V/H/S/Beyond streams on Shudder beginning October 4. This review is based on a screening at Fantastic Fest 2024. As the V/H/S franchise expands under Shudder's banner, the quality of its miniature found-footage shockers continues to reach new heights.
The same goes for the characters of V/H/S/Beyond: The seventh film in the horror-anthology series keeps things fresh by connecting each of its segments with a science fiction theme, bringing spaceships and aliens (among other genre-appropriate threats) into the mix. More importantly, this is the most consistent and polished V/H/S installment to date, representing one giant leap from the solid steps forward of period-piece predecessors V/H/S/99 and V/H/S/85 . The energetic compilation starts with a bang that resounds through the pacing, sequencing, and momentum of the remaining chapters.
There’s room for debate over which is the best, but unlike other years, there's no glaringly weak link. Jordan Downey kicks things off with "Stork," a monster hunt with heavy [REC] and Resident Evil influences. It's my favorite segment of the bunch, following a secretive police outfit dubbed W.
A.R.D.
E.N as they infiltrate a hideout filled with creatures from beyond. Downey's masterful command of small budgets (as previously seen in 2018’s The Head Hunter and 2008’s ThanksKilling) makes for an exhilarating siege in which we watch agents blast their way through waves of enemies from the perspective of cameras mounted to their helmets.
It has .
