Reviews: V/H/S/Halloween (2025) Movie Review
Genres: Horror, Anthology
Subgenres: Anthology, Found Footage, Splatter
HellHorror’s review of V/H/S/Halloween (2025) breaks down the plot, scares, cast performances, and its lasting impact on the horror genre.
V/H/S/Halloween (2025) Review — A Bloody, Chaotic Love Letter to Spooky Season
I’ve always had a soft spot for the V/H/S franchise. It’s messy. It’s unpredictable. And when it works, it really works. So going into V/H/S/Halloween, I knew I wasn’t looking for polished prestige horror. I wanted chaos. I wanted creativity. I wanted that raw, grainy, found-footage madness that feels like someone uncovered a cursed tape in a dusty attic.
And honestly? That’s mostly what I got.
This eighth entry leans hard into Halloween energy. Pumpkins, haunted attractions, twisted trick-or-treat vibes — the film feels like a horror mixtape designed specifically for October nights. It’s loud, it’s gory, it’s sometimes ridiculous… and at its best, it’s a blast.
Arrives on Blu-ray, DVD & digital 9 February 2026, courtesy of Acorn Media international.
The Concept — Classic V/H/S, But Seasonal
Like every entry in the series, this one delivers multiple short horror segments connected by a wraparound story. The found-footage format is intact — shaky cams, distorted audio, and that voyeuristic “we weren’t meant to see this” feeling.
What stood out to me this time was the commitment to theme. Every segment taps into Halloween imagery or folklore in some way. Haunted houses. Creepy suburban neighborhoods. Twisted childhood nostalgia. It all feels very intentional.
Some stories hit hard. Others miss the mark. But I never felt bored. Even when a segment didn’t fully land, I appreciated the swing.
V/H/S/Halloween — Segment Reviews (No Spoilers)
This year’s V/H/S holiday anthology delivers six distinct shorts, each with its own vibe, ranging from creepy folklore to absurd gore, and a connecting wraparound narrative.
1. “Diet Phantasma” (Wraparound Narrative)
The film opens and returns to this framing story throughout, setting the tone for the anthology. It follows an unsettling experiment involving a demonic soda and subjects who begin to suffer bizarre, grotesque side effects.
This wraparound feels more like a commentary piece than a full horror tale — it’s eerie and inventive at times, but its impact is muted compared to the individual shorts. Still, it’s a clever thread that ties the segments together.
Overall Feel: Atmospheric intro and recurring motif, more odd than terrifying.
2. “Coochie Coochie Coo” — Directed by Anna Zlokovic
This is the first full segment proper, and it hits the Halloween theme straight on. Two older teens out trick-or-treating stumble across a mysterious house that’s far more sinister than it should be.
There’s an urban-legend quality here, reminiscent of classic spooky tales — a nearly unstoppable “Mommy” figure that embodies why kids shouldn’t wander too far on Halloween night. Some viewers find it creepy and fun; others think its premise is familiar, but it’s still a strong first impression.
Overall Feel: Creepy folklore meets chaotic mayhem.
3. “Ut Supra Sic Infra” — Directed by Paco Plaza
This segment is a standout for its suspense and craft. Using police bodycam footage, reenactments, and a tense Halloween party gone wrong, it brings found-footage style to new levels.
Here, the horror is less about gore and more about dread — especially as the situation escalates inside a supposedly haunted mansion. This feels like one of the more cinematically polished parts of the film, likely influenced by Plaza’s background in intense horror storytelling.
Overall Feel: Tense and unsettling; a slow burn with memorable execution.
4. “Fun Size” — Directed by Casper Kelly
This is often cited as the highlight of the entire movie. A group of adults hunting candy stumbles into absurd, bloody chaos. It’s got the right mix of humor, practical gore, and twisted logic to feel like a classic V/H/S segment.
It’s silly in the best way — like a cursed Halloween party that keeps escalating. Some viewers treat this as the anchor of the anthology, and it’s definitely one of the most talked-about parts of the movie.
Overall Feel: Darkly funny, outrageous, and potentially the most memorable segment.
5. “Kidprint” — Directed by Alex Ross Perry
This chapter takes a harder, more emotional edge. It centers on a concept that — while rooted in found footage — feels disturbingly real: a service intended to help find missing children turns into something far darker.
Many fans and reviewers describe this as the most unsettling segment because it blends violent horror with psychological fear. It doesn’t rely on flashy creature gore — instead, the horror comes from context and implication, making it gnarly and disturbing.
