My quick rating – 6.6/10. The latest addition to the long-running found-footage horror franchise, V/H/S/Halloween, offers a fresh, blood-drenched spin on the anthology format with a collection of Halloween-themed short films that range from creepy and creative to gleefully grotesque. While not every story hits a home run, the film maintains an energetic flow and delivers more treats than tricks this spooky season.
The wraparound story, “Diet Phantasma,” cleverly sets the tone — a mock 1980s-style internal video documenting a taste test for a mysterious new soda. It nails the retro look with grainy footage and VHS fuzz, complete with overenthusiastic technicians and awkward interviews. It’s amusing and eerie in equal measure, but it also starts to wear thin as it keeps reappearing between the other tales. Still, credit where it’s due — the practical effects are excellent, and David Haydn’s turn as the head technician adds a welcome dose of dark humor. (5)
Next up, “Coochie Coochie Coo” follows two stoner teens determined to go trick-or-treating one last time before they officially outgrow it. Unfortunately, they pick the wrong house. What begins as a hazy night of laughs quickly spirals into a nightmare. The segment is nasty fun — from the unsettling creature makeup to some truly disgusting surprises — and it perfectly captures that reckless teenage Halloween vibe. (7)
“Ut Supra Sic Infra” shifts gears into a subtitled, gothic mystery that stands out for its atmosphere and storytelling. The narrative alternates between interrogation footage and flashbacks of a doomed group of young adults sneaking into an old estate, where something unspeakable occurred. The editing is sharp, the performances convincing, and the horror steadily ramps up. It’s one of the most well-executed stories in the bunch, with solid scares and a haunting payoff. (7)
The fourth tale, “Fun Size,” returns to suburban horror with another group of candy-hunting teens. The “one per person” candy bowl outside a strange house seems harmless until it’s not. This one earns points for originality, nasty humor, and some fantastic creature effects. It’s gruesome, funny, and wildly entertaining, easily the most “complete” short of the lineup and one that could work as a standalone feature. (8)
Then comes “Kidprint,” which begins as an innocent local service filming kids for safety identification — until it turns into a nightmare scenario for parents everywhere. Stephen Gurewitz gives a perfectly unsettling performance as the overly nice store owner with far darker intentions. The violence is shocking, the imagery brutal, and while the story feels thin, it makes up for it with sheer intensity and practical gore effects that would make Tom Savini grin. (6)
Finally, “Home Haunt” closes the show with a nostalgic and sinister finale. A father’s obsession with building the family’s annual haunted house pushes his eldest son to the brink. When an eerie Halloween record becomes the soundtrack to their creation, the line between decoration and demonic possession blurs. It’s a fitting capstone — gory, chaotic, and surprisingly satisfying. (7)
As a whole, V/H/S/Halloween keeps the franchise’s energy alive. The framing segments wear out their welcome, but the shorts themselves pack creativity, dark humor, and a ton of practical bloodletting. There aren’t any real duds here, just varying shades of gruesome fun and a redundant can of soda.
