V/H/S/HALLOWEEN on Shudder is the latest installment of the found footage horror anthology. This time, it takes place on Halloween and features some truly amazing segments. Be sure to check it out during Spooky Season. Read our full V/H/S/Halloween review here!

V/H/S/HALLOWEEN is a new Shudder horror anthology in the V/H/S found footage anthology. This time, the release is perfectly timed for Spooky Season, and it takes place during Halloween.

WANT MORE FROM THE V/H/S?

Check out our review of the previous release in the franchise here >

As always, there are some segments I like better than others, but the quality overall is impressive. Even though I wasn’t crazy about the wrap-around segment, it was still entertaining.

Continue reading our V/H/S/Halloween review below. Find it on Shudder from October 3, 2025.

Finally, a Halloween installment of V/H/S

As soon as I heard this new V/H/S installment of the franchise would take place on Halloween, I found myself wondering why it didn’t happen sooner. I mean, this is the 8th movie in the V/H/S franchise.

Also, this is one of the best V/H/S installments in my book. Of course, that’s why I’m particularly fascinated with the idea of why it took them so long.

Also, Trick ‘r Treat (the 2007 Halloween-themed horror anthology from Michael Dougherty) is a must-watch during spooky season for me. Maybe that’s why I felt making a Halloween version of V/H/S was long overdue.

Then again, I didn’t really think about it until I watched this… and loved it!

A new Shudder Halloween tradition? I hope so!

A yearly V/H/S/Halloween could easily be a new Shudder tradition. In fact, I truly hope it will be. Especially, if the overall quality is as impressive as with this one.

Again, the segments do differ quite a lot in style and tone, so surely everyone will have some they prefer over others, but I never found myself losing interest. That in and of itself is no small feat with a horror anthology.

Watch V/H/S/Halloween on Shudder

With this Halloween installment of the V/H/S horror anthology, we’re getting some very diverse segments – or horror short films, if you will.

This 8th installment of the V/H/S franchise gives us a collection of Halloween-themed videotapes that feature varied twisted, blood-soaked tales. In short, trick-or-treat is turned into various struggles for survival.

The horror anthology features a wrap-around segment and five Halloween-themed short films. Below are the titles and directors of each:

• DIET PHANTASMA directed by Bryan M. Ferguson (wrap-around)
• FUN SIZE directed by Casper Kelly
• HOME HAUNT directed by Micheline Pitt-Norman and R.H. Norman
• KIDPRINT directed by Alex Ross Perry
• UT SUPRA SIC INFRA directed by Paco Plaza
• COOCHIE COOCHIE COO directed by Anna Zlokovic

Just like the iconic Trick ‘r Treat Halloween horror anthology from 2007, this V/H/S/Halloween installment has a little something for most horror fans. Not least delicious horror references and lots of practical effects.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a V/H/S/Halloween sequel to be greenlit for a 2026 release. Also, plenty of other holiday-themed installments are up for grabs. From Christmas to Valentine’s Day. Just sayin’.

V/H/S/Halloween is Streaming Exclusively on Shudder from October 3, 2025.

Plot

A collection of Halloween-themed videotapes unleashes a series of twisted, blood-soaked tales, turning trick-or-treat into a struggle for survival.

DREAM EATER is a new horror movie in the found-footage niche. It reminded me of several iconic movies in the subgenre – including Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity, though with its own plot and twists. Read our full Dream Eater movie review here!

DREAM EATER is a found footage horror movie. This is also the second theatrical release from Eli Roth’s new studio, The Horror Section. While some have long tired of the found footage subgenre, it’s still good when done right.

With Dream Eater, we’re once again back on track. A movie that doesn’t rely exclusively on the found footage element but rather focuses on having a good story. One that deals with the horror of nightmares taking over.

Continue reading our Dream Eater horror movie review below.

Setting: A Cabin in the Woods

If there’s one thing you know not to do when things are bad, it’s to head out to a cabin in the woods. And yet, in order to get some much-needed time to be together and relax, this is exactly where our two main characters are headed.

Mallory and her boyfriend Alex are going on a holiday, which means most of Dream Eater plays out in this very remote cabin in the woods. Also, yes, there will be snow. And lots of it.

Alex has been dealing with a particularly violent form of parasomnia, which means he’s sleepwalking and has started lashing out while asleep.

Could something more sinister than a fairly common sleep disorder be the culprit? Well, this is a horror movie, so obviously, we will be going down that particular brutal path.

