

• Melvin W

  
  Lily: I like you. "This collection is killer." Here's a found footage horror film that I really hadn't heard anything about. I knew nothing about what it was about going in and I believe that is probably the best way to go into it. It's bloody, it's… More
  Lily: I like you. "This collection is killer." Here's a found footage horror film that I really hadn't heard anything about. I knew nothing about what it was about going in and I believe that is probably the best way to go into it. It's bloody, it's weird, and at times it's effective with its scares. Overall, I don't really know what I think of the film though. There were parts I really liked and parts that just didn't really do anything for me. A group of criminals break into a home after being hired by an unknown third party. Their only mission is to steal a video tape. When they arrive though, they find a dead body and a numerous amount of video tapes. The tapes are the movie. Each one has its own little story, turning this film into more of a horror anthology than anything else. The most interesting tape is the last one in the film, which made it all worth while. While I can't say that I really liked this film, I can't really bash it either. It did some really interesting stuff and definitely is a welcome addition to a dying genre. For horror fans, there's definitely enough here to merit a look. It probably won't blow you away, as I was less than blown away, but there are individual sequences that work extremely well. These directors definitely knew how to use the limitations of the found footage genre to their benefit.

• Jeff "

  
  The thing with Found Footage films is that there's really nothing new to the genre to make it worth seeing. This film is pretty good considering all the films that have been released in the genre over the years. If you love the genre and horror in general, this is worth a watch.… More
  The thing with Found Footage films is that there's really nothing new to the genre to make it worth seeing. This film is pretty good considering all the films that have been released in the genre over the years. If you love the genre and horror in general, this is worth a watch. This film offers a new twist on traditional found footage films as this is an anthology of different horror stories, but all are presented as found footage, and it works well enough to entertain and thrill. Each story is eerie and manages to be thrilling. Acting wise, there's really nothing that stands out, and this is standard low-budget fair. The film does have its flaws, but it's definitely much more entertaining than many other films in this horror genre. If you were disappointed by films like Chernobyl Diaries and Apollo 18, then this film may surprise you. I enjoyed both Apollo 18 and Chernobyl Diaries, but I'd have to say that this film is much better for many reasons, the main one being incorporating the anthology element in the genre, which adds so much more to the film's enjoyment. V/H/S is a good horror flick and one of the most original and fun Found Footage films since Trollhunter. Every story has its imperfections, but they nonetheless deliver some solid and enjoyable entertainment that is a must see film for horror fans. There's plenty to enjoy here, and this film exceeded my expectations, and I didn't expect to like it the way I did. There's plenty of bloody and bone chilling moments to be had here, and every director does a good enough job with each story that makes up this new breed of horror anthology.

• Eric A

  
  Really on the fence about my liking of this film. The reason I'm in the middle is because it was good in the sense that it constantly had me feeling eerie (which horror films have been failing to do lately), but it was bad in the sense that the plot was sort of weak. Internally… More
  Really on the fence about my liking of this film. The reason I'm in the middle is because it was good in the sense that it constantly had me feeling eerie (which horror films have been failing to do lately), but it was bad in the sense that the plot was sort of weak. Internally there is no connection or consistency with each character or VHS tape that's viewed. It's a descent movie at best, worth watching, but don't expect much from it.

