While the V/H/S series has explored sci-fi horror in the past, the seventh entry—this week’s V/H/S/Beyond —puts a specific focus on the genre , unspooling a nightmarish array of close encounters, robotic terrors, and mad scientists. There are a few big names behind the segments this time around (Justin Long, Kate Siegel, Mike Flanagan), but the standout moments—you know, the ones that make you gasp, scream, or feel like you’re gonna puke—are scattered evenly throughout. Not being tied to a specific year means Beyond doesn’t have to be strict about its level of technology; there’s still shaky-cam and grainy VHS, but we also get some digital-age advancements: cell phones, home-security doorbells, a GoPro, YouTube videos, police body cams, and the like.
The frame story, Jay Cheel’s “Abduction/Adduction,” is crafted like a “mysteries of the unknown” documentary you might stumble upon while doing some late-night scrolling, complete with talking heads and archival clips anchored around a central mystery involving aliens and (of course) mysterious video tapes. The other segments include Jordan Downey’s “Stork,” about a rookie cop having a very strange first night with his new unit; Virat Pal’s “Dream Girl,” which follows a paparazzi team as they uncover more than expected while stalking Bollywood’s hottest new star; Justin Martinez’s “Live and Let Dive,” a cautionary tale for would-be skydivers; Christian Long and Justin Long’s “Fur .