As it turns out, there is something in Alex’s past that might influence his present. He is about to turn 30 years old, which is part of the reason why they went on this holiday together, but was this really the ideal move?!

I’m sure you can guess the answer to this – and that’s exactly why you’ll want to watch Dream Eater.

Found Footage done right!

When found footage works, it can hit so much harder than “conventional” horror filmmaking. This is thanks to the simple notion that you could have recorded the horror yourself.

By blending the POV and narrating known from documentary filmmaking (or even social media videos), it gives it an air of being real as opposed to fiction.

Of course, Dream Eater is fiction just like some of the more iconic movies of found-footage fame. I’m thinking of mega hits such as The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity.

This one, however, has a storyline that feels more like something from A Nightmare on Elm Street due to its nightmare plot. However, again, we see it from the POV of someone on the outside of this experience.

An element that lends a different kind of horror to the experience.

Watch Dream Eater in theaters this October

Dream Eater was co-written and co-directed by Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm, and Alex Lee Williams. The latter two also star in the movie as the two main characters.

This horror movie feels like a passion project, which is confirmed by this trio making and starring in the movie. Together, all the Canadian genre trio make up Blind Luck Pictures.

As already mentioned, the movie comes from Eli Roth’s new studio, The Horror Section. This is a fan-owned 360 media company attempting to build a library of intellectual property. The goal is to create the world’s premier horror brand.

This found footage movie is being released in theaters just in time for Halloween, so you can plan to enjoy this as part of your Halloween horror movie adventure of 2025.

Dream Eater will be out in Theaters on October 24, 2025.

Details

Directors: Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm, Alex Lee Williams
Writers: Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm, Alex Lee Williams
Cast: Mallory Drumm, Alex Lee Williams

Plot

A filmmaker documents her boyfriend’s violent parasomnia during their holiday at a remote cabin in the woods, and as his sleepwalking gets worse, she believes the cause might be something far more sinister.

HOUSE ON EDEN is a new found footage horror movie. It’s also an indie production, and manages to be one of the fairly few in that niche that absolutely works. This is clearly a passion project. Read our full House of Eden movie review here!

HOUSE ON EDEN is an indie found footage horror movie. And yes, we have watched quite a lot of those over the years. However, this one is made by people who create online content for a living, which means it comes across remarkably realistic.

Sure, there is the classic shaky-cam during many scenes, but that’s the curse of “found footage”. You get everything and not just the best shots. However, once the main horror story begins, the cameras have been set up, and the threat of motion sickness subsides.

Continue reading our House on Eden movie review below. Find it in U.S. theaters from July 25, 2025 (it will be on Shudder later).

A never-explored house in the woods

For Paranormal investigators Kris, Celina, and their videographer Jay, something new is needed. They’re on the road to make fresh content for their YouTube channel, but Kris has a surprise plan.

Without including the rest of the crew, she’s made sure they’re headed for a place that none of them has ever heard of. Well, Kris has obviously just heard of this haunted house, but no one else has.

So, now they’re going to a supposedly haunted and abandoned house deep in the woods. The house is known as “House on Eden”. From the moment they arrive, things are eerie. To put it mildly.

Despite being supposedly long abandoned, there is not a speck of dust in the place, and the flowers and garden outside look very well kept. Before long, they will encounter horror unlike anything they’ve witnessed before. Yes, really.

Could this eerie house truly have an ancient, malevolent presence? Or is there a cult, which is another possible rumor? They don’t know much about this place, which may result in good content but could also cost them their lives.

Content Creators making Horror Feature Films

House on Eden feels like a true passion project, and the chemistry between the very few people in the cast is amazing. Before we even get to the horror (and it will come), I was completely on board with this crew of people making YouTube videos about haunted places.

Having content creators move on to feature films is still a fairly new concept, but we have experienced some amazing movies from them. Being successful on social media or YouTube is very different from traditional filmmaking, but these creators are filmmakers.

Milk & Serial is another great example of content creators moving on to making a feature film. Also, the twins behind Talk to Me and Bring Her Back began as content creators.

Now, don’t confuse these with the classic Kardashian-type influencers. They are also experts, but in the field of advertising and marketing, not in making great content without being paid.

Content creators are effectively people making short films (often comedy or horror), which means the step is more about going from short films to feature films than anything else. Talent is talent, and the House on Eden crew clearly has talent!

Watch House on Eden in theaters now

House on Eden is a feature film debut from content creators Kris Collins (@KallMeKris) and Celina Myers (@CelinaSpookyBoo). The two collectively have a dedicated audience of over 75 million TikTok followers. Not a bad way to help sell tickets, and this deserves to sell tickets!

