V/H/S/Halloween: Unmasking the Found Footage Anthology's Terrifying Segments

The V/H/S anthology series has consistently pushed the boundaries of found footage horror, delivering bite-sized terrors from a rotating roster of talented filmmakers. Now, with the arrival of V/H/S/Halloween, the franchise has hit a new high, earning a rare 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This new V/H/S film isn't just another entry; it's a Halloween horror film that delves into the holiday's many facets, from childhood nostalgia to consumerism and urban legends, all while delivering truly unsettling scares.

This latest installment, streaming on Shudder, proves that the found footage format still has plenty of life left, especially when paired with the rich thematic tapestry of Halloween. It's a must-watch among 2025 horror movies, offering a fresh perspective on what makes the season so terrifying and beloved.

The Phenomenal Critical Reception: Why V/H/S/Halloween Earned 100% on Rotten Tomatoes

Achieving a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes is an impressive feat for any film, let alone a horror anthology movie, a subgenre often met with mixed reviews. V/H/S/Halloween has managed to captivate critics, who praise its innovative scares, thematic depth, and the sheer creativity of its directors. This score places it not only as the highest-rated V/H/S movie to date but also as one of the best-reviewed horror films of 2025.

The critical acclaim highlights a significant upward trend for the V/H/S franchise in recent years. While earlier entries had their moments, films like V/H/S/94 and V/H/S/Beyond signaled a return to form, building anticipation for what this new entry could offer. Critics point to the film's ability to leverage Halloween tropes while subverting expectations, crafting segments that feel both familiar and uniquely disturbing. The collective vision of directors like Bryan M. Ferguson, Anna Zlokovic, Paco Plaza, Casper Kelly, Alex Ross Perry, Micheline Pitt-Norman, and R.H. Norman is clearly resonating.

What makes this perfect score even more compelling is the film's ability to balance diverse directorial styles within a cohesive Halloween theme. Each segment feels distinct, yet contributes to a broader exploration of the holiday's darker side. This consistency in quality across multiple narratives is a testament to the strong creative direction behind V/H/S/Halloween.

What Audiences Are Saying: Expectations vs. Reality

While critics are universally praising V/H/S/Halloween, audience reception is always a different beast. Historically, the Popcornmeter scores for V/H/S films have often been lower than their Tomatometer counterparts. However, the buzz around this new V/H/S film is palpable, with many horror fans eager to experience the scares for themselves. Initial social media reactions suggest a strong positive response, particularly highlighting specific segments and their frightening impact.

Many viewers are drawn to the promise of a truly scary Halloween film, especially one that taps into the nostalgia of the season. The found footage format, when done well, can create an intimate and terrifying experience, and early audience comments indicate that V/H/S/Halloween delivers on this front. The blend of classic Halloween imagery with modern horror sensibilities seems to be hitting the right notes for both long-time fans of the V/H/S franchise and newcomers alike.

He didn’t kill him hr was sucked into a black hole inside of a pocket dimension he’s not dead— Tyrone Burnett (@Tyroneisback) July 10, 2025

Just watched V/H/S/Halloween and it's a game-changer for found footage! The segments are wild, especially 'Kidprint'. A must-see for horror fans this season! #VHSHalloween #HorrorAnthology — HorrorFanatic_X (@HorrorFanatic_X) October 3, 2025

100% on Rotten Tomatoes? V/H/S/Halloween lives up to the hype! 'Fun Size' is hilariously disturbing. Get ready for some serious scares on Shudder. #FoundFootage #HalloweenMovies — FilmCritiqueGuru (@FilmCritiqueGuru) October 4, 2025

The V/H/S franchise just keeps getting better. V/H/S/Halloween delivers pure, unadulterated horror with some truly innovative scares. My favorite segment? 'Coochie Coochie Coo'! #Shudder #HorrorFilm — SpookyScreams (@SpookyScreams) October 3, 2025

A Deep Dive into V/H/S/Halloween's Disturbing Segments

The strength of any horror anthology lies in its individual stories, and V/H/S/Halloween truly shines with its diverse collection of terrifying tales. Each segment offers a unique flavor of fear, contributing to the overall unsettling atmosphere of the film.

