V/H/S/Halloween (2025)

This being the EIGHTH movie in the V/H/S horror anthology series, one may think the franchise be running out of juice as far as themes are concerned. The whole thing started off as a theme for goodness sake; I mean, the theme was telling spooky tales that were found in VHS tapes so they have the rugged, found footage feel which gives creators a fun (and fiscally clever) way to tell some macabre tales to the public. Since then, we’ve churned out some solid stories, went viral, went really specific with the years these tales were told and even went beyond the stars to tell tales of the spooky and scary so yes, plenty of themes sprouted from a simple concept of found footage horror anthology. HOWEVER, I was more than stoked when the most recent offering from the series was something so simple, yet, so fitting…HALLOWEEN. V/H/S/Halloween is a concept that hits you like a truck with the word OBVIOUS written on the side because yes, if you’re going to have a horror anthology movie, why not make a theme center around the best time of year that celebrates us freaks that loves this stuff in the first place? It’s not the most original idea since some of my favorite horror flicks center around this holiday, obviously, but with the V/H/S concept tied to it, we have the makings of a GREAT time, so let’s go to it folks! 

Diet Phantasma

Director(s): Bryan M. Ferguson

Writer(s): Bryan M. Ferguson

Starring: David Haydn, Anna McKelvie, Adam James Johnston 

This was a clever wrap-around story that focused on scientists subjecting patients to a new “soda” that contains evil/demonic spirits. It plays well to the VHS format since each trial shows the different effects the product has on various patients. Some were creepy, some disgusting but all were entertaining. Specifically, the impact the soda had on a little girl was the most entertaining (not surprised, kids are pretty much a guarantee to make things creepy) and the result of the experiments was a great way to blend corporate greed with demonic forces (same thing?). Stay for the mid-credits scene folks! 

Coochie Coochie Coo

Director(s): Anna Zlokovic

Writer(s): Anna Zlokovic

Starring: Samantha Cochran, Natalia Montgomery Fernandez, Elena Musser

This was a fun first entry because it felt like I was watching a movie based on a haunted maze at an amusement park; take that as you will but it was an all around entertaining short! Plot was easy enough with two bratty gals creating trouble on Halloween night as they stumble upon a creepy house with an even creepier “Mommy” like creature who then traps them in the house as they try to find their way out but of course, along the way, they run into Mommy’s disturbing “children” and that my friends, is where the real fun begins. This was an esthetically delightful entry that sets the tone for the rest of the flick so off to a great start! 

Ut Supra Sic Infra

Director(s): Paco Plaza

Writer(s): Paco Plaza, Alberto Marini

Starring: Teo Planell, María Romanillos

Part horror story, part cautionary tale, this entry was the most visceral of the whole series in the sense that it was trying to leave a lasting impression on the audience as far as sheer brutality is concerned. This story revolves around an investigation of a mass murder where there was only one lone survivor, so the investigators take the survivor back to the crime scene (always a GREAT idea) to find a phone in the middle of a room, just like the last time in order to convince the survivor that the events leading to the murders were all in their head. Although you can imagine where this is going, the phone, the results, etc. the final 3-5 minutes of this thing is totally worth the set up and yes, you’ll be thinking about the final scenes long after this movie is over. It’s quite EYE-mazing (you’ll thank me later). 

Fun Size

Director(s): Casper Kelly

Writer(s): Casper Kelly

Starring: Lawson Greyson, Riley Nottingham, Jenna Hogan, Jake Ellsworth

Hands down, this is the STANDOUT entry of this flick. The one that everyone has been talking about and for very good reason. This was the most entertaining entry of the flick and for sure has the breakout character that has the potential to be ICONIC if the powers that be decided to continue with this story/character. A group of folks on a Halloween romp descend upon a suspicious bowl of candy and decide to NOT follow the clearly stated rules by taking more than one piece of candy which then results in all of them being dragged by the bowl itself into another world where reality is controlled by the sinister “Fun Size” and his minions. One by one, they are tortured and disposed of in the most entertaining (and often funny) ways but always involving candy! The kills in this entry had me cracking up in the best kinds of ways; it was a cross between the corniness of the middle entries from the Freddy Krueger flicks and the raunchiness of Troma movies. Now, for those who are initiated, you already know the V/H/S flicks have been known to be the breeding ground for some full-length spin-off flicks for a couple of their more memorable entries so I’m shouting it from the rooftops, LET FUN SIZE GET THEIR OWN FULL LENGTH FEAAAATUUUUURRRREEEEE!!!!! Let’s get it going SHUDDER. 

Kidprint

Director(s): Alex Ross Perry

Writer(s): Alex Ross Perry

Starring: Stephen Gurewitz, Carl William Garrison

From a plot perspective, this was definitely the most disturbing of the series because it revolves around the serial killing of children but the point of the story is the twist (which of course I won’t reveal here) that then delves further into the depravity of the killer themselves. I thought that this was a very clever way to reveal the overall plot and the ending was a bit heartbreaking but in a way that makes you realize that this was a solid story that leaves you shaking your head in the pure evil of it all. 

Home Haunt

Director(s): Micheline Pitt-Norman, R.H. Norman

Writer(s): Micheline Pitt-Norman, R.H. Norman

Starring: Jeff Harms, Noah Diamond

This was a solid last entry for the series as it drew inspiration from a lot of other horror flicks and shows that I’ve seen in the past so although the concept itself isn’t original, it was still a lot of fun to watch in that found footage sort of way. A father and son build a haunted house for the neighborhood but when a mysterious record is played, all the monstrous attractions suddenly come to life! The found footage aspect of this concept pretty fun to watch as you different creatures come to life, chasing ordinary folks around the haunted house and ultimately escaping into the suburbs, which to me, was a hilarious idea in general (I would want the wicked witches to go after the Karens, personally). 

Overall, this franchise just keeps pumping along and to me, they’re not showing any signs of fatigue or even putting their foot on the brakes any time soon. I think with anthologies, if there are creators that want to tell stories, the anthologies will survive so hats off to this entry and skulls off to V/H/S to another great entry! FEARtastic way to start of 2026 everyone! 

Life is FAR more interesting when we take interest in things that scare us.