10/10/21 – OCTOBER HORROR MOVIE PICK #10 – V/H/S/94.

Continuing with my Beyondfest Festival screenings, I have to give V/H/S/94 some love. I got to see this screened with a bunch of the directors doing Q&A, and it was a blast. If you’ve read this blog at all, you already know how much I absolutely worship horror anthologies. And the V/H/S series has always held a fun little chunk of my heart in its clutches (yep, even the oft-frowned upon V/H/S: Viral). But I’m here to say that V/H/S/94 is a worthy addition to that series. Here’s the brief synopsis from imdb.

A police S.W.A.T. team investigates about a mysterious VHS tape and discovers a sinister cult that has pre-recorded material which uncovers a nightmarish conspiracy.

Deciding to set the movie in 1994 was a bold choice, and one that fit perfectly into the world of this series. This was right smack in the middle of the boom of VHS movies, so the retro look fits right in. (Most of) the segments actually look like they were shot on VHS cameras. Now here’s the thing about the V/H/S series that I’ve always loved. They have a lower budget, run-and-gun, guerrilla filmmaking style that just excites me. It reminds me of my film school days when you had no money, and had to rely on ingenuity to get things done. That’s always been the deal with this series. Some people don’t like the janky, low-rent nature of them. I adore that fact. Now, as with all anthologies, there are some segments that are better than others, but really they’re all entertaining. Once again, the standout segment to me was “The Subject”, directed by Timo Tjahjanto. Just like his “Safe Haven” segment stole the show for me in V/H/S/2. He is a maniac and I love it. But honestly, it’s all a fun ride. These movies are not perfect, but they’re not MEANT to be perfect. Give it a watch and just enjoy yourself. It’s a damn fun time.

Where to Watch: Streaming exclusively on Shudder.

Food/Drink Pairing: Any mashed vegetables, but only if they’re mashed with a Veggie Masher.