• Nate Z

  
  The found footage subgenre seems ripe for overexposure at this point. Just this year we've had a found footage party movie, a found footage superhero movie, a found footage cop movie, and this week will open Paranormal Activity 4, the latest in the popular found footage horror… More
  The found footage subgenre seems ripe for overexposure at this point. Just this year we've had a found footage party movie, a found footage superhero movie, a found footage cop movie, and this week will open Paranormal Activity 4, the latest in the popular found footage horror series. I understand the draw for Hollywood. The movies are cheap and the found footage motif plays into our culture's endless compulsion for self-documentation. There are definite benefits to the genre, notably an immediate sense of empathy, a sense of being in the fray, and an added degree of realism. There are plenty of limitations too, notably the restrictive POV and the incredulous nature of how the footage was captured. With that being said, I think the people behind V/H/S finally found a smart use of this format. V/H/S is an indie horror anthology that offers more variety, cleverness, and payoffs, than your typical found footage flick. Normally, found footage movies consist of 80 minutes of drawn out nothing for five minutes of something in the end. Usually, the payoff is not worth the ensuing drudgery of waiting for anything to happen. Watching the Paranormal Activity movies has become akin to viewing a "Where's Waldo?" book, scrutinizing the screen in wait. V/H/S has improved upon the formula by the very nature of being an anthology movie. Rather than wait 80 minutes for minimal payoff, now we only have to wait 15 minutes at most. I call that progress. I haven't seen too many found footage films that play around with the narrative structure inherit with a pre-recorded canvas. I recall Cloverfield smartly squeezing in backstory, earlier pre-recorded segments being taped over. With V/H/S, this technique is utilized once and it's just to shoehorn in some gratuitous T & A. Plus, the anthology structure allows for a greater variety. If you don't like some stories, and chances are you won't, you know another one's just around the corner. For my tastes, the stories got better as the film continued. I was not a fan of the first few stories. The wraparound segment ("Tape 51") involves a band of delinquents who are hired to retrieve one VHS tape in a creepy home. The guys are annoying jackasses, and our opening image involves them sexually assaulting a woman and recording it to sell later, so we're pretty agreeable to them being killed off one by one inside the creepy home. I just don't know why anyone would record themselves watching a movie. It's not like it's Two Girls One Cup we're talking about here. I found the wraparound segment to be too chaotic and annoying, much like the band of idiots. It ends up becoming your standard boogeyman type of story and relies on characters making stupid decision after stupid decision. Why do these idiots stay in the house and watch movies? Why do these people not turn on the lights? The first actual segment ("Amateur Night") has a solid premise: a bunch of drunken frat boys plan to make their own porn with a pair of spy glasses. They bring the wrong girl back to their motel room and get more than they bargained for. Despite some interesting commentary on the male libido (interpreting a woman's spooky actions as being sexually aroused), this segment suffers from a protracted setup. There's a solid ten minutes of boys being boys, getting drunk, that sort of thing. And when the tables are turned, the spyglasses lead to shakier recording, which is odd considering they are pinned on the guy's nose. The horror of the ending is also diminished because it's hard to make sense of what is literally happening. The weakest segment is the second one ("Second Honeymoon"), which is surprising considering it's written and directed by Ti West, a hot name in indie horror after The Innkeepers. West's segment is your standard black widow tale, following a couple on their vacation to the Southwest and their home movies. However, a stalker is secretly videotaping them while they sleep. Borrowing from Cache, this is a genuinely creepy prospect, and the sense of helplessness and dread are palpable. It's surprising then that West concludes his segment so abruptly, without further developing the stalker aspect, and tacks on a rather lame twist ending that doesn't feel well thought out. "You deleted that, right?" says one guilty character on camera washing away blood. Whoops. The second half of V/H/S is what really impressed me, finding clever ways to play upon the found footage motif and still be suspenseful. The third segment ("Tuesday the 17th") begins like your regular kids-in-the-woods slasher film. The very specific types of characters (Jock, Nerd, Cheerleader) are set for some frolicking when they come across a deranged killer. However, the slasher monster is a Predator-style invisible creature that can only be seen via the video camera. When recorded, the monster creates a glitch on screen. I think this is a genius way to cover the biggest head-scratcher in found footage horror: why are you still recording? With this segment, the video camera is the savior, the protector, the only engine with which they can see the monster. The fourth segment ("The Sick Thing That Happened to Emily When She Was Younger") is shot entirely through Skype conversations on laptops. Emily is convinced her apartment is haunted and seeks support from her boyfriend, away on business. This segment's co-writer and director, Joe Swanberg, is more known for being the mumblecore king than a horror aficionado, but the man makes scary good use of the limitations of his setup. The story might be a bit hard to follow, especially its ending, but there are some great jolts and boo-moments. There's even a fantastic gross-out surprise as Emily shares her own elective surgery/exploration. But it's the last segment that takes the cake, ending V/H/S on a fever pitch of action. The wraparound segment isn't even that, since it ends before the final segment, "10/31/1998." It's a haunted house story about a group of guys who stumble into the wrong house on the wrong night. Initially they think the human sacrifice in the attic is part of the show, but then weird things start happening like arms coming through walls and door knobs vanishing. This segment is a great example of how effective atmosphere can be aided by smart and selective special effects. When the madness hits the home, it feels just like that, and the rush to exit the house is fueled with adrenaline. You don't exactly know what will be around the next corner. The CGI effects are very effective and the lo-fi visual sensibilities give them even more punch. The frenzied chaos that ends "10/31/1998" would be apt for a feature-length found footage movie, let alone a 15-minute short. It's a satisfying climax to a film that got better as it went. With all found footage movies, there's the central leap of logic concerning who assembled this footage, for what purposes, and how they got it. With movies like the abysmal Apollo 18, I stop and think, "Why do these people assembling the footage leave so much filler?" V/H/S doesn't commit a sin worthy of ripping you out of the movie, but when it's concluded you'll stop and ponder parts of its reality that don't add up. The very idea of people still recording onto VHS tapes in the age of digital and DVD seems curious, but I'll go with it. Several segments obviously had to be recorded onto a hard drive; the Skype conversations would have to be recorded onto two perhaps. So somebody transferred digital records... onto a VHS tape? And it just so happens that this tape then got lost. While inherently hit-or-miss, V/H/S succeeds as an anthology film and generates new life into the found footage concept. Not all of the segments are scary or clever, but even during its duller moments the film has a sense of fun. There's always something new just around the corner to keep you entertained, and the various anthology segments give a ranger of horror scenarios. The lo-fi visual verisimilitude can be overdone at times, but the indie filmmakers tackle horror with DIY ingenuity. I don't know if anything on screen will give people nightmares, but it's plenty entertaining, in spots. V/H/S is an enjoyable, efficient, and entertaining little horror movie just in time for Halloween. If you're going to do a found footage movie, this is the way to do it. Nate's Grade: B

