A Halloween Trick or Treat? V/H/S Halloween (2025) Review
At this point, V/H/S and the October season have become synonymous as the tapes always seem to drop in the Halloween season. V/H/S Halloween continues that tradition, but with a twist that makes it one of the franchise’s strongest entries. By tying every short to the season of Halloween, the film doesn’t just feel like another anthology, it feels like an event. This is a celebration of horror’s favorite holiday, seen through the fun, chaotic lens that has made V/H/S endure for over a decade.
From the start, what makes V/H/S Halloween stand out is its cohesion. The anthology has always thrived on variety, but that variety sometimes came at the cost of unevenness. Here, the shared theme grounds the chaos. Every short is grappling with Halloween traditions from scary imagery, trick-or-treating gone wrong, haunted houses come to life; twisting what makes Halloween special into something unhinged. The result is a set of films that feel like they’re in conversation with each other, without losing the franchise’s trademark unpredictability.
The anthology kicks off with Anna Zlokovic’s “Coochie Coochie Coo,” a short that’s both funny and unsettling, playing with expectations around costume and identity. It sets the tone perfectly: creepy, strange, and willing to push boundaries. Later, Casper Kelly delivers “Fun Size,” which turns the familiar sight of an unattended candy bowl into something nightmarishly surreal, though this one leans a little too far into the campiness for our taste. It's Paco Plaza's "Ut Supra Sic Infra" that stood out the most for us. It feels more cinematic than the other shorts but it is shot well and hits hard. This lineup of tapes are unhinged in all the best ways, and a reminder that found footage works best when it weaponizes the everyday.
What holds the anthology together is not just the theme but the texture of the some of the filmmaking. Although some films start to lose sight of what makes found footage seem real and raw. What made the earlier installments of V/H/S so unique were all of the creativity on display while still making each tape feel rooted in reality.
Not every short lands equally, but the highs are some of the best the series has produced. There’s a willingness to be weird and dark, because there are some truly dark scenes. More importantly, Halloween manages to balance its tone and be genuinely fun while leaning into the holiday’s mischief as much as its terror.
Overall, V/H/S Halloween isn’t just another installment but a reminder of why this franchise still matters. By embracing a unifying concept, the anthology breathes new life into its format without sacrificing the rough edges that make it unique. At times it’s messy, it’s inventive, and it’s exactly the kind of chaos fans want from these tapes.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5
NOTE: This film was screened during Fantastic Fest 2025. It will be available on Shudder October 3, 2025.
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