V/H/S/85

I know this is going to sound really bizarre but V/H/S/85 is totally creepy if you put it on a TV "in the background" while you're doing other things, because many of the scenes are genuinely surreal or disturbing if you just randomly look up now and then. I started watching this movie with the sincere intention of watching it closely, like I would with most films, but it just wasn't solid enough in the first vignette to capture my interest. Maybe if I had turned this flick off impulsively I would have given it a much lower rating, but instead I just let it play and wow what an unsettling ambiance this style of film making creates.

I think it helps that I'm old enough to remember 80s television but also young enough that I was a child at the time, so there's something a bit jarring about seeing clips of real commercials blended in from almost 40 years ago that I had half-forgotten. This technique ups the authenticity factor but not if you pay attention too closely.

Although it doesn't show off the variety & versatility this franchise is renowned for, this newer expansion still possesses plenty of charm and freshness of its own that will help keep the audience committed for the entire course.

If you are an ardent follower of the V/H/S series or a general admirer of Found Footage features, you will find yourself right at home with sufficient blood and gore to satisfy your appetite. However, others may not get the appeal and might be confused about the rationale of the plot and its bizarre structuring. And that is completely understandable, as it is not made for everyone.

Please bear that in mind.

It gets right into it. No main story arc about who's watching these videos. We start off with a story of vacation, youth, recreation, death, sudden and surprising horror, partying, wait, this was just an old video tape of young adults having fun, right? What could possibly go wrong....oh wait.... HOLY @#$!

So the first segment was so misleading, I honestly forgot what kind of movie I was watching until things got intense. Then it took a turn. A very "different" turn. This is not your usual VHS film, nor is it a typical, cash-grab low-budget horror. It does well for itself.

Despite the unattractive, distracting segment totally dependent on subtitles (unless you are fluent in Spanish), every segment is promising, intense, and fun. There are lots of great moments. It's not at fearful as the first VHS movie. No VHS sequel only will be. But this is the best installment since the release of the original.

It does get a little weak and predictable for the last couple segments. Still, it's fun. Have a few drinks, kick back, and just have fun.

After V/H/S 99, I was approaching this next installment a little fearfully. But, to my surprise V/H/S 85 is a good entry. The wraparound story, as well as each segment were pretty good. Maybe the "TKNOGD" Segment (Segment number three) was a little weak, but still better than the first four segments of V/H/S 99.

Overall, V/H/S 85 reminded me a lot of V/H/S 94, which I consider one of the best. So, if you enjoy the suspense, eerie atmosphere and sophisticated storytelling of 94, you will enjoy this one too.

The best two segements (Dream Kill and Ambrosia) start and finish this series and therby "roll out" and "wrap up" the red carpet for the segments in the middle, allowing them to effect us with their full potential.

V/H/S/85 is my least favourite out of the new V/H/S/ films. It's a shame because I was looking forward to this one. It's not a bad movie or anything like V/H/S: Viral.

There were some compelling ideas, with one segment involving a lake with supernatural abilities if you go into the water. Or how about a detective receiving video tapes filmed by a serial killer of a series of murders that has yet to happen, and the detective must track down the potential victims before it happens?

Speaking of that, the segment Dreamkill by director Scott Derrickson was my favourite. I noticed that Derrickson pulled ideas from his other movies, such as his 2012 film 'Sinister', where we get a Super 8-found footage POV of the killer committing the horrific acts. Or how the crime scenes looked straight out of Michael Mann's 'Manhunter'. Great stuff.

The scene transitions could have been smoother, as it did feel like I was watching a Nick Crowley YouTube video at times, which isn't an insult to Crowley himself; it's just a unique editing style that I didn't expect a movie production to take on board, intentional or not. It took me a bit to realize when the next horror segment started, as it wasn't always crystal clear.

Despite that, I'm still looking forward to more movies in the future. Again, it is not a bad movie, just a bit disappointed.