• Everett J

  
  I'm always up for a fresh, new horror movie. Sometimes it is good and other times it's bad. But, most of the time it falls right in the middle. "V/H/S" does exactly that. It has some very good qualities, and others than aren't so good. It's a found… More
  I'm always up for a fresh, new horror movie. Sometimes it is good and other times it's bad. But, most of the time it falls right in the middle. "V/H/S" does exactly that. It has some very good qualities, and others than aren't so good. It's a found footage anthology movie. A group of criminals break into an abandoned house to find a video tape. Upon arrival, they find a man dead in a chair and search for the tape. While searching one of the guys starts going through other tapes and each VHS tape has a different story. There's five stories told here and a couple of them are good and the others are just ok. Each one had a good concept, but some of them ended so abruptly without any conclusion you literally say "what the f?!" Heck, even one of the characters said that at the end of one of the stories. Actually, none of them have any good conclusions to be honest. I don't mind found footage movies, but this is probably the shakiest I've ever seen, and some of the reviews I've read people say they got motion sick. I didn't, but I could easily see that happening to someone. The acting is pretty poor as this is a very low budget movie. That being said, the effects in the last story are very good. Not really a bad movie, but not a very good movie either. Worth a watch, especially this time of year, but keep expectations in check, and maybe a puke bucket near you.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"I like you."</i> When a group of misfits is hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a desolate house and acquire a rare VHS tape, they discover more found footage than they bargained for. <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"I like you."</i> When a group of misfits is hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a desolate house and acquire a rare VHS tape, they discover more found footage than they bargained for. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Some folks might be a little deterred from seeing V/H/S when they learn it's a found footage movie. Well, rest assured, there's nothing to worry about as this is an excellent example of the sub-genre. Perhaps at the root of the film's success is its structural format. It's an anthology movie, made up of a selection of short stories based around a series of videotapes found by burglars at a scary house. While some of the segments are better than others, where this one scores is that even the weaker stories contain some very scary moments. Each and every one delivers the goods in this respect and that's half the battle when it comes to horror flicks. The different stories are basically disturbing in the way that the best found footage flicks are, in that we are literally put right into the shoes of these people and their terror transmits more easily. I won't reveal many details of the contents but, amongst other things, there is a vampire, malevolent ghosts, a supernatural serial killer, a house invader and a weird ritual. There's a skillful combination of visceral and suggested horror. From the former there are several scenes of blood and guts including a beheading by knife and some disembowellings. But it's the mysterious moments that create the genuine tension, such as sinister figures seen briefly on camera, strange sounds and general weird goings on. The combination with both styles of horror is very successful. Overall, I have to say that this is a rather fine example of a recent horror film. It's genuinely unsettling quite often and the anthology format means that no idea overstays its welcome. It's definitely worth catching this one.