Both star in the movie, which was written and directed by Kris Collins. Finally, Jason-Christopher Mayer (Nobody Gets Out Alive) is the third member of this core cast.

This feels like a true passion project, and the chemistry between the very few people in the cast is amazing. A very good starting point and not a given.

The runtime is 78 minutes, so just shy of 1 hour and 20 minutes, which works extremely well for the plot and storytelling. I didn’t expect too much from this horror movie, so I was pleasantly surprised. Horror fans should want to check this one out!

House on Eden is out in U.S. theaters from July 25, 2025. It will also be on Shudder at a later date!

Details

Director: Kris Collins
Starring: Kris Collins (‪@kallmekris‬), Celina Myers (‪@CelinaSpookyBoo‬), Jason-Christopher Mayer

Plot

When Kris, Celina, and their videographer Jay set out to film a paranormal investigation, they expect the usual chills and shadows. But when their plans are mysteriously rerouted to a pristine, abandoned house deep in the woods, what unfolds is far beyond anything they’ve encountered before. As the night continues, strange behavior, a missing crew, and a chilling atmosphere suggest that something far more ancient is at play.

THE BUILDOUT is a new mystery thriller with a gorgeous setting, few characters, and lots of mystery… even too much. I was completely mesmerized as I watched it but was left wanting more. Read our full The Buildout movie review here!

THE BUILDOUT is out on VOD after a great festival run. I can easily see why this mystery thriller would work well at film festivals. Especially the kind of screenings where the filmmaker is doing an interview afterward to help clarify details.

Ultimately, The Buildout felt like reading the middle chapter of a really good book. It was engaging and I wanted to read the chapters before as well as those that came after, but was denied this. Needless to say, this doesn’t result in any kind of optimal experience. Certainly not for me.

Continue reading our The Buildout movie review below. Find it on VOD from February 25, 2025.

A lot of mystery in a gorgeous setting

With The Buildout, we’re following two friends, Dylan and Cameron, as they head out to the desert. One is going there to support a friend and the other is going there to live. It’s something she’s doing to join others from her church – which is possibly an actual cult, according to their friend.

There’s something about this particular place in the middle of the desert. Could it be a place of religious power and significance or possibly something alien? Maybe a place that has been used for experiments and left something strange behind?!

No one really knows, but it’s the belief of this church that they need to live right in the epicenter which is marked by a strange tent. One that is humming with an esoteric energy and more mystery.

According to the official synopsis, The Buildout is about this place and states that “…What is found within its walls is incomprehensible.” Well, I would agree as we’re never entirely sure exactly what is found there.

Still, the place looks amazing and the shots are worthy of National Geographic. And yes, I do mean this to be a huge compliment. I loved it!

The power (and danger) of friendship

When we first meet Dylan (Hannah Alline) and Cameron (Jenna Kanell), they are out on one last adventure together. Going ever deeper into the desert, this is a final goodbye to their friendship as one of them will stay secluded in the desert while the other goes back home.

This is all documented by a handheld camera, but it never gets too wild in that motion sickness-inducing way that I abhor. Instead, they switch to also using cameras attached to the helmets when riding dirtbikes or placing the handheld camera somewhere solid, so it’s not all over the place.

Kudos to the filmmaker for this choice. That is how you use a handheld camera to create up-close action without making the audience nauseous.

In any case, the actual plot in The Buildout is less about what was or is and more about what comes next. Having experienced trauma involving someone dear to them both, they struggle to get back to their former selves.

Two strong lead actors

With Jenna Kanell (Renfield, Terrifier) and Hannah Alline (The Hunt, Doom Patrol) in the lead roles, we’re getting very strong performances. And also very different character portrayals.

One has gotten clean and found God (or something similar) which has led them to choose a life in the desert. The other is grinding through it and finding another way to live their life with this loss.

The Buildout aims to “bridge the gap between found footage and traditional cinematic storytelling while leaning into strong, capable, and unapologetic characters” which I will say is accomplished. very much so.

If only the focus on the plot and storyline had been slightly more evolved, I would’ve been one happy film fan.

Watch The Buildout on VOD now

The Buildout was written and directed by Zeshaan Younus and is the debut feature from distributor Ethos Releasing. As stated initially, I can understand why this was a festival favorite. Hell, I would’ve loved to watch this at a festival screening.

The meditative and mesmerizing imagery is perfect for a dark theater with other fans of genre films. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy this movie, because I really did.