Overall Feel: Chilling, deeply uncomfortable, and perhaps the darkest piece in the anthology.
6. “Home Haunt” — Directed by Micheline Pitt-Norman & R.H. Norman
The final segment brings us back into a household Halloween setup — a family-run haunted attraction that turns horrifyingly real.
This one lands somewhere between fun and fright. With imaginative set design and escalating terror, it captures the feeling of a haunted house gone off the rails. While some story beats feel familiar, the execution and creature moments make it a strong closer.
Overall Feel: Fun-leaning finale with atmospheric scares and solid payoff.
How the Segments Stack Up (My Take)
Best for Creativity:Fun Size — laughs, chaos, and gore all wrapped in playful horror.
Most Suspenseful:Ut Supra Sic Infra — smart use of tone and camera to keep you tense.
Darkest & Most Disturbing:Kidprint — psychologically heavy and deeply unsettling.
Most Classic Halloween Vibe:Coochie Coochie Coo — nostalgic horror with a twisted urban legend feel.
Solid All-Around:Home Haunt — fun, creepy, and satisfying.
Fun but Underpowered:Diet Phantasma — clever concept, weaker payoff.
Blu-ray SPECIAL FEATURES include:
• Filmmaker Commentaries
• Behind the Scenes: Diet Phantasma, Coochie Coochie Coo
• KidPrint Deleted Scene
• Diet Phantasma Uninterrupted Cut
• Diet Phantasma Commercial
• Diet Phantasma Gallery
Overall Impression
V/H/S/Halloween delivers exactly what you’d hope for from a seasonal horror anthology: variety, creativity, and moments that make you grin, cringe, and occasionally shout at the screen. Some segments are tighter and scarier than others, but most lean into the spirit of the theme with commitment and energy.
It’s not perfect. A few entries feel uneven, and the wraparound narrative doesn’t elevate the film overall. But the standout pieces — especially Fun Size and Kidprint — are reasons enough to recommend this one for horror fans craving a spooky, bloody binge.
The High Points
There are a few segments that genuinely impressed me.
One in particular balances dark humor with outrageous practical effects in a way that feels gleefully unhinged. It reminded me why I love anthology horror — you can take risks in 20 minutes that a full-length feature might never attempt.
Another segment goes darker and more psychological. Less splatter, more discomfort. That one lingered with me longer than I expected.
And let’s talk about the gore. If you’re here for practical effects, creature designs, and over-the-top brutality, this movie delivers. The effects team clearly had fun. The blood looks tactile. The creatures feel grimy and real. It has that handcrafted horror texture I always prefer over clean digital polish.
Where It Struggles
That said, this is still an anthology — and anthologies are rarely consistent.
The wraparound story feels thin. I found myself wanting either more depth or less screen time devoted to it. A couple of segments feel underdeveloped, like great concepts that didn’t quite have enough room to breathe.
The runtime pushes close to two hours, and I did start to feel it. With this format, tighter is usually better. A leaner cut might have hit harder.
Performance-wise, it’s a mixed bag. Some actors sell the chaos beautifully. Others lean into exaggerated panic that feels a bit forced. But honestly, that unevenness is almost part of the franchise’s identity at this point.
How It Compares to the Franchise
If I’m being honest, I don’t think this is the strongest V/H/S entry. But I also don’t think it’s the weakest. It sits comfortably in the middle for me.
What I appreciate most is that it doesn’t feel lazy. Even when a segment stumbles, there’s creativity behind it. It wants to entertain. It wants to shock. And sometimes it really does both.
The audience reaction seems divided overall, which doesn’t surprise me. This franchise has always been polarizing. You either enjoy the chaotic energy or you don’t.
I do.
Final Verdict
V/H/S/Halloween is messy, bloody, uneven — and very on-brand. I had fun with it. Not every segment sticks the landing, but the stronger entries more than justify the watch, especially during spooky season.
If you love anthology horror, found footage chaos, and unapologetic gore, this one is worth your time. Just go in knowing you’re getting a mixed bag — not a perfectly wrapped Halloween treat.
My Rating: 6/10
It’s not flawless. But it’s energetic, creative, and just twisted enough to make October feel complete.
Similar films like V/H/S/Halloween can be found in horror anthologies sub-genre(s), check them out for more movies like V/H/S/Halloween.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- V/H/S/Halloween Rating Scores
- Our Score: 6/10
- Overall Score: 6.16/10
- IMDB: 5.7/10
- MetaCritic: 6.8/10
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