• Markus R

  
  Even though the first thirty-five (or so) minutes of "V/H/S" is so virtually unwatchable that I almost turned it off, this new collaboration horror film (which is essentially six very separate short films) from directors David Bruckner, Glenn McQuiad, Joe Swanberg, Ti West,… More
  Even though the first thirty-five (or so) minutes of "V/H/S" is so virtually unwatchable that I almost turned it off, this new collaboration horror film (which is essentially six very separate short films) from directors David Bruckner, Glenn McQuiad, Joe Swanberg, Ti West, Adam Wingard and the team of Radio Silence, is one that is still riddled with a lot of redeeming qualities sure to draw the interest from both low budget horror buffs and novices (aka, those who thought "Paranormal Activity" was the scariest thing ever). V/H/S tells the story of a group of thieves hired to steal a rare VHS tape (aren't they all?) from the house of an old man. When they get to the house, they find out that said old man is a video tape hoarder, and so they must sift through (and watch) the mounds of tapes in order to find the mystic VHS in question. OK, so the overarching storyline of watching people watch movies is pretty nonsensical and the way the filmmakers incorporate the VHS aspect into these little horror shorts is, at times, quite farfetched, but due to some very intriguing visuals (which will have many audiences completely baffled as to how certain effects were accomplished) and two borderline scary but quite entertaining storylines, "V/H/S" is worth checking out; even though it is so hit and miss, it can only be defined as slightly above average, at best . Side Note: There is an issue that has become more and more apparent when talking about the found footage genre of the past few years (including V/H/S). This very distracting issue is the extra-shaky camera techniques used, seemingly in an attempt by the filmmakers to demonstrate some kind of proof (or something) that what audiences are seeing is, in fact, something filmed on a handheld camera (as if the resolution wouldn't give it away). This manual dumbing down of an already dumbed down genre, not only makes a mockery of its audiences intelligence, but purposefully shaking the camera more than necessary makes it so nobody in the theater (or at their computer) can see what is going on in front of them. And I for one go to the movies, to see what's on the screen. Since this is not your traditional narrative, the following is a mini synopsis of each short: 1. As I had made mention of prior, the first story is actually the overarching story following four thieves for-hire, who are given money by an anonymous client, to steal a VHS tape. This one starts the entire movie off rather poorly, as the audience must watch these rather dumb characters, do nothing but banter back and forth for fifteen minutes. And once they get into the house and begin watching the tapes, it becomes so predictable that this particular story can't end fast enough. 2. The second story is actually the first tape played. That said, it is one of the worst horror shorts I have ever seen. It follows three ridiculously annoying and overwhelmingly loud frat guys, who go to a bar with the intentions to get laid. Once there, they meet a couple of girls who agree to come home with them. Seems like your everyday teenage, American Pie, date-rape movie right? Well, it would have been, if not for a twist (which is all together given away in the trailers) that's only purpose seemed to be to shock audiences. And while this twist does shock, it's not in a good way. In fact, the only interesting thing about this short is that in the beginning, the filmmakers establish that the frat guys have placed (or given the illusion to have placed) a camera in one of the men's glasses. But that rather cool, film geek aspect is quickly forgotten, as audiences are plunged headfirst into an aggressively vulgar horror story, reminding us all as to why the shaky camera/found footage genre is on life support. 3. The third story (or the second tape played) from acclaimed Indie-horror director Ti West, is essentially the first film worth paying attention too. It documents a couple staying at a hotel on vacation, when a stranger comes to the door. With a deceptively simplistic story, West showcases what he does best (not counting "The Innkeepers) which is Hichcockian suspense. 4. The fourth story is one that doesn't really work at all, as far as the plot goes. In the ill-constructed tale, which follows a group of annoying teenagers venturing off to a cabin in the woods, it's pretty much all about the visual effects; which are cool...but only to a certain extent. This one isn't at all scary or even spooky, but it's not as unwatchable as anything in the first thirty minutes. 5. The fifth story started off spectacularly strong, telling the story of a FaceTime conversation (or a rich man's Skype) between a couple (well kind of) via their computers. The woman has been experiencing paranormal phenomena for the past few nights and attempts to document it by showing these strange happenings to her "boyfriend", who is out of town at the time. Truly delivering scares and ghost effects that rival the likes of "Insidious", this is one of the rather compelling shorts that is absolutely ruined by an ending that is beyond absurd . In saying that, this may be one of the most technically innovative shorts, simply because of the way the filmmaker uses FaceTime. I know we have all seen the trailers for the dreadful looking "Paranormal Activity 4", but trust me, the effects via FaceTime in this short are on a whole other level of filmmaking than anything in the God-awful PA4 trailer. 6. The final tape played is in fact the main reason to watch this overlong film (around 2 hours). Directed by a team of directors out of L.A., who call themselves Radio Silence, this segment follows a group of guys (all in their 20's) going to a Halloween party. But when they get there, they quickly find out that instead of walking into a Halloween party they may have just walked into an actual haunted house. From the fact that the POV camera is explained by having the protagonist dress as a nanny cam, to the brilliantly stunning low-budget special effects, the final short is essentially the found footage film (with the perfect amount of shaky camera) that I've been waiting for ever since this genre's inception. It's just a shame that horror fans will be forced to wait until the last twenty minutes of "V/H/S" to see anything truly innovative or new. Final Thought: The overall problem with "V/H/S" is how, when put together in this anthology type format, it doesn't really make any cohesive sense. That is to say, there is very little that links these stories together. I'm not saying that "V/H/S" is all together poorly made or simply thrown together, but there doesn't seem to be any point to putting these shorts all in one film. Furthermore, and probably most importantly, what "V/H/S" has not done is succeeded in retrieving the shaky cam/found footage, horror genre from the threat of obscurity; a threat which has plagued the main stream horror genre since the introduction of torture-porn in the early 2000's. Though many of these filmmakers do get a chance to show off why they are visually at the top of their games, showcasing a multitude of techniques and effects never before seen in film prior (especially in low-budget film) in the end only two out of the six films are fully entertaining and, due to some interesting effects, two additional shorts were semi-watchable. Written by Markus Robinson, Edited by Nicole I. Ashland Follow me on Twitter @moviesmarkus