However, I was also left wanting more. And sure, sometimes that is a good thing. Less can be more in a roundabout way, but sometimes it’s just too little. I was left wanting more answers. Not that I needed everything explained, but this was just a little too little.

I loved watching it but was still left wondering about a few details too many. The mystery in this thriller is fascinating but also left way too unresolved for my liking. The runtime is short at just around 70 minutes, but I would’ve liked just another five minutes to explore further.

THE BUILDOUT arrives on all VOD platforms on February 25, 2025.

Details

Director: Zeshaan Younus
Writer: Zeshaan Younus
Cast: Jenna Kanell, Hannah Alline, Natasha Halevi, Michael Sung Ho

Plot

In THE BUILDOUT, a friendship is tested as two women experience something strange in the desert.

DEVON on Screambox is a found footage horror movie by Jenni “JWoww” Farley. Unfortunately, it isn’t good. At all. The only redeeming quality is that it’s only 72 minutes long. And still, it feels longer. Read our full Devon movie review here!

DEVON is a new horror movie on Screambox. It’s a found footage horror movie, and it’s set in a haunted asylum. Already there, it’s going down the road already trampled down by many other horror movies.

And this is not one of the better takes on the found footage haunted asylum angle. In fact, while the very core of the concept might be interesting, everything else is subpar. The lighting is awful – and not just in the found footage handheld POV shots – and the acting is… well, questionable.

Continue reading our Devon movie review below. Find it on Screambox from November 26, 2024.

Found footage in a haunted asylum? How innovative!

In Devon, we meet a group of five adventures, who applied to take part in a challenge, where they are to stay inside an abandoned asylum to search for a missing girl. It’s supposedly a haunted asylum, so hopefully, someone (or something) can help guide them to answers.

Devon features a real ghost?! What a neat marketing ploy!

I absolutely recognize that I’m sounding both jaded and bitter, which is accurate as the movie made me feel this way. Seeing one of the cast members sharing a story on social media about a real ghost making it into the film? Not helping!

Most famously, Three Men and a Baby (1987) supposedly had a ghost in the background of a scene. Hell, I even remember watching the movie on VHS and pausing to see the ghost. But trying to recreate (again, I’m in a jaded and bitter place) to help market a new horror movie? Give me a break!

These days, so many horror movies have the “people vomiting” or “someone fainted during a screening” stories, and I’m not buying half of it. Maybe none of these stories were ever true, but when they appear today for low-budget (or just plain bad) movies, I assume it’s an attempt at getting free PR.

With Devon, it’s no exception as the movie is so bad that it needs all the publicity it can get. I would rather recommend you watch it to feel empowered to try your hand at making a horror movie. The budget is estimated at $100,000 on IMDb, and I hope this is wildly overestimated.

We’ve literally reviewed creative, scary, and well-made horror movies made for a fraction of this!

You can find Devon on Screambox

Jenni “JWoww” Farley makes her directorial debut with this found footage horror movie. If the name JWoww sounds familiar, it’s because she was on the MTV hit reality series Jersey Shore. And yes, it was a big hit when aired from 2009-2012, but surely that isn’t enough reason to fund a movie?!

Well, it would appear that anyone with any kind of name recognition can get at least some funding. I mean, the “Hawk Tuah Girl” is the most recent example that 15 minutes of viral meme fame can lead to all sorts of entertainment industry deals.

Admittedly, I hoped this movie would be at least OK, and that Jenni Farley could be an up-and-coming horror filmmaker. However, you need some outsiders with experience and talent.

For this production, it seems everyone involved with the production has been proverbial “Yes men” and that’s too bad. Surely, someone watched this production and figured that it wasn’t looking good. If not, you need to surround yourself with different people and do better in the future.

This is just sad. And the current IMDb rating of 2.8 [as of writing this review] isn’t being too tough on the movie.

DEVON was released in digital form on November 12 and will stream on Screambox from November 26, 2024.

Details

Director: Jenni Farley
Writer: Jenni Farley
Stars: Tara Rule, Hank Santos, Steven Etienne, Rotisha Geter, Lauren Carlin

Plot

Devon’s parents never stopped searching for answers after her disappearance from a notorious asylum. Years after the incident, a mysterious website draws five adventurers to the abandoned asylum where she was last seen. Armed with cameras, they plunge into the darkness, unaware they’re filming their own descent into horror—never meant to return.

THE REBRAND is a queer horror-comedy found footage mockumentary. It deals with cancel culture and influencers gone wild. It’s deliciously wacky and even quite scary at times. Read our full The Rebrand (2024) movie review here!

