V/H/S/Beyond

The V/H/S franchise has long been a mainstay of the found-footage genre, a genre in its own right where filmmakers can explore the limits of terror through the lens of low-quality recording devices. With its seventh installment, V/H/S/Beyond, the series takes a new thematic turn by fully embracing science fiction, particularly the realm of extraterrestrial horror. This change is accompanied by a refreshing blend of genres, resulting in one of the franchise's most coherent and ambitious works to date.

At its core, V/H/S/Beyond remains true to the franchise's anthological format, comprising five distinct segments, each helmed by different directors, and linked by a central storyline. The theme of alien encounters permeates most of these segments, with a few exceptions that veer into adjacent sci-fi territory. The result is a collection that feels more unified than many of its predecessors, despite occasional weaknesses in execution.

The main story, Abduction/Adduction, directed by Jay Cheel, is the film's main segment. Presented as a mockumentary, it follows documentary filmmaker Jay Cheel as he investigates a series of VHS tapes purporting to contain evidence of an actual alien abduction. The framing device is cleverly meta, with Cheel referencing real-world alien lore and historical skepticism. The segment sets a tone of eerie authenticity, mixing found footage with expert interviews, and although the denouement seems anti-climactic compared to the build-up, it provides a necessary structure to the anthology's narrative.

The first segment proper, Stork, directed by Jordan Downey, soon plunges the audience into chaos. Filmed from body cameras worn by a group of special police officers, the segment follows their investigation into a series of child abductions. When they enter a dilapidated house, the situation quickly degenerates into a bloodthirsty frenzy, with zombies and grotesque creatures attacking from every angle. Jordan Downey's experience with the ThanksKilling series is evident in his handling of the segment's manic energy, and the use of body cameras provides an effective first-person perspective that adds to the intensity. The practical effects - ranging from hollowed-out heads to chainsaw-wielding monstrosities - are particularly impressive, anchoring the segment in visceral horror.

Next up, Dream Girl, directed by Virat Pal, offers a radical change of tone. Set in the glamorous world of Bollywood, the segment follows two paparazzi, Arnab (Sayandeep Sengupta) and Sonu (Rohan Joshi), as they attempt to capture candid images of superstar Tara (Namrata Sheth). What begins as a brilliant homage to Bollywood quickly descends into madness when the paparazzi discover a horrible secret about the starlet. The inclusion of a Bollywood dance sequence, juxtaposed with the ensuing carnage, is a highlight. Although Dream Girl sometimes stretches the found-footage format by breaking its own rules, the segment is a bold and inventive departure for the franchise, and its commentary on the pressures of celebrity adds a layer of depth.

Live and Let Dive, directed by Justin Martinez, brings the film back to its alien theme in the most literal sense. The segment follows a group of skydiving friends whose jump is interrupted by a UFO. The mid-air collision between the skydivers and the alien craft is a thrilling sequence, captivatingly filmed with GoPro footage capturing the vertigo-inducing freefall. Once the group lands in an orange grove, the terror turns to a ground chase, as the survivors are stalked by a nightmarish alien creature. The creature's design is remarkable here, blending the familiar gray alien archetype with insectoid features. Justin Martinez's segment is pure adrenaline, easily one of the most thrilling and visually inventive in the anthology.

Perhaps the most disturbing entry in V/H/S/Beyond is Fur Babies, directed by brothers Justin Long and Christian Long. This segment tilts into darkly comic horror as it follows a group of animal advocates investigating Becky (Libby Letlow), the cheerful owner of a doggy daycare. They discover macabre taxidermy that pushes the boundaries of body horror. Libby Letlow's performance as the unhinged Becky is a delight, her disconcerting cheerfulness masking a deeply disturbed mind. The segment is less alien-themed than the others, but its grotesque imagery and dark humor make it a memorable, if disturbing, addition to the anthology.

Finally, Stowaway, directed by Kate Siegel and written by Mike Flanagan, offers a more introspective take on the alien encounter theme. Starring Alanah Pearce as Halley, a documentary filmmaker obsessed with UFO sightings in the Mojave Desert, the segment follows her discovery of an alien spacecraft. Unlike the bombastic films that preceded it, Stowaway is quieter and more contemplative, focusing on the psychological consequences of Halley's obsession. Siegel's direction brings a haunting beauty to the interior of the alien vessel, with stark black-and-white images that evoke an otherworldly sense of wonder. The element of body horror is more subdued but no less disturbing, with Halley's journey through the ship becoming a metaphor for the loss of self in the search for truth.

What sets V/H/S/Beyond apart from the rest of the franchise is its willingness to experiment with the found-footage format. Although some segments, like Dream Girl, bend the rules of the genre, they do so with the aim of broadening the scope of what found footage can be. The sci-fi theme also brings a refreshing change from the franchise's usual supernatural and slasher fare, paving the way for more ambitious storytelling and visual effects. Alien design, in particular, is consistently inventive, ranging from traditional UFOs to grotesque hybrids that feel as if they belong to another world.

V/H/S/Beyond is not without its faults. The overall story, while intriguing, doesn't take full advantage of its premise, and some segments suffer from pacing problems, particularly in their final moments. However, these are minor drawbacks in an anthology that offers more hits than misses.

Still, this film remains a solid entry in the long-running franchise, blending horror and sci-fi in a way that's both familiar and innovative. It proves that even after seven films, the V/H/S series still has a bright future ahead of it, especially when it's willing to push the boundaries of its format. Fans of horror and sci-fi will find plenty to enjoy in this kaleidoscope of alien terror, and hopefully the franchise will continue to explore new frontiers in future installments.

V/H/S/Beyond
Directed by Jordan Downey (Stork), Christian Long (Fur Babies), Justin Long (Fur Babies), Justin Martinez (Live and Let Dive), Virat Pal (Dream Girl), Kate Siegel (Stowaway), Jay Cheel (Abduction/Adduction)
Written by Jordan Downey (Stork), Kevin Stewart (Stork), Christian Long (Fur Babies), Justin Long (Fur Babies), Justin Martinez (Live and Let Dive), Ben Turner (Live and Let Dive), Virat Pal (Dream Girl), Evan Dickson (Dream Girl), Mike Flanagan (Stowaway), Jay Cheel (Abduction/Adduction)
Produced by Josh Goldbloom, Brad Miska, James Harris, Michael Schreiber
Starring Dane DiLiegro (Stork), Alanah Pearce (Stowaway), Mitch Horowitz (Abduction/Adduction)
Cinematography by Tapan Basu (Dream Girl), Alexander Chinnici, Mike McLaughlin (Abduction/Adduction), Kevin Stewart
Edited by Jordan Downey (Stork), Jay Cheel (Abduction/Adduction), Tanya Chhabria, Thom Newell, Benjamin A. Turner
Music by Nick Soole (Stork), Jay Cheel (Abduction/Adduction)
Production companies: Shudder Original Films, Bloody Disgusting, Cinepocalypse, Studio71
Distributed by Shudder
Release dates: September 20, 2024 (Fantastic Fest), October 4, 2024 (United States)
Running time: 114 minutes

Viewed on September 25, 2024 (Fantastic Fest press screener)

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