• Aaron N

  
  Lily: I like you. I love the idea of anthology horror films and wish there was more of them. I love Creepshow, for example, and the most recent anthology horror flick that I really enjoyed, Trick r Treat, is another delightful entry as well. I think it has to do with seeing lots… More
  Lily: I like you. I love the idea of anthology horror films and wish there was more of them. I love Creepshow, for example, and the most recent anthology horror flick that I really enjoyed, Trick r Treat, is another delightful entry as well. I think it has to do with seeing lots of ideas packed into one feature successfully, because the short story format allow for playing around with cool ideas that don't necessarily wear out their welcome. V/H/S is a neat concept for a horror anthology, as it both presents multiple shorts from different directors and has a main story to tie them all together in a sense, while using the 'found footage' format as one of its big selling points. There are some stories that are much better than others and the film, as a whole, has issues with giving us likable characters to follow, but there is an inventiveness to each that does well for the film as a whole. Even if the film relies on presenting films as if they were shot in as low of a quality as possible, V/H/S has some high quality talent involved in its construction. read the whole review at thecodeiszeek.com

• Luke B

  
  I love found-footage films, especially when they are done well. I also love horror anthologies withe some of my favourite TV shows being The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and Tales From The Darkside. The two joining together for V/H/S was a very exciting idea and gave me very lofty… More
  I love found-footage films, especially when they are done well. I also love horror anthologies withe some of my favourite TV shows being The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and Tales From The Darkside. The two joining together for V/H/S was a very exciting idea and gave me very lofty expectations. I was amazed to find that for the most part they were met. V/H/S sees a gang of guys break into a house in order to steal a video cassette for blackmailing purposes. Once in he house they find a huge collection of videos, each one showing a different tale of horror. The first is the story about a couple of girls picked up from a bar and recorded secretly on camera glasses. This is probably the scariest tale with some very disturbing imagery. I still can't get the look of a certain character out of my head. In it's short running time it also hits upon some emotional notes that I wasn't expecting. Perfect effects and nailbiting tension make this a great start. Video number two sees a couple on a road trip who are secretly filmed at night. The idea of an intruder watching you at your most vulnerable is nerve-racking. Story number three was my least favourite but was still mostly effective. It was let down by cheesy dialogue that over explained the details of the plot. The effects here were again very well done with a sickening look at an eyeball sliding out of a socket. Story number 4 is shot through Skype and has the biggest ambitions in terms of plot. I would like to see this again as I didn't enjoy it at first because of a terrible performance from the male lead, but there is a reason for this which makes sense after viewing. The final tale is a haunted house film that builds up incredibly well. It starts with an empty house and moves towards all hell breaking loose with some of the most flawless effects I have ever seen. Each story was interesting and most importantly it kept to the rules of found-footage. Everything appears as though it was done in-camera. It's left me thinking about the stories and getting my imagination to work overtime as not a lot is explained. The only real let down was the wrap-around that tried to connect these stories. It really didn't work and just made the film a bit too long. When I buy this on DVD I am pretty certain I will be skipping those parts. Hope we see a V/H/S 2.