THE REBRAND is a new horror-comedy with queer main characters and lots of tongue-in-cheek dark comedy. Actually, it’s not so much about LGBTQ+ people but rather about the world of influencers and their risk of getting into trouble.

This is made as a found footage mockumentary, which gives it a nice twist. One that tends to make it feel more personal and downright terrifying at times. We follow the photographer from start to finish and she goes through quite an ordeal. Also, the runtime is just 78 minutes, which is good.

Continue reading our The Rebrand (2024) movie review below. It’s currently playing at film festivals worldwide.

A sick and wild power dynamic

In The Rebrand, we follow the two queer influencers trying to make a comeback after an unfortunate event that resulted in them being canceled. Of course, the recipe for a comeback is a documentary about their next step in life.

To help document this, we have the very pregnant videographer Nicole (Naomi Silver-Vézina), who is in dire need of making as much money as possible to keep her apartment.

She goes to their home, which is a cabin in the woods (yeah, I know!), to document the “redemption” of this lesbian influencer couple. Their names are Thistle (Nancy Webb) and Blaire (Andi E. McQueen), but they have an agenda that slowly starts rearing its sinister head.

WANT MORE HORROR WITH LGBTQ+ CHARACTERS?

Be sure to check out our LGBTQ-tag here >

Nicole does her best to navigate the unsettling and very unhealthy dynamic between the two influencers. One is the psychotic content-queen Thistle (Nancy Webb) while the other is her codependent, heartthrob financée Blaire (Andi E McQueen).

Watching this story unfold really is like watching a trainwreck.

You can see the danger, but simply have to sit back and let it happen. Such is the nature of the “fly-on-the-wall” documentary style used to explore the toxic relationship and social media culture that comes crashing together in The Rebrand.

It’s funny to watch, but also gets extremely scary for our very pregnant videographer. Not least thanks to the opening and closing scenes that feature Tranna Wintour.

The horror of influencers and cancel culture

What happens to our two queer influencers in The Rebrand could easily be called cancel culture. Of course, whenever someone is the “victim” of cancel culture, it’s often due to their own poor choices or wrongful actions.

Also, most of those who are affected by cancel culture tend to come back on track again later. Especially men who have been affected by cancel culture. Not least due to the counterweight of those who are anti-woke and anti-cancel culture.

Never mind that the people who were canceled are usually responsible for it themselves. In The Rebrand, this is exactly the case. That’s why the story in this movie focuses on how them being canceled was indeed due to their own actions.

Including the very lackluster attempt at doing an apology video, which seems to dig them deeper into their cancelation. However, influencers who know how to work their base tend to find a way back.

Much like politicians, who also know how to talk to their fans or base in a way that resonates with them.

Watch The Rebrand (2024) when you get the chance

Director Kaye Adelaide is also the co-writer of the screenplay alongside one of its stars, Nancy Webb (“Thistle” in the movie). The two have created a wacky story that works remarkably well because it goes all-in on showing the dark side of the influencer world.

Produced by Mariel Sharp (True Sweetheart Films) without outside funding, this was made on a shoestring budget of around $5000. Created thanks to a team of three fantastic cast members and six crew members, The Rebrand is a true work of passion. And it comes across on the screen!

MORE FROM THE SAME PRODUCTION COMPANY

Check out the movie Bleed With Me from 2020 >

The Rebrand came fresh from its win as Best Feature at the Queer Fear Film Festival to Europe for the highly anticipated LUND Fantastic Film Festival. Kaye Adelaide’s unhinged mockumentary is the kind of movie you’ll definitely want to check out when you get the chance.

The Rebrand was screened at Lund Fantastic Film Festival on October 29, 2024.

Details

Director: Kaye Adelaide
Writers: Kaye Adelaide & Nancy Webb
Cast: Naomi Silver-Vézina, Nancy Webb, Andi E McQueen

Plot

Nicole, an eight months-pregnant videographer is hired by a lesbian lifestyle influencer couple to film a redemption documentary after they’ve been publicly cancelled, but Nicole quickly discovers that the couple have nefarious ulterior motives.

JURNAL RISA BY RISA SARASWATI on Netflix is a new horror movie from Indonesia. It has a short runtime and features a documentary-style supernatural plot with a found footage vibe. Read our full Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati movie review here!

JURNAL RISA BY RISA SARASWATI is a new Netflix horror movie with high production quality and a very interesting plot. It’s not difficult to follow and manages to utilize some of the most popular horror subgenres.

