Shudder Secrets: V/H/S 99 Explained

The V/H/S franchise returns to Shudder this Halloween season with its latest installment, V/H/S 99. The found footage anthology series has become one of the most prolific and active franchises in the genre. The latest, like its predecessors, certainly has some note-worthy segments. What makes these movies fun is their potential to launch the careers of various directors. Past entries have included work by Ti West, Adam Wingard, Simon Barrett, among many others.

The latest really soaks itself in late 90s culture, including Jackass-like DIY footage, pop-punk soundtracks, and of course, Y2K fears. It also contains gnarly special effects and gore that we’ve come to expect from this franchise. Below is a list of some of our favorite segments from V/H/S 99.

Shredding

Directed by Maggie Levin, who has rock ‘n roll roots, this segment is FUN. It follows a group of teens, better known as the band R.A.C.K. They film nearly everything and take inspiration from stunt shows like “Jackass.” They perform pranks, skateboard, and play punk rock. This segment also features a rad soundtrack inspired by the pop-punk craze of that time period, when bands like Blink 182, Sum 41, and others ruled the charts.

The four friends visit an abandoned arts collective called the Colony Underground, where the band Bitch Cat died, but not from the freak electrical fire, but rather, because their fans trampled them to death after trying to escape the flames. Of course, R.A.C.K films their ghoulish exploration, and when Bitch Cat returns from the dead with a vengeance, the tape still rolls, capturing all the gruesome kills.

There’s a lot of cool aspects to this segment, not only the music, but also the way the story is told. You have the members of R.A.C.K. filming in real-time, but this is juxtaposed with old footage of Bitch Cat, talking about their music, fans, ethos, and live shows. The faux music documentary is a nice touch. But most of all, the special effects here rule. When Bitch Cat returns, they look like something out of Return of the Living Dead. This segment is a standout, one that has humor and heart. Prior to this, Levin directed a segment for Hulu’s “Into the Dark” series, and more recently, she worked on The Black Phone. I can’t wait to see what she does next.

Suicide Bid

Man, oh man, did this segment make me feel all kinds of claustrophobic and icky. Directed by Johannes Roberts (Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City), this film follows lonely college freshman Lily (Ally Ioannides). She makes a suicide bid, meaning she applies to join one sorority and one sorority only. The sisters tell her that she can join, but on one condition. She has to stay in a coffin overnight and commit to getting buried alive. She agrees, even after they tell her an urban legend about another college student who participated in the same hazing ritual and disappeared years ago.

This one really made me squirm in my seat. Lily is given a handheld camera, and most of the segment focuses on her in the confined space. You hear her panicked breathing and the thuds atop the coffin after the sisters throw dirt on it. Oh, and they gift her a box with spiders that crawl all over her face after she opens it. Talk about gross! When things can’t get any worse, it starts pouring, causing rain and mud to seep into the wooden casket.

Yep, this one is truly, truly nerve-splicing. It’s made even more effective because Lily is such a relatable character. She simply wants to belong and endures an awful hazing ritual as a means to gain acceptance. Of the five segments, this one very well may be my favorite. Its tension can induce heart palpitations.

To Hell and Back

This segment leans into the Y2K craziness, and it’s pretty bonkers. Directed by Shudder darlings Joseph and Vanessa Winter, It starts off with a filmmaker shooting footage of a cult that plans to summon a demon at midnight on NYE, as the world enters a new millennium. Women volunteer to be its “vessel” and are more than happy to talk about their willingness to carry the demon’s seed. However, something goes wrong. Two members of the film crew, Troy (Joseph Winter) and Nate (Archelaus Crisanto), are sucked into hell. There, they meet Mabel (Melanie Stone), a creature with a heck of a lot of spunk and spark.

This segment is one of the most entertaining by far, especially Stone’s performance as Mabel. She’s a ghoulish delight. Crisanto and Winter give solid performances too, playing characters whose friendship is pushed to the brink as they try to survive…well, hell, and find their way back home. Mabel, meanwhile, is like a demonic pixie tour guide who may or may not lead the friends to their demise. She keeps her true intentions hidden, which makes the segment even more engaging.

Oh, and like nearly all of these segments, “To Hell and Back” leads to a pretty over-the-top ending that oddly fits considering the premise revolves around a weird cult that tries to summon a demon on the eve of Y2K.

Overall, V/H/S 99 is another gruesome and enjoyable entry into the rejuvenated franchise. It’s already been announced that another entry is on its way in 2023, V/H/S 1985. Directors include some heavy hitters, too, including, David Bruckner (The Night House, Hellraiser 2022) and Scott Derrickson (The Black Phone, Sinister), among others.

V/H/S 99 drops on Shudder on October 20. Stay updated on the streaming service’s latest content by following my Shudder Secrets column.