‘V/H/S/99’ Review: This Horror Anthology Sequel Is Light on Scares, Heavy on Vibes

You don’t should be a jaded Hollywood cynic to grasp why the “V/H/S” franchise isn’t going wherever. As any studio govt price their salt can be fast to level out, a recognizable horror model constructed round intentionally low-cost manufacturing worth with sufficient elasticity to accommodate new developments is a horrible factor to waste. That, mixed with a direct-to-streaming launch technique that frees it from field workplace expectations, offers the long-running horror anthology sequence little incentive to enhance.

You’re gonna get a brand new “V/H/S” film nearly each Halloween till the tip of time, and also you’re gonna prefer it. Then once more, there are worse fates in life.

Whereas “V/H/S/99” is a far cry from the unique, it nonetheless manages to be much more enjoyable than it has any proper to be. By connecting its horror vignettes with trippy stop-motion sketches as an alternative of a unifying plot gadget, it crafts a viewing expertise that primarily quantities to an Grownup Swim programming block for horror followers. Which isn’t a horrible factor to be! The 5 segments are very hit-or-miss (an extraordinarily beneficiant depend would say that three of them would possibly scare you), however even the misses present sufficient ’90s nostalgia to make for mildly entertaining late evening viewing.

Such is the case with “Shredding,” Maggie Levin’s punk rock-influenced quick that will get issues began. It tells the story of three scene youngsters who stay obsessive about Bitch Cat, an previous punk act that took on deity-like standing after being trampled to demise at an underground present. Hoping to construct the same degree of avenue cred for his or her band, they enterprise into the cavern the place the deadly present came about. For sure, it finally ends up being an ill-advised selection. “Shredding” might be the movie’s weakest phase from a horror perspective, however the pretend documentary about Bitch Cat ought to entertain each those that miss watching music movies on MTV and those that want they had been born early sufficient to take action.

Subsequent up is “Suicide Bid,” Johannes Roberts’ story of Greek life gone unsuitable. Lily (Ally Ioannides) is a university freshman who desperately desires to hitch one of many high sororities on campus. The truth is, she’s so decided to hitch this specific group of imply ladies that she submits a “suicide bid” by refusing to use to some other sorority. If she will get rejected, she will be able to kiss her social life goodbye. She finally ends up being accepted on one situation: she has to spend an evening buried in a coffin earlier than she will be able to be a part of. The plot is so easy that providing any extra info would represent a spoiler, however you’ll stroll away pondering that these anti-hazing activists might need a degree.

If “Suicide Bid” finds horror within the peer strain that younger ladies face, “Gawkers” does the identical factor from a male perspective. The Tyler MacIntyre-directed quick follows a younger laptop whiz who ignores his higher judgement by serving to his brother set up hidden cameras to spy on the woman subsequent door. Although he rapidly regrets his resolution to assist the Peeping Tom operation, it finally ends up being too late. The boys might have simply been hoping to see a little bit of nudity, however they find yourself being uncovered to horrors past their wildest nightmares

And naturally, you couldn’t make a “V/H/S” movie set in 1999 with out some form of homage to the Y2K fiasco. That’s the place “To Hell and Again” is available in. The quick movie from Vanessa and Joseph Winter begins with some occult-loving conspiracy theorists rounding up volunteers to supply their our bodies as “vessels” for a robust new deity who was planning to come back to Earth in the beginning of the brand new millenium. Naturally, it ends in Hell. Whereas the sensible results are wonderful in each phase, this one earns notably excessive marks for its gory demons.

These 4 segments are comparatively equal when it comes to high quality, and every viewer’s rating shall be skewed by private preferences. However the simple spotlight of the movie is “Ozzy’s Dungeon.” Directed by the Grammy-winning document producer often called Flying Lotus, the phase begins with an odd sport present that options contestants racing by means of an impediment course modeled after the human digestive system. However after an harm happens on set, the contestant’s household units their sights on revenge. They kidnap the sleazy host (performed brilliantly by Steven Ogg), and the story devolves right into a fucked up basement torture sequence that includes a effervescent bottle of acid.

“Ozzy’s Dungeon” is nice sufficient to justify the existence of your complete movie, and needs to be held up as a mannequin of the whole lot a “V/H/S” phase ought to aspire to be. Unapologetically bizarre, legitimately scary, and completely self-contained. The pretend manufacturing absolutely commits to its absurd premise and meticulously recreates the texture of ’90s Nickelodeon reveals, creating one thing as fascinating as the very best Grownup Swim parody sketches. And when it’s time to get bloody, Flying Lotus doesn’t maintain again.

It additionally serves as a reminder of what stays the franchise’s greatest promoting level: giving new horror filmmakers a platform to get bizarre and take dangers. Often you’re going to find a daring new expertise, which looks like purpose sufficient for horror followers to maintain streaming these items.

Grade: B-

“V/H/S/99” begins streaming on Shudder on Thursday, October 20. 

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