V/H/S (2012)

Director: David Bruckner, Ti West, Glenn McQuaid, Joe Swanberg, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, Adam Wingard

Year: 2012

Country: USA

Alternate Titles: N/A

Genre: Anthology

Plot:

Hired to retrieve a collection of VHS tapes from a stranger's house, a group of friends find more than they bargained for when they review the stolen merchandise.

Review:

Amateur Night-Dragging their loner friend along, a group of guys find some girls at a nightclub and bring them back to their apartment. When they realize one of the girls isn't what they seems to be, the remaining guys try to get away before she comes and gets them. This is probably the one that could've gone further up on the list had it actually fixed the fact that none of the guys in this are really that interesting enough to carry the entire segment. It's virtually impossible to determine who's got the camera with all the activity going on between everyone. The twist is fine and generates some really chilling moments in the haste to get away, but it's not nearly enough to make up for the grievous flaw elsewhere.

Second Honeymoon-Going out on a road trip together, a couple decides to film their journey and all the crazy shenanigans that happen along the way. When they arrive at a hotel, strange things force them to confront the truth about the journey there. This is entirely worthless as a segment, as there's no horror to it at all, nothing happens in terms of scares or even action along the way, and the twist is seen coming a mile away. Unnecessary to even be included in the segments, and has no point that redeems it at all.

Tuesday the 17th-Taking her friends out to the countryside, a girl tries to help her friends uncover the truth behind a disturbing incident from her past. When it soon dawns on them that there's a strange killer in the area, a deadly secret threatens to destroy the group even before the vicious killer does. Frankly, this one alone makes it on the strength of it's twist which is far more sinister and shocking than anything that's depicted in the segment, for it's quite illogical, full of nonsensical reasoning and completely avoids the guidelines set- up throughout merely to play-up a specific gag or idea that requires it to bend the rules already set up along the way. That really hampers the few positives here, as the killer is absolutely cool-looking with a fantastic premise, the kills are bloody and graphic, and the scenic location is put to good use, as there are a lot of rather creepy scenes coming from the location, as well as the traps being put to good use. Just a shame about the story surrounding it all.

The Sick Things that Happened to Emily-While deciding to Skye together while he's away on business, a woman notices strange beings in her apartment. Trying to investigate alone brings her to the harsh reality of the incidents and his behavior towards her. This is another one that really could've been close to being up to par, but it's just undone by the lame premise of the entire thing being done over the internet chat, while the others on here were hand-held found-footage segments, leaving this one quite curious as the odd man out. Still, the goings-on in the apartment are inherently creepy, the multitude of twists are genuinely freaky, and the whole affair has a dirty air to it. It just has a lame set-up for it.

10/31/98-Hearing of a great party on Halloween night, a group of friends head out to the rumored spot, but get lost along the way. Arrived at the supposed house only to find it deserted, and a search to find the others causes them to stumble upon a demonic secret the likes of which will torment them as they try to escape. This is easily the best entry in the film and really makes this one worthwhile, for there's a lot going on with it. The initial set-up is certainly the best of the entries, as there's a decidedly creepy old-school approach to the feelings surrounding this type of set-up, and the crawl-throughs of the empty house are unnerving and chilling. The scenes amid the cult ceremony are quite creepy overall, especially since we're the last ones in the group and don't have a clear shot at the whole affair, making it all the more different. The real plus, though, is the final ten minutes, which are just flat-out chilling as there's just an endless series of animated hands reaching out from the walls and ground, ominous fog moving through the house, and a frantic race to get out before the house seals itself off, followed by a wicked twist on the outside. Sure, the gags they play on each other in the house are lame and stupid, but this makes up for it.

Tape 56-Hired to retrieve a collection of VHS tapes from a stranger's house, a group of friends find more than they bargained for when they review the stolen merchandise. This is serviceable if not outstanding as a genre effort. The whole idea of this one comes off surprisingly well, with the premise being a fun way to get the delinquent youths to understand what they’re about and why they’re going through the community as they are before going out to the house and uncovering the tapes. It takes the theme of introducing the next segment quite well, and everything makes for a generally solid time here, even though the segment is a bit disorienting

Overview: **/5

A deceptively terrible anthology effort, even with some likable stories, there’s a lot to like if you appreciate this kind of approach, while having some utterly worthless segments as well. Those who appreciate this kind of approach or who are big fans of either anthologies or found-footage fare will have the most to like here, while most others out there should heed extreme caution.