How To Watch The V/H/S Movies In Order

Whether you’re an old hand at horror or just starting out, the “V/H/S” movie series offers a rich tapestry of storytelling, as each installment presents a diverse range of narratives within a single franchise. While all the films and short stories within them adhere to the found footage genre, that’s where the commonalities often cease. Each film offers a unique blend of subgenres, narrative styles, and structural nuances. The beauty of this series is that each movie provides a different flavor, and since they are all standalone, you can watch them in any sequence that suits you.

Despite keeping that thought, how should one approach watching the “V/H/S” series, a collection of horror tales that started in 2012? Is there a specific sequence for an optimal viewing experience? Absolutely, and here’s the recommended way to go about it:

1. V/H/S (2012) – The first installment is where it all begins.
2. V/H/S/2 (2013) – Continue with the second chapter for more spine-tingling tales.
3. V/H/S: Viral (2014) – Dive into the third installment, keeping the suspense alive.
4. V/H/S: The Viral Video Tape (2016) – Complete your journey with this fourth entry.

“V/H/S”
“V/H/S/2”
“V/H/S: Viral”
“V/H/S/94”
“V/H/S/99”
“V/H/S/85”
“V/H/S/Beyond”

Why is that the correct order to watch the V/H/S movies?

In the “V/H/S” collection, each installment is an anthology featuring multiple smaller tales woven together by a single overarching narrative. This means you can easily start watching any film in this series without worrying about getting lost or confused, as following each individual story and the larger framework is quite straightforward due to its relatively low continuity requirements.

Following our suggested sequence offers advantages, as it’s identical to their original release order. Kicking off with “V/H/S” provides an initial insight into the series format, showcasing a variety of entertaining short horror tales and establishing a captivating overall mood through its framing story. As you progress to subsequent films in this sequence, the transition becomes effortless. However, there are many reasons to watch them this way beyond just the smooth transition; it’s simply an immersive journey that enriches the viewing experience.

Often, the “V/H/S” movie series is guided by the same artistic minds, not only during production but also in scriptwriting and direction. Filmmakers like Simon Barrett, Adam Wingard, David Bruckner, and Timo Tjahjanto have all lent their talents to various movies within the franchise. Viewing them sequentially allows you to witness their growth as filmmakers and observe how they innovate within the format of the series. Additionally, there are numerous Easter eggs hidden throughout for attentive viewers, so watching the films in their original order is recommended to catch these details.

With all that in mind, let’s take a quick closer look at each individual film.

‘V/H/S’

2012 saw the debut of “V/H/S”, a movie structured around an apparently deserted home containing a deceased individual in a chair who perished while watching a set of enigmatic videos. A band of young burglars, on a quest to retrieve one particular tape from this house, start viewing the ones they encounter during their search. Unbeknownst to them, these videos lead them into the clutches of sinister and ominous powers.

On the tapes themselves, various stories unfold, ranging from an account of an alleged encounter with a legendary beast, a grim narrative of a road trip homicide, a tragic Halloween party turned disastrous, a yarn about an extraterrestrial abduction, and perhaps most astonishingly, a tale where a malfunction on a camcorder transforms into the antagonist in a horror movie.

In this movie, we see where it all starts – the foundation for the entire series, with its unique storytelling style, guidelines, and diverse ways each creative group can re-imagine those guidelines. The narrative in one scene is shown from a camera hidden within glasses, while another relies heavily on computer screen video chats. This is the initial installment of the sequence, and even as early as this, the filmmakers – from Radio Silence to Adam Wingard to Ti West – are enjoying experimenting with the fundamental rules that will shape an iconic found footage franchise.

‘V/H/S/2’

While each film within this series offers an enjoyable standalone viewing experience, there is substantial continuity between “V/H/S” and “V/H/S/2,” particularly concerning the framing narrative. Once more directed by Simon Barrett, the sequel’s framing narrative advances from where the previous movie ended, shedding light on the fate of the thieves in the last film and focusing on the ensuing events involving the tapes they discovered. This includes a fresh, mysterious residence and, naturally, another pile of videos for two private investigators to scrutinize diligently.

The findings uncover a fresh collection of eerie, terrifying narratives encompassing various themes. These include the account of a man perceiving spirits via a novel ocular prosthesis, a personal perspective on a zombie epidemic, and an examination of a peculiar cult. There’s also a tale about youngsters struggling to repel an extraterrestrial assault during a sleepover gathering.

In this latest installment, some vital members from the initial creative crew came back to produce fresh movies, and the methods used to tell each unique tale become increasingly imaginative and enjoyable. Additionally, if you’ve been observant, you can spot the links between this framing story and the one in the original movie, adding depth to the overall viewing experience.

‘V/H/S: Viral’

As a gamer diving back into the chilling world of V/H/S, “Viral” picks up where the previous movies left off, weaving together a string of online videos that originated from the same ominous tapes found in the original haunted house. This shared history gives the films a sense of continuity, as they share recurring characters and plotlines. Yet, once you delve into each short film, you’re greeted with fresh, innovative takes on the anthology format, keeping things exciting and unpredictable.

In this edition of the series, you’ll find several segments: a relentless ice cream truck chase sequence, a chilling story about alternate realities, a supernatural event as seen through the eyes of skateboarders, and a magician who’s possessed by a terrifying artifact from his collection. This time, the segments delve into more experimental themes and occasionally deviate from the “found footage” style established in the first two films, making “Viral” a film that has sparked much debate among fans. However, it showcases the series pushing its boundaries, which is crucial for future installments.

‘V/H/S/94’

Title number “94” signifies the start of a series of revival films in the style of “V/H/S”, focusing on particular moments in history. These movies not only imitate the video formats prevalent during those times, but also delve into the popular culture and prevalent fears of the epoch. Furthermore, it offers an appealing mix of seasoned contributors to the “V/H/S” universe and fresh faces joining the franchise.

94’s sections showcase diverse spin-offs of popular 80s and 90s subgenres. In the overarching plot, a SWAT team stumbles upon occult happenings and multiple enigmatic television sets. As for the individual segments, a woman finds herself stuck in a funeral home during a storm, accompanied only by what appears to be an unsettled corpse. A cybernetic being wakes up following experimental surgery, a white supremacist group attempts to harness vampires as weapons, and in the most renowned segment of the movie, “Storm Drain,” a news reporter delves into a network of tunnels to track down a mysterious figure called “Raatma.

This time around, the parts are exceptionally thrilling and entertaining, showcasing input from established “V/H/S” contributors such as Simon Barrett and Timo Tjahjanto, along with up-and-coming filmmakers like Chloe Okuno and Jennifer Reeder. Notably, it’s the first movie in the series that breaks away from the initial storyline, offering viewers a completely independent cinematic adventure.

‘V/H/S/99’

Following the achievement of “V/H/S/94,” the producers decided to carry on with movies set in specific historical eras, and this time, the focus is on the turbulent times surrounding the millennium, particularly the year 1999, a period riddled with its own unique horrors. Similar to “94,” this film emphasizes intricate details and aesthetics of the 1990s. However, unlike its predecessors, this installment introduces a fresh approach by incorporating a series of stop-motion films featuring toy soldiers as brief interludes instead of presenting a single, overarching narrative.

This time, segments predominantly helmed by newcomers to the series, delve into various narratives. One follows a riot grrrl band breaking into