• Reid V

  
  V/H/S caused quite a hullabaloo on the festival circuit. After its initial showing, many indie horror bloggers flocked to their laptops in order to praise this "breath of fresh air." I was eager for a waft of this sweet air myself as I know how much this heavily exploited… More
  V/H/S caused quite a hullabaloo on the festival circuit. After its initial showing, many indie horror bloggers flocked to their laptops in order to praise this "breath of fresh air." I was eager for a waft of this sweet air myself as I know how much this heavily exploited found-footage format could use a little jolt of life. Comprised as an anthology, sandwiched & punctuated by a story of nihilistic youths on a mission to retrieve a lone VHS tape, the film features five different segments that range from the eerily paranormal to the grimly realistic. The main wraparound story offers little more than a means to place this crude compilation of videos in some sort of context. I found it an unnecessary mood breaker and feel it would have been better suited for the cutting room floor. The director of these segments really took the amateur footage look to an obnoxious level. These youths supposedly make money from their vile videos, but they cannot keep the camera steady to save their lives. Most of the footage appears as if someone strapped a flip camera to a wild boar and just let him run amuck. Yet, the film really picks up once the various short films begin. David Bruckner's "Amateur Night" gets things off to a rather robust start. It follows a group of friends, who after purchasing a pair of video recording glasses, decide to lure some women back to their drab hotel room in hopes of capturing their sexual exploits on tape. Ironically, their pursuit of the flesh ends up costing them their own skin in the end. While not the most ground-breaking section, the acting is surprisingly solid & the use of video glasses helps to solve many of the logistical problems of the genre. Allowing the viewer to get truly immersed in the terror. The second segment entitled "Second Honeymoon", directed by indie sensation Ti West, is easily the film's strongest section. It features a road-traveling couple & the threat posed by an ominous stranger who becomes an unwanted companion on their journey. West doesn't bog the story down with needless exposition or motive & instead focuses mostly on constructing a spine-chilling atmosphere. Much like his debut film The House of the Devil, he builds & builds until it is almost unbearable, only to break open the flood gates in the end. Even though I know his patented formula all too well, the end result is still just so damn refreshing. Unfortunately, West's section sets the bar really high, making the highly inferior third film pale in comparison. I'm not sure what director Glen McQuaid was going for in his section entitled "Tuesday the 17th", in which a group of campers are stalked by some sort of digital monstrosity. I'm not sure whether it is supposed to be on the campy side or taken seriously. Either way it just doesn't seem to work. The story is ludicrous even for horror standards & the dialogue is turgid, delivered by actors who don't seem to understand the tone of the film either. The 4th film attempts to regain some of the ground lost by the 3rd, but sadly doesn't earn many of its scares. It is a unique idea in which a long distance Skype relationship goes awry when the woman begins experiencing abnormal phenomenon at night, but feels rushed & stumbles where a lot of modern horror stumbles nowadays in substituting gore for horror. The 5th & final short is a haunted house thriller with an always welcome satanic twist. Again, the idea is original & features a smattering of terror. But does not reach the heights of the other films. V/H/S is not short on originality & offers plenty of scares especially in the first two entries. But bringing together a mixed bag of directors will yield varying results & the genuine thrills start to wane halfway through the film. However, this film should not be seen as a failure, but a testament to the success of these found footage films when placed in capable hands.

• Kevin C

  
  Incredibly weird, often head-scratchingly confusing/frustrating. But it's a disorienting, unique exercise in bleak, bizarre brutality. Not a fun or easy watch, but a challengingly EFFED up one.

• Liam G

  
  There have been so many horror movies with ambitious concepts that don't live up to them. Thankfully, ''V/H/S'' isn't one of those films, mostly. Some segments are a lot better than others and the middle of the film started to lose me where decent to… More
  There have been so many horror movies with ambitious concepts that don't live up to them. Thankfully, ''V/H/S'' isn't one of those films, mostly. Some segments are a lot better than others and the middle of the film started to lose me where decent to mediocre stories took centre stage. Then, the last 20 minutes arrives and it's FREAKIN' AWESOME! It's even better than the very strong opening segment and suggests that Radio Silence should be involved in more horror movies. The violence doesn't disappoint either, it's bloody, over-the-top at times and the filmmakers never shy away from showcasing it, despite using the found footage format. I actually liked how different each story was. Some have complained that they aren't consistent and I would agree, in terms of quality. That is perhaps what prevents ''V/H/S'' from being truly great, the fact that it's rather uneven. Overall though, it's a solid horror anthology film with a fantastic climax.

• Dann M

  
  Gratuitous and incoherent, V/H/S fails to effectively utilizes the found footage genre. Presented as a horror anthology, a group of vandals break into a house in order to steal a VHS tape and during their search they run across several tapes, each with some kind of horrific footage… More
  Gratuitous and incoherent, V/H/S fails to effectively utilizes the found footage genre. Presented as a horror anthology, a group of vandals break into a house in order to steal a VHS tape and during their search they run across several tapes, each with some kind of horrific footage on it. While the concept is interesting, the execution is extremely poor. Additionally, there's a distinct lack of sympathetic characters; in fact most of them are reprehensible. There are a few scares and moments of tense, but V/H/S is just too chaotic and mean spirited.

