V/H/S/94 – Movie Review
ABC Film Challenge – Franchise Films – V
Director: Simon Barrett, Steven Kostanski, Chloe Okuno, Ryan Prows, Jennifer Reeder, Timo Tjahjanto
Writer: Simon Barrett, Chloe Okuno, Ryan Prows, Jennifer Reeder, Timo Tjahjanto (Screenplay)
Cast
- Anna Hopkins (Red Rover)
- Christan Potenza (The Tuxedo)
- Brian Paul (Saw III)
- Tim Campbell (Dead Estate)
- Gina Louise Phillips (The Last of Us)
Plot: A police S.W.A.T. team investigate a mysterious VHS tape and discover a sinister cult that has pre-recorded material which uncovers a nightmarish conspiracy.
Runtime: 1 Hour 43 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict on V/H/S/94
The Empty Wake (D. Simon Barrett)
The Empty Wake follows Hayley (Legend) hosting the wake of a man whom nobody has turned up to. There is a big storm happening outside, causing power problems and Hayley finds herself alone at the morgue. Strange things start happening and Hayley is left wondering if she is alone or not.
This one takes a twisted turn after diving into the concept of being alone in a morgue. A place of death having chilling feelings and exceptional effects once the reveal happens. It is one I would love to have seen even more of, instead of just the chaotic short time we have. It’s pure horror chaos and it’s fantastic. (5/5)
Storm Drain (D. Chloe Okuno)
Storm Drain follows a news team reporting on a mysterious creature seen and heard in the sewer system. Holly (Hopkins) is reporting the story, which sees her enter the sewer system. However, the deeper they go into the sewers, the more horrors they encounter.
This is a great start to the series of stories, it feels like a desperate attempt to find a story. It plays into the curiosity killed the cat idea and by making them a professional crew, it adds even more horror to the story. It removes the trying to make a name for themselves aspect and leans into a story people would follow. (4/5)
Terror (D. Ryan Prows)
Terror follows a group of hunters with a select group of human prey. They are preparing for their latest hunt. They have used religion to lead their rampage against their victims, which sees their plan for destruction to happen. The team has been preparing to make a massive statement and today is the day the operation occurs. However, their plan goes wrong and they unleash something much more terrifying.
This plays into the extremist movement lurking in the shadows of America. It shows how they could have a big plan and things can spiral out of control because of their patriotic beliefs. While most of this is the preparations, the chaos when their plan starts to go wrong makes for an entertaining concept and one you kind of feel glad the twisted group got what they deserve. (4/5)
Holy Hell (D. Jennifer Reeder)
Holy Hell follows a SWAT team completing a drug bust and uncovering the different video tapes. However, the deeper they get the more we learn about the team and what they are searching for. It takes us to an extreme and brings everything full circle to show us a new twist in the collection.
This is the wrap-around story that has a much closer connection to anything we have seen before. It works extremely well and gives us a shocking reveal that presents the idea of the movies in a new way. (4/5)
The Subject (D. Timo Tjahjanto)
The Subject follows The Creator (Ross) performing a host of experiments on people. He has been merging humans with machines creating a host of disturbing creatures. However, his operation has been targeted by a SWAT team who closed down his experiments. However, they discover one of his deadliest creations is waiting to take on anyone who gets in its way.
This one takes us through the crazed doctor trying to make the perfect creation. It shows horrendous merges between humans and machines. The camerawork is the standout here as see the first-person chaos that works extremely well for the chaos that is unleashed. (5/5)
Overall
V/H/S/94 gives us another nice selection of short horror stories. Each one brings something different to the table, presenting a different vision of horror. It has become a franchise that brings a host of different directors to show their talents off. This is no different and becomes another excellent addition to the collection. The most important thing is, even if you don’t like one story, they usually offer plenty of others you can enjoy.
Where to Watch
a
Final Thoughts –V/H/S/94 is an excellent addition to the franchise of horror tales.
