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Fantastic Fest 2024 review: V/H/S Beyond brings sci-fi thrills and beasts from beyond

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Fantastic Fest 2024 review: V/H/S Beyond brings sci-fi thrills and beasts from beyond

As a seasoned gamer and horror enthusiast who’s seen his fair share of terrifying tales, I must say that V/H/S Beyond has left me utterly spellbound. The seventh installment in this chilling franchise has proven to be a rollercoaster ride of fear, suspense, and sheer adrenaline.

This week, I was thrilled to find myself back at Fantastic Fest, where “Shudder” came roaring back! They unveiled the latest addition to the “V/H/S” series – “V/H/S Beyond”, the seventh installment of this captivating franchise.

This collection features five distinct scenes and an overarching narrative directed by filmmakers such as Jay Cheel, Jordan Downey, Virat Pal, Justin Martinez, Justin Long, Katie Siegel, among others. The producer of the V/H/S series, Josh Goldbloom, is back for this installment, alongside Brad Miska who has been a part of the production team since the initial release in 2012.

The movie titled “V/H/S Beyond” begins with a documentary-style segment directed by Cheel, focusing on America’s fascination with extraterrestrial invasions. One intriguing case is highlighted where both skeptics and believers are puzzled. Interspersed within the interviews and narration are old tapes that allegedly contain proof of alien existence.

The five parts are found within these recordings. Cheel’s adaptation of the conventional V/H/S wraparound is likely the most authentic and believable. Its interview sections and commentary maintain a straightforward and documentarian feel, reminiscent of YouTube videos, but unexpectedly deviate into something extraordinary in its concluding moments.

The opening piece is titled “Stork,” created by Jordan Downey and penned by Kevin Stewart, who worked together on the humorous holiday horror film “Thankskilling“. “Stork” portrays a blood-spattered, fast-paced video game brought to life, filmed through police body cams. The segment is swift, nerve-wracking, and violent, with a jaw-dropping conclusion that elevates the franchise to an unprecedented level of fear and absurdity. It’s a first-person shooter horror sequence that hooks you instantly and refuses to let go.

In a groundbreaking move for the V/H/S series, the latest installment, V/H/S Beyond, introduces its first-ever Indian segment directed by Virat Pal. This captivating story revolves around two paparazzi photographers who sneak onto a Bollywood film set to capture images of a renowned actress. Reminiscent of the original V/H/S’s “Amateur Night,” this segment offers a unique blend, infusing science fiction elements into the narrative. As the story unfolds, it takes a dramatic turn, becoming a nerve-wracking struggle for survival amidst menacing androids and gory Bollywood set decorations.

In our chat, Pal mentioned that Terminator and Nightcrawler were the influences behind his work segment, and it’s clear what he meant. It also gave me strong vibes of Cloverfield due to its chaotic handheld camera style, and there might have been a touch of Texas Chainsaw Massacre added as an extra layer (though I could be reading too much into it).

Right after that comes “Live and Let Dive” by Justin Marinez, a segment in V/H/S that could potentially be remembered as one of the most thrilling and original ever made. The story revolves around a group of friends who decide to skydive for their friend’s birthday, but things take a turn when extraterrestrial sci-fi pandemonium breaks loose. This unexpected twist left me feeling queasy, as I can handle alien predators and otherworldly terrors, but skydiving? It makes my stomach churn just to type it out. The segment concludes with a nerve-wracking cat-and-mouse chase between the characters and the monster, a scene that will surely go down in the annals of horror history.

In the upcoming part, I was eagerly anticipating “Fur Babies,” a collaboration between horror veterans Justin Long and his brother Christian. Despite straying slightly from the expected sci-fi theme, making it seem a bit out of sync with this collection, the Long brothers manage to impress. This segment is a blend of B-horror creature features, infused with humor and intense, unsettling body horror. Libby Letlow’s portrayal of Becky, reminiscent of Annie Wilkes from modern times, is particularly noteworthy. The segment seems like Justin Long might be still dealing with the aftermath of his experience in the cult classic “Tusk.” Rest assured, this segment will appeal to its intended audience.

Closing out the individual segments is Kate Siegel’s “Stowaway,” which also marks her directorial debut. This particular segment was the most effective for me as it felt like a genuine VHS tape one would find. The segment follows a conspiracy theorist as she tries to follow a series of lights that appear above the desert sky. Through the character’s monologues and cleverly subtle cuts, we get glimpses into the character’s life between the tense terror. The segment was especially haunting with it’s use of special effects, cinematography and Alan Pearce’s disturbed yet brilliant performance, after watching this I hope to see Kate Siegel do more directorial work in the genre.

In essence, “V/H/S/Beyond” stands out as the most daring and innovative installment within the series. It’s bound to spark controversy among some viewers, but I believe hardcore fans of the franchise will find plenty to make them jump with fright in this film.

Although the main theme of this movie deviates somewhat from its predecessors, the science fiction genre remains inventive as each director brings their distinctive perspective to it. Ranging from androids to extraterrestrials, series enthusiasts are promised an exciting experience and will likely find a new preferred segment among them.

Over the past few movies, this franchise has been revitalized with a renewed vigor. Interestingly, we’re now on the seventh film in the series, and four have been released within the last four years. Despite this, each new installment continues to feel as innovative and brimming with creativity as the first. The Goldbloom crew consistently selects top-tier talent to direct these segments, giving them full creative freedom.

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2024-09-25 00:25

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