• The Movie W

  
  The anthology format has always been a staple of the horror genre so it was simply a matter of time before we were treated to a found footage variation on the concept. The good thing about anthologies is that if one of the segments is bad at least you know it's not going to run… More
  The anthology format has always been a staple of the horror genre so it was simply a matter of time before we were treated to a found footage variation on the concept. The good thing about anthologies is that if one of the segments is bad at least you know it's not going to run very long. That knowledge is this movie's best ally as you wouldn't be able to stick with any of these entries for any longer than twenty minutes. As is usually the case there's a wraparound segment, here directed by Wingard. A bunch of sociopaths who make money forcing women to flash their breasts break into a house looking for a mysterious VHS tape which someone is willing to pay good money for. Once inside they discover the corpse of a recently deceased old man and a variety of tapes. They begin to look through the tapes and thus we get the five segments. First up is "Amateur Night", directed by Bruckner. This features some of the most annoying frat-boy stereotypes my ears have had the displeasure of listening to. These characters are enough to make you want to skip to the next segment. Although it's only twenty minutes or so, this one really drags on with it's unoriginal tale of a creepy girl with a secret and the ending gets ridiculously over the top. In it's favor it does have a clever way of ensuring it's protagonist keeps filming throughout. West's segment "Second Honeymoon" is next and his contribution is the one I was most curious about. My criticism of West has always been that his films are all build-up and no pay-off. With only twenty minutes to tell his tale he'd have to quicken the pace but this is just like any of his feature length films. A couple are being followed by a girl as they vacation in the SouthWest, even being filmed by her one night as they sleep. There's a twist ending but it's a dull affair throughout, and steals liberally from movies like "The Strangers" and "Vacancy". "Tuesday the 17th" is McQuaid's contribution and probably the one with most potential. Four stereotypical slasher victims go camping in the woods unaware that one of them has invited the others along for a sinister reason. This has a clever gimmick of static interference on the camera whenever the killer is nearby which does create some tension. McQuaid proved last year he's a capable director with "Stake Land" and I think he should have developed this into a feature film. There's definite potential here but it just feels far too rushed as a short and the ending is very weak. The next segment is the only one which comes close to being effective. Swanburg gives us "The Strange Thing That Happened To Emily When She Was Young" which cleverly uses a series of web-cam chats between a guy and his girlfriend whose new apartment appears to be haunted by the ghost of a child. There are some creepy moments and a nice twist but like so many haunted house tales it's just not credible that anyone would remain in a house where such creepy things are happening. Had this plot-hole been ironed out this would have been a decent little flick. The film-making collective known as Radio Silence conclude things with "10/31/98" which is just an excuse to show off some admittedly impressive effects. Another bunch of annoying jocks turn up at the wrong house for a Halloween party and discover some people take the festival a bit too seriously. As I said the effects are top notch for a low budget movie but that's all it really has going for it. Most of the film-makers involved seem to have interesting ideas but as I say so often, the biggest problem with modern cinema is the lack of good writing. What made "The Twilight Zone" work was the scripts, written by some of the best storytellers of it's time. That said, there are very few quality anthology movies and this might add a new concept to the sub-genre but nothing more.

• Shawn M

  
  Very Interesting, Creative & Creepy!! loved the old school feel to it, and i'm a big fan of found footage films, this one is right up there. I Heavily Applaud !!

• Joey S

  
  It definitely has a premise that comes off as intriguing to horror fans, but V/H/S just ends up being an eyesore, and one that isn't all that special. The found footage is by far the worst I have ever seen, because despite the sort-of-kind-of plausible reasons for the characters… More
  It definitely has a premise that comes off as intriguing to horror fans, but V/H/S just ends up being an eyesore, and one that isn't all that special. The found footage is by far the worst I have ever seen, because despite the sort-of-kind-of plausible reasons for the characters to be recording the events of the movie, the camera makes the movie hard to watch. It's not incredibly shaky, which is of course a conscious decision on the part of the filmmakers, but the movie is filmed with the quality of a video camera. I assume this was done to make it more believable, but all it does is create this, grainy, blurry, and shaky movie that is more often than not nauseating, even moreso than other found footage movies. The camera work makes the movie unwatchable already, but aside from that the segments range from bad to mediocre. There isn't much worth seeing, and even if there was the movie still wouldn't likely be worth watching due to the horrendous camera work. Seriously, my eyes still hurt from watching it. Don't be fooled by the seemingly interesting concept; V/H/S isn't worth your time. Your eyes can thank me later.

