Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
The official trailer for “V/H/S/MIXTAPE”, the latest installment in the popular V/H/S horror anthology franchise, has been released online, as per theprp. Slated to premiere on Shudder on October 9, the music-themed film features high-profile contributions from across the rock and entertainment worlds. Shock-rock veterans GWAR host the movie’s comedic skits and music video segments, which feature individual directorial contributions from Ghost’s Tobias Forge and Flying Lotus. Anchoring the anthology, the main narrative short films are directed by a panel of filmmakers comprising RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, Ernest Dickerson, David Moreau, and Renee Zhan.
Created from an original concept by Brad Miska, V/H/S is an American found-footage horror anthology franchise comprising nine feature films, two spin-offs, and a short-form web miniseries. The overarching plot centers on collections of increasingly disturbing recordings across various video formats. While produced by multiple collaborating filmmakers as largely standalone installments, recurring elements throughout the series hint at broader narrative connections.
The original 2012 film, V/H/S, earned mixed critical reviews but achieved financial success, drawing praise for its diverse stories and effective execution of the found-footage medium. Subsequent entries saw a drop in box office performance alongside mixed to negative receptions. While the second chapter, V/H/S/2, won over film critics, it failed to match the financial earnings of the original. The third entry, V/H/S: Viral, faced widespread critical backlash and generated even lower box office returns than its predecessor.
While financial data remains undisclosed for the later entries in the V/H/S franchise, the series experienced a notable critical turnaround in its subsequent releases. The fourth installment, V/H/S/94, earned the highest critical praise of the entire franchise, setting a positive trajectory for V/H/S/99, V/H/S/85, V/H/S/Beyond, and V/H/S/Halloween, all of which maintained generally favorable reviews.
The franchise has also expanded beyond its core anthologies through spin-off feature films and alternative media formats.The first spin-off, Siren, expanded on a popular segment from the original film to general critical approval, while the second spin-off, Kids vs. Aliens—based on a concept from V/H/S/2—met with mixed reviews. Additionally, the Snapchat miniseries V/H/S: Video Horror Shorts earned praise for successfully adapting the franchise’s signature found-footage format to short-form mobile media.