"Diet Phantasma": The Sinister Frame Story and Its Anti-Consumerist Message

Bryan M. Ferguson's "Diet Phantasma" serves as the wraparound narrative for V/H/S/Halloween. It follows a beverage company's product testing of a new cola, Diet Phantasma, where each can seems to contain a demonic entity. The unsuspecting testers experience deadly reactions, with their faces melting into black sludge as tentacles erupt from the soft drink. This segment, while repetitive in its execution, uses a nostalgic, fuzzy aesthetic to ground the film in a retro "Satanic Panic" vibe.

Beyond the visceral gore, "Diet Phantasma" carries a subtle anti-consumerist message, suggesting a sinister side to mass-produced goods. The horror here isn't just about the demons; it's about the insidious nature of consumption and the hidden dangers lurking in everyday products. The scare factor comes from the shocking transformations and the inescapable, almost casual, delivery of these gruesome events.

"Coochie Coochie Coo": Unsettling Urban Legends and Maternal Horror Tropes

Anna Zlokovic's "Coochie Coochie Coo" starts the main segments with a strong, if slightly silly, premise. Two teenage girls, perhaps a bit too old for trick-or-treating, tempt fate by mocking an urban legend known as "The Mommy" while wearing silicone baby masks. They find themselves trapped in a house that only appears on Halloween night, facing the very entity they dismissed.

The segment leans into maternal horror tropes, presenting a wronged woman who returns to raise the children she was denied. The horror is visual and grotesque, with viscous trails of curdled breast milk and tragically repulsive creature design. While some critics found the creature's six-breasted design humorous, the segment's focus on sordid details and the unsettling concept of a monstrous maternal figure still delivers genuine frights.

"Ut Supra Sic Infra": Cosmic Dread, Possession, and Police Interrogation

Paco Plaza, known for his work on the REC franchise, directs "Ut Supra Sic Infra," a segment that blends found footage with police interrogation scenes. The story revolves around the aftermath of a mass killing where victims' eyes are removed, hinting at a deeper, more cosmic dread. This segment stands out for its stylistic approach, cutting between the immediate terror and the chilling, detached recounting of events.

The scare factor here is less about jump scares and more about psychological unease and the unknown. The removal of eyes suggests a ritualistic element, and the police interrogation adds a layer of realism to the supernatural events. Plaza's direction creates a sense of escalating dread, leaving viewers with disturbing questions about the forces at play.

"Fun Size": A Twisted Take on Trick-or-Treating and Candy-Coated Chaos

Casper Kelly, known for his deranged comedy, brings "Fun Size" to life, offering a cautionary tale about twentysomethings who ignore a candy bowl's "one per person" rule. Their defiance leads them into an industrial pocket realm where a humanoid gumball machine pursues them, aiming to package their dismembered body parts as candy.

This segment is a masterclass in gross-out absurdity, with Kelly lavishing attention on the process of turning human remains into chocolate treats. The horror is a blend of dark humor and body horror, making viewers laugh even as they recoil. The underlying fear is a twisted take on childhood greed and the consequences of ignoring simple rules, all wrapped in a candy-coated nightmare. It's truly one of the more memorable V/H/S/Halloween segments.

If you love Halloween and found footage, V/H/S/Halloween is your new obsession. Each segment is a unique nightmare. Don't miss this one! #VHSHalloweenReview #ScaryMovies — MidnightMovieBuff (@MidnightMovieBuff) October 4, 2025

"Kidprint": Exploiting Real-World Fears and Analog Horror Nostalgia

Alex Ross Perry's "Kidprint" is arguably the most grounded and unsettling segment, tapping into real-world fears. Set in the early '90s, it centers on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's "Kidprint" program, where parents would record interviews with their children at Blockbuster Video stores as a taped ID. The segment follows a video store employee retrieving a Kidprint tape after a child goes missing, only to uncover a serial kidnapper among his co-workers.

The horror here is palpable and chilling because it's rooted in a very real, suburban fear. Perry expertly uses the low-grade video format to heighten the sinister atmosphere, exploiting the inherent wrongness of banal home video footage in a terrifying context. "Kidprint" eschews the supernatural to deliver a psychological horror that feels deeply disturbing and sticks with you long after it ends.

"Home Haunt": When DIY Halloween Decorations Come Terrifyingly Alive

Micheline Pitt-Norman and R.H. Norman's "Home Haunt" closes out the anthology with a gleefully gruesome tale. A father obsessed with creating the scariest DIY Halloween house takes his passion too far when he plays a vinyl record that conjures something from beyond. The decorations come terrifyingly alive, turning the family's home into a genuine house of horrors.