• Ryan M

  
  *** out of **** Found footage has become one of the most annoying gimmicks in recent memory. For many filmmakers; it's cheap - and in more ways than one - and convenient for starting a career. It astounds me that people still eat this shit up. There have been countless films… More
  *** out of **** Found footage has become one of the most annoying gimmicks in recent memory. For many filmmakers; it's cheap - and in more ways than one - and convenient for starting a career. It astounds me that people still eat this shit up. There have been countless films made within this horror sub-genre over recent years yet hardly any of them will truly be remembered, because hardly any of them are actually innovative and were made by people who actually had an understanding of when the gimmick is appropriate, stylistically, and when it's not. "V/H/S", the first-ever found footage horror anthology (to my knowledge), is described as being the perfect antidote for those who hate found footage, made by those who also hate found footage. So basically, that's assuring you that you're getting genuine sub-genre innovation when you sign up for this one. A group of men, probably criminals, harass a woman on tape and then break into a house to retrieve an unknown VHS tape, recording everything as they go along. They search everywhere in the house for the tape, eventually finding an old man - presumably the former house owner - motionless, most likely dead, on an armchair. He's watching dead air. Near the many televisions, there are also many VHS tapes, not one of them being the one the thugs are looking for. Nevertheless, one of the members stays downstairs and starts viewing the contents of the tapes; and thus begins the anthology, with only the break-in plot with the old man, who eventually disappears from his chair, keeping the whole thing together. The first segment is titled Amateur Night, directed by David Bruckner of "The Signal". It concerns a group of drunk and horny douchebag males who go out clubbing to meet women and take home only two. One is beautiful, but passes out before anything can happen, and the other is peculiar and has huge eyes; and she, more or less, goes absolutely wild and shows these boys the night of their lives. This is a very good way to kick off the anthology; a creepy short cinematic tale with social commentary and lots and lots of gore (there's even a bloody dick and balls). Next up is Ti West's Second Honeymoon, my personal favorite segment, which is about a couple on a road trip who are stalked by a deranged psychopath who breaks into their motel room, steals their money, and wields a switchblade. Expect West's signature slow-burn suspense; even though it could have been even better if stretched out into a feature film. Third up is Tuesday the 17th. It's a pretty standard slasher story in which some four ignorant college kids go out in the middle of the woods, smoke weed, go skinny dipping, probably have sex, and then get brutally murdered by a mysterious killer. The found footage aesthetic is worked into the plot in the form of static whenever the killer is on-screen, so we never really see him. Also, the camera sometimes shows bizarre images of dead bodies whenever it's aimed at a certain location. Like all the segments, this is an entertaining one; but with Glenn McQuaid ("I Sell the Dead") at the helm and that guy from "Poultrygeist" in the cast, it's not particularly as impressive or effective as it wants to be. Tip to directors; by all means, use people who know how to act, but in found footage, casting someone I've fucking seen before is just going to ruin the entire thing. Most of the time. Then there's Joe Swanberg and Simon Barret's "The Sick Thing that Happened to Emily When She was Younger", which has the titular Emily and her boyfriend James talking on video chat the entire time. Emily believes there is a ghost living in her newly acquired apartment, and nighttime video footage proves her suspicions to be fact. Once she finally intends to confront the ghost, things get really twisty. It's clearly the most ambitious of all the segments but a few major plot holes keep it from truly working. Perhaps a longer run-time would have given it the proper dramatic and narrative weight, although it's admittedly better than McQuaid's contribution. The film ends with "10/31/98", which takes place on Halloween night. Some college kids - one dressed in a bear costume - go to a stranger's house for a Halloween party and find out that it's abandoned...or is it? This segment is a huge improvement on the last two; a bit special effects heavy, but wicked entertaining and creepy nonetheless. "V/H/S" has the usual anthology film problems - a few good segments, a few not-so-good ones - but the directors obviously wanted to do something different with found footage and overall, I think they succeeded. The good segments clearly came from people who wanted to work in the sub-genre but didn't want to feel as if they were jumping on the bandwagon while the mediocre ones are merely missed opportunities. At the end of the day though, this film is actually pretty darn scary and I'll be sure to watch it again before the year is out. I think it could use some trimming (and I've heard rumors of a 93 minute cut, as opposed to the 116 minute one that I saw, hitting theaters and VOD when the film does) but I didn't feel that it overstayed its welcome too much. "V/H/S" starts strong and ends strong; and while it's probably not going to do anything revolutionary for horror or for found footage, it's still one of the more fun affairs caught on tape.

• Mar J

  
  If Ti West is involved, you know it's going to be quality. Everything about this one excites me.

• Horrific R

  
  All in all, just more POV BS, and there's already a sequel on the way! Though this movie is variably static, there are some good scenes, some are even damn good. Some of the best effects I've seen in recent years. I'd say you should just check out a best scenes… More
  All in all, just more POV BS, and there's already a sequel on the way! Though this movie is variably static, there are some good scenes, some are even damn good. Some of the best effects I've seen in recent years. I'd say you should just check out a best scenes compilation on youtube or something. If you were home alone on a dark night, then this might be a considerable pick to watch in full.

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