This is an Indonesian horror movie and we have watched (and reviewed) quite a lot of those over the past couple of years. If you’ve watched both good and bad horror movies from Indonesia, I can tell you that this is one of the better. And it isn’t even by Joko Anwar, which is usually a sign that it will be good. The runtime is just 92 minutes.

Continue reading our Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati movie review below. Find it on Netflix from November 8, 2024.

A mockumentary-style horror movie

Everything about Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati is presented as a documentary. Not unlike The Blair Witch Project (1999) though this is very different. Instead of looking for a witch in the woods, Risa Saraswati is doing a show where people have volunteered to be in a haunted place. 

The purpose is to see if these people succeed at communicating with the ghosts that are supposedly there.

Risa herself is known to have supernatural abilities that enable her to communicate with ghosts and other supernatural beings (usually of the more demonic variety). And as this is a horror movie, things will obviously turn out badly.

Solid and efficient scares

Among the people who challenge themselves to be in this haunted place, one of them succeeds to such an extent that she becomes possessed.

Or does she?

This is really the core plot of Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati on Netflix.

It’s a horror movie that doesn’t have too many special effects of the CGI variety. And the ones that are there, tend to work remarkably well. Extremely efficient at creating that eerie and creepy vibe where something is moving around in the corner or background for a few seconds.

In other words, keep your eyes open for those little chilling horror treats that are sprinkled throughout.

Watch Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati on Netflix now!

The director of Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati is Rizal Mantovani, who has directed plenty of horror movies over the past few decades. The screenwriter is someone we’ve become quite familiar with as she has written several of the Indonesian horror movies we’ve covered here on Heaven of Horror.

Her name is Lele Laila and she has written some impressive and very recommendable horror movies in the past. Previous movies written by Lele Laila include Qorin (2022) and Do You See What I See (2024).

This latest movie is definitely one of the better Indonesian horror movies we’ve covered. Also, the story should work well globally. Haunting, challenges, and trying to communicate with “the other side” is something that happens all over the world.

Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati is on Netflix from November 8, 2024.

Details

Director: Rizal Mantovani
Cast: Risa Saraswati, Prinsa Mandagie, Ranggana Purwana, Nicko Irham, Riana Rizki

Plot

Risa is known to have supernatural abilities that enable her to communicate with supernatural beings. This film will present horror events packaged like Paranormal Activity.

V/H/S/ BEYOND on Shudder is the latest installment of the popular Found Footage Anthology. This 2024 addition is a mixed bag with some wonderful surprises. Read our full V/H/S/Beyond movie review here!

V/H/S/ BEYOND is the newest Shudder addition to the Found Footage anthology that began with V/H/S/ in 2012. This time, we’re getting both good and not-so-good, but isn’t that always the case with anthologies?!

Fortunately, this one is mostly good. Of course, that’s a matter of opinion and taste, but I was mostly well-entertained. Like the very first installment, the runtime is right around two hours.

Continue reading our V/H/S/ Beyond movie review below. Find it on Shudder from October 4, 2024.

The short films in V/H/S/Beyond 

Some of the short films in V/H/S/ Beyond are worthy of feature-length versions. Let’s do a quick rundown of the short films in this newest anthology in the Found Footage Franchise.

“The Wrap”, directed by Jay Cheel

This story is the “wrap-around” element that we keep coming back to. It explores some video tapes that supposedly prove alien abduction. Real or not? That’s what we keep coming back to.

Can the two VHS tapes marked “Proof 1” and “Proof 2” prove anything? You be the judge.

“Stork” is directed by Jordan Downey

The first actual short film is Stork which is a fascinating watch. It’s based on art by the artist Oleg Vdovenko, so this is his creation. It feels like we’re in a video game as the Found Footage is recorded from a first-person video game POV.

Set in a grimy flashlight-lit world, you will see fascinating creatures. Not least the title character!

“Dream Girl” is directed by Virat Pal

Not a big fan of this one though it had some good elements. Dream Girl is the second short film, where we follow two Indian paparazzi who need to get shots of the Bollywood superstar Tara in her trailer.

I loved that we got a segment from India (the first in the V/H/S/ franchise), but not that so much time was spent on a song and dance routine. Particularly as the whole “Found footage”-element was non-existent for that sequence.

And then what’s the point of being in a found footage anthology?

“Live and Let Dive” is directed by Justin Martinez

With short film number three, I was very happy. It has everything I want from a POV and found footage short film. Fast-paced with characters you immediately become familiar with and care about.