This segment offers a more traditional, yet still effective, haunted house experience. The scare factor comes from the sudden animation of seemingly harmless decorations and the escalating chaos within the home. It's a fun, gory romp that captures the communal love of Halloween horror, providing a fittingly chaotic end to the anthology.

Beyond the Gore: Exploring V/H/S/Halloween's Deeper Themes and Social Commentary

V/H/S/Halloween isn't just a collection of scary stories; it's a thematic exploration of the holiday itself. The segments collectively touch on several underlying ideas that give the film a surprising depth:

• Innocence Lost: "Kidprint" directly confronts the loss of childhood innocence and the anxieties parents face in protecting their children. "Fun Size" twists the innocent act of trick-or-treating into a grotesque punishment for greed.
• Consumerism: "Diet Phantasma" serves as a blunt, yet effective, critique of consumer culture, with mass-produced soda literally unleashing demons. It questions what we're truly consuming and the hidden costs.
• Childhood Nostalgia: The film expertly uses the aesthetic of old VHS tapes and '90s settings to evoke a sense of nostalgia, only to then corrupt it with terrifying events. This contrast makes the scares even more impactful.
• Urban Legends and Folklore: "Coochie Coochie Coo" builds on the power of local urban legends, showing how stories we dismiss can manifest into real nightmares.
• The Subversion of Halloween Tropes: Instead of relying on predictable jump scares, the film often takes familiar Halloween elements—candy, haunted houses, trick-or-treating—and twists them into something truly disturbing, offering a fresh take on the genre.

This thematic richness elevates V/H/S/Halloween beyond typical found footage horror, making it a film that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.

How V/H/S/Halloween Redefines the Found Footage Genre for Modern Audiences

The found footage genre has seen its fair share of criticism for becoming predictable, often relying on shaky cameras and incessant screaming. However, V/H/S/Halloween manages to breathe new life into the format by embracing its inherent limitations while pushing creative boundaries. Directors like Paco Plaza and Casper Kelly demonstrate a clear understanding of how to use the "tape" conceit to enhance their stories, rather than simply as a gimmick.

The film's success lies in its varied approaches to found footage. Some segments use it to create a sense of raw, immediate terror, while others employ it to build psychological dread or even dark comedy. This versatility prevents the format from feeling stale and keeps the audience engaged. By incorporating elements of analog horror and real-world anxieties, V/H/S/Halloween connects with modern audiences who appreciate both classic horror sensibilities and contemporary fears.

IndieHorrorLover @IndieHorrorLover Directors like Paco Plaza and Casper Kelly absolutely crushed it in V/H/S/Halloween. A masterclass in modern horror anthology. Seriously impressed! #HorrorDirectors #VHSHalloween — IndieHorrorLover (@IndieHorrorLover) October 4, 2025

Your Essential Guide to Watching V/H/S/Halloween on Shudder

For anyone looking for a truly terrifying Halloween experience, V/H/S/Halloween is a must-see. The film is an original horror anthology now streaming exclusively on Shudder. If you're a fan of found footage horror or just looking for a genuinely scary Halloween movie, this critically acclaimed entry is available to watch right now.

Shudder has become a go-to platform for horror enthusiasts, offering a curated selection of genre films. V/H/S/Halloween stands as one of their marquee 2025 horror movies, solidifying Shudder's reputation as a home for innovative and frightening content. Prepare for an evening of unsettling scares and thought-provoking horror that will redefine your perception of Halloween films.

The Future of the V/H/S Franchise

With the resounding success of V/H/S/Halloween, the future of the V/H/S franchise looks brighter than ever. The perfect Rotten Tomatoes score and strong critical reception suggest that the series has found a winning formula in its current iteration. What does this mean for upcoming entries?

It's safe to say that Marvel Studios will continue to seek out fresh directorial voices and unique takes on horror tropes. The emphasis on thematic depth and subverting expectations, as seen in V/H/S/Halloween, will likely be a guiding principle. Perhaps future installments will explore other holidays or specific subgenres, using the found footage format to deconstruct them in equally terrifying ways. The series has proven its ability to adapt and evolve, and with this latest masterpiece, it has set a high bar for what's to come.