V/H/S: Viral
When I first got the idea to create this blog I came up with two rules:
- I would not write about things I hate [the Web is full of rants {YouTube}]
- I would only write about things I like.
Therefore, this is actually some what of a challenging post. I love the VHS Series but, the latest entry VHS Viral was not what I expected.
In the past couple of years, Horror Movies have been making a comeback. I would go as far back as the original SAW, just like SCREAM created a brief revival back in the late 90s [which I Know What You did Last Summer promptly killed off a few years later].
Found Footage [or, as my wife calls them “Oh, SHIT!” movies] is a fun sub genre of Horror when done right.
When I saw the first trailer for the original VHS I was intrigued, a Horror Anthology shot as found footage sounded interesting. I went into the first film not expecting much, just hoping for a few good scares and a good time. I was blown away by the creativity in each short, including the wrap-around. Each short blended seamlessly into the next, when VHS 2 was announced I was not surprised.
I actually feared that the series would become just like SAW, a new entry every year. VHS 2 was just what a sequel should be, bigger and better. Few sequels have managed to pull that off. The top three sequels I can think of that actually pulled off “bigger and better” are The Empire Strikes Back, Terminator 2 and The Dark Knight.
When I heard of a third entry I was just as excited, a new anthology was coming my way.
Now these are some sexy posters if I do say so myself.
Unfortunately, the collection in VHS Viral was not as good as the previous two movies. The Anthology was shorter and only two stories really stood out.
The first story, Dante the Great and the last story; Bonestorm were definitely my favorite. The story of Dante, a magician that actually has magic powers was really fun. It was presented a bit differently than the previous shorts, making it very entertaining. It had a presentation like District 9, shot as a documentary with a sprinkle of mixed media.
Bonestorm had a slow intro which ramped up beautifully towards the end, this one was also presented in a mixed media format.
Stoner Skaters vs a Mexican Cult.
Sold.
My favorite segments from the series would have to be: 10/31/98, Phase 1 Clinical Trials, Safe Haven, Slumber Party Alien Abduction, Dante The Great and Bonestorm.
I read somewhere that Viral actually has one segment [Gorgeous Vortex] that was cut out of the film, strange.
I guess I’ll have to check out the Blu Ray.