Just a shame that it’s virtually impossible for any of them to survive. First, they have to make it through a brutal skydiving experience after a UFO hits their airplane. Then the creatures from inside the UFO are after them. It’s wild!

Director Justin Martinez was also part of the original 2012 V/H/S/.

“Fur Babies” co-directed by Christian Long and Justin Long

Oh yeah, now we’re really getting into the good stuff. Justin Long is no stranger to horror, but his brother (and co-director of this short film), Christian Long, had no prior experience in the horror genre.

Well, you wouldn’t know that from watching Fur Babies. While most other short films have an alien story, this one took another route. One that reminded me of Tusk (which Justin Long starred in) and the brilliant Norwegian Good Boy.

It all begins with the cheerful woman, Becky, who runs a doggy daycare. Enjoy this twisted little creature feature horror story in V/H/S/ Beyond!

“Stowaway” directed by Kate Siegel – final short of V/H/S/ Beyond

This final short film of V/H/S/ Beyond is Kate Siegel’s directorial debut. The screenplay comes from her very frequent collaborator (and husband), Mike Flanagan. The two have been working together for years, so it’s only natural.

I loved the first part of Stowaway and only had issues with the very last part because it was difficult to watch. As in visually hard to make out what was happening. It’s very intentional but more than what’s good.

Kate Siegel (co-writer of Hush) is bound to direct more in the future and judging from Stowaway, I’m ready for it. Especially that first part of the short film.

Ultimately, Kate Siegel has commented that this lives as the intersection of Contact and The Fly, which makes perfect sense to me. It also explains why the visuals are distorted towards the end.

I just wish it hadn’t been to such a great extent, because I liked it otherwise.

Watch V/H/S/ Beyond on Shudder!

I do have one issue with this installment of the anthology. The very core found footage element seems to have been forgotten.

At least in some cases. I mean, the “beyond”-element sometimes ends in space. And how does a camera heading away from our planet become “found footage” on Earth? Especially around the same time.

I can live with it because I recognize that using this popular franchise name is a way to get people watching. However, it’s a shame that it isn’t more of a focus.

This is the seventh installment in the V/H/S/ franchise. Maybe Shudder should create a new anthology focusing on short films without “Found Footage” as the common denominator. In turn, V/H/S/ could focus on it again.

V/H/S/Beyond premieres on Shudder on October 4, 2024.

Plot

V/H/S/BEYOND, the seventh installment of the V/H/S franchise will feature six new bloodcurdling tapes, placing horror at the forefront of a sci-fi-inspired hellscape.

WHAT HAPPENED TO DOROTHY BELL? is a new found footage horror movie with a great story and excellent use of shadows. Screened for Fantastic Fest 2024. Read our full What Happened to Dorothy Bell? movie review here!

WHAT HAPPENED TO DOROTHY BELL? is a new horror movie premiering at Fantastic Fest 2024. It’s found footage and has been described as a “feature-length nightmare” which isn’t wrong.

In fact, I was not ready to turn off the light in any room for a while after watching this. Excellent use of light and shadow, budget-friendly practical effect choices, and a simple but strong story result in a great horror movie.

Continue reading our What Happened to Dorothy Bell? movie review below.

Confronting childhood horror

In What Happened to Dorothy Bell? we’re dealing with childhood horror. We’ve seen this in a few recently reviewed horror movies. I’m thinking of The Shade and No Voltees which both deal with mental illness and/or abuse.

DO CHECK OUT

Our review of No Voltees which you can watch for free on Tubi >

Still, this one has an added twist! Or rather, a few classic horror elements come into play. Also, there is still the element of family trauma, but in very different ways compared to the two above-mentioned titles.

First, this is a footage horror movie. Second, we’re getting the deliciously iconic kind of horror movie where a book sets off something demonic and brutal.

Ozzie and her documentary approach

We meet Ozzie Gray (Asya Meadows) who has just discovered that her own adult struggle may be directly related to something she never knew happened. She has a scar across her face and has just come to learn that it stems from her beloved grandmother’s violent attack on her.

Of course, her loving grandmother, Dorothy Bell, wouldn’t just hurt the very young Ozzie of her own accord. Ozzie doesn’t believe this and she will soon learn that something very sinister is to blame.

She moves into her childhood home, where her grandmother lived with her and her parents. Also, she goes to the place where her grandmother worked; A library.

Now known as the haunted library of her hometown because it’s associated with an urban legend. We get to follow the evolution of her discoveries because Ozzie documents everything as she confronts the darkness.

