V/H/S/94 is the fourth installment in the hit horror anthology franchise and marks the return of the infamous found footage anthology with segments from franchise alumni Simon Barrett (Séance) and Timo Tjahjanto (May the Devil Take You Too) in addition to acclaimed directors Jennifer Reeder (Knives & Skin), Ryan Prows (Lowlife) and Chloe Okuno (Slut). In V/H/S/94, after the discovery of a mysterious VHS tape, a brutish police swat team launches a high intensity raid on a remote warehouse, only to discover a sinister cult compound whose collection of pre-recorded material uncovers a nightmarish conspiracy.
For in-depth thoughts on V/H/S/94, please see my colleague Lee Vaughn’s review from its original festival premiere here.
Video Quality
V/H/S/94 comes to Blu-Ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original aspect ratio, and this is one film that is NOT going to stand out on the Blu-Ray format. Due to the creative aesthetic of the film, the crisp high definition footage that was originally shot has been processed to look like the terrible quality VHS of yore. The colors in the film are virtually lifeless with barely any hues in the production design or even nature making an impression. Fine detail is likewise nearly nonexistent with very little in the way of depth to the image. The picture features the tracking lines and thick grain of VHS with a blob of undefined murkiness during the shadowy moments. The cinematography of the film is very intentional, and, while it may not be the most beautiful presentation, this disc captures it as well as you could hope. Overall, this is a fine looking transfer for the type of film it is.
Audio Quality
V/H/S/94 comes to Blu-Ray with a commendable DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track. The movie does not go as overboard on trying to create a vintage experience on the audio side, but there are still intentional limitations put in place to replicate the lackluster recording equipment. Despite some adherence to authenticity, the environmental sounds still provide a very immersive atmosphere for the story. The low end of the track is especially active during more spirited moments of attacks and confrontations. The dialogue and sound effects are appropriately balanced with the music where nothing gets lost in the track. Surround channels get some nice activity during the more kinetic scenes and with the natural ambiance of interpersonal moments. This track is quite precise and effective, and will be appreciated by fans who pick up this disc. There are English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Bloody Disgusting’s “Boo Crew” hosts a commentary track with several of the filmmakers and producers from various segments. There are some interesting insights into how each segment came about including finding unique locations to shoot, some of the themes tackled, the special effects, the complications of shooting during a pandemic, the performers in the film, the creative production design and more.
- The Empty Wake Audio Commentary: Director Simon Barrett delivers another separate commentary track which manages to cover a lot of different material than what he covered in the main track. He is an interesting filmmaker, and it is fun to hear his process.
- San Diego Comic-Con Panel Interview: The 30-minute Comic-Con@Home panel hosted by critic Richard Newby featuring producers Josh Goldbloom and Brad Miska, and writer-directors Simon Barrett, Timo Tjahhanto, Chloe Okuno, Ryan Prows and Jennifer Reeder. In this panel, the participants discuss the premise of the individual segments, wanting to wait until the time was right to revive the franchise, what drew the filmmakers to the project and more.
- Behind-The-Scenes of V/H/S/94: A 24-minute featurette which showcases some on-set footage and interviews with the creatives in which they discuss getting involved with the project, what they were wanting to accomplish, the location shooting in Canada, securing the ensemble and more.
- Deleted & Extended Scenes: Five mostly un-VHS-processed scenes totaling 14 minutes that were not used from Holy Hell, Storm Drain and Terror.
- V/H/S/94 Special FX with Patrick Magee: A three-part 10-minute behind-the-scenes look at some of the gnarly makeup effects utilized in the film. It is really cool to see how inventive these filmmakers got with showing these creatures.
- The Empty Wake Visual FX: A minute-long look at some of the blending of CGI and practical effects in this memorable segment.
- Full-Length Veggie Masher Commercial: The full 44-second Veggie Masher commercial only seen briefly in the main film.
- Behind-The-Scenes Images: A collection of still images mostly featuring the creation of some of the features in the film.
Final Thoughts
V/H/S/94 finds the long-running horror anthology returning after a lengthy creative break. While this respite has allowed fans to properly miss the series, as usual the new film is a bit of a mixed bag in terms of quality. The wrap-around story feels a bit aimless in its execution, and some segments stretch things out a bit too much, but there are also some unhinged gems in the bunch that really make the experience worth your time. RLJE Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring an A/V presentation that is good as the material will allow and some great special features. It’s not perfect, but there is some talent on display here that should impress horror fans. Recommended
V/H/S/94 is currently available to purchase on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: RLJE Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
