V/H/SHalloween

It’s somewhat surprising that checking the V/H/S franchise (eight films and probably counting) this is the first to tackle Halloween head on.

As usual there’s a wraparound tale that breaks up the stories. Titled ‘Diet Phantasma’ it’s a CEO testing a new drink on subjects mainly with terrible results, though there is a point to it all. 2/5

‘Coochie Coochie Coo’ is the first entry. It’s a bizarre tale of two trick or treaters who ignoring reports of a missing cheerleader from the year before deciding to run amok in the community until they enter a house with glowing lights into a nightmare of babies, mother and milk. Chased around the house by grotesques there actually a fair amount of tension here and a curse though this one hits home with the visuals. 3/5

Next is ‘Ut Supra Sic Infra’ a Spanish language story of a young man with a memory block after a gruesome series of murders, is taken back by the police to the scene of the crimes with the hope that it will jog his memory. Trying to recreate the events they just go too far. This is nicely put together with the police video of the recreation mixed with footage of the Halloween revellers as they find out what they let themselves in for. There’re some good dread and the effects are well executed. 4/5

‘Fun Size’ is another trick or treat story and something of a cautionary tale. Some greedy friends who are really too old for Halloween, ignore a warning of ‘one per person’ for the sweets are transported to the place of manufacture. This is hands down a comedy horror, a bit trippy with lots of gore and some very bizarre deaths. 4/5

‘Kidprint’ stands out a genuinely unpleasant tale of a child killer who uses a well-meaning kid ID scheme for their own purposes. This is very unsettling on a number of levels. The use of children is one, as well as the way its filmed using tapes of the kids as they are subjected to the killer’s perversions. There’re no flourishes just straight on video footage that for some may be too close to the knuckle. 3/5

‘Home Haunt’ is back on the comedy wagon with footage of a dad and his family getting ready of Halloween. The earlier home movies show a keen son. The years pass and he’s had enough of the nonsense while dad seems to have got more obsessed with setting up the haunted house. A trip to out for props sees dad steal an LP titled ‘Halloween Horrors’. Grumpy neighbours, cynical teens and kids line up for the haunted house tour. The LP is played, and the cheap trick house converts to something far more substantial. Another fun blood bath though with slightly more dubious effects that breaks out into the ‘real’ world. 4/5

Overall this is a solid varied package of stories though again the wrapaound is the weakest. Another point, and a repeat comment from V/H/S Beyond is that maybe two hours is too long.

Directorial/writing credits:
• Diet Phantasma - Bryan M. Ferguson
• Coochie Coochie Coo - Anna Zlokovic
• Fun Size directed - Casper Kelly
• Home Haunt - Micheline Pitt-Norman and R.H. Norman
• Kidprint - Alex Ross Perry
• Ut Supra Sic Infra - Paco Plaza

V/H/SHalloween is available now on Shudder.