What Happened to Dorothy Bell? premiere at Fantastic Fest

This nightmarish (and possibly nightmare-inducing) found footage horror movie comes from writer and director Danny Villanueva Jr. This is his feature film debut, and it’s getting a world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2024.

A very deserved and appropriate place for this new horror movie!

The found footage formats include video diaries, security camera footage, and home video camcorder tapes. All of it is brutal at times, but especially the video diaries, which include sessions with a therapist, are brutal towards the end!

The runtime is just 80 minutes, which might sound a bit short, but it’s exactly as it should be. Do not miss out on watching What Happened to Dorothy Bell? when you get the chance.

It will be out in limited theaters beginning October 3, 2025, in Los Angeles (Lumiere Theater) and Brooklyn (Film Noir Cinema), expanding to Alamo Drafthouse locations in Los Angeles, New York City, and Austin on October 10, before arriving on Digital and VOD platforms on October 21, 2025.

What Happened to Dorothy Bell? was reviewed as part of our Fantastic Fest 2024 coverage.

Details

Director: Danny Villanueva Jr.
Writer: Danny Villanueva Jr.
Cast: Asya Meadows, Lisa Wilcox, Michael Hargrove, Sargon, J Anthony Ramos

Plot

Ozzie Gray video documents her investigation into the traumatic events from her early childhood, which involved her late grandmother, Dorothy Bell.

INVOKING YELL is a Chilean Found Footage Horror Movie. I wanted to like it but somehow it never got under my skin. Meant as a love letter to black metal, I didn’t feel that. Read our full Invoking Yell horror movie review here!

INVOKING YELL is a Found Footage Horror Movie from Chile. I was intrigued before pressing play on my screener, but despite a runtime of just 84 minutes, it felt dreadfully long to me.

Also, the pacing is painfully slow and the camera is all over the place. I know this is found footage, but keeping the camera just a little still wouldn’t hurt.

Continue reading our Invoking Yell movie review below. Find it on VOD from September 20, 2024.

Girl Power – and violence!

While I wanted to like this movie, my only real “fear” was that there would be a lot of music and not much story. Well, there isn’t much music in this one, but there sure isn’t much story either.

Invoking Yell takes place in 1997 in South Chile, where we follow three twenty-something girls who are metalheads. Two of them are in a band and the third wants to be in the band.

They venture into the woods to shoot their demo tape. Or that’s officially the plot of this movie, where their black metal band, Invoking Yell, is hoping to get some extra dark elements for their demo.

Found footage motion sickness

After some very unorthodox actions – meant to capture paranormal phenomena for their album’s final track – things take a very sinister turn. Again, this is a horror movie, so the events aren’t that surprising.

Especially if you’ve been paying attention.

While the story and music didn’t do much for me, I have to give Invoking Yell credit for adhering to the basic found footage rules. There are no outside camera angles that cannot be explained as found footage.

However, the downside to this is also an issue. The camera is all over the place and results in something reminiscent of motion sickness. And I never really get motion sickness from anything. But this one managed to affect me!

Watch Invoking Yell on Digital now!

Invoking Yell was directed by Patricio Valladares who also co-wrote the screenplay with Barry Keating. It’s meant as a love letter to black metal and I am clearly not enough of a metalhead to get that.

Again, if you want a movie that focuses on the power of music, I do not see how this is it. Except for mentioning a lot about music and musicians, there isn’t much there.

I’d much rather watch (and recommend) a movie like Deathgasm instead of this one. Of course, that one also has a very different story, but it also features more actual music.

MORE METAL HORROR

Be sure to check out anything by the Adams family >

I really wanted to like Invoking Yell as it focused on three female characters, which isn’t something we see too much. Plenty of movies have all (or predominantly) male casts, but rarely the other way around.

However, having an all-female cast is far from enough to get my juices flowing. So to speak. The story of this movie is for a short film, and it never got under my skin. Not even close.

And having an all-female cast doesn’t do much when the writer and directors are male. Not much girl power in that department!

INVOKING YELL is out on Digital on September 20, 2024.

Details

Director: Patricio Valladares
Screenwriters: Patricio Valladares, Barry Keating
Cast: María Jesús Marcone, Macarena Carrere, Andrea Ozuljevich

Plot

Set in 1997 south of Chile, INVOKING YELL is a love letter to black metal that follows a trio of metalhead twenty-something girls who venture into the woods to shoot the demo tape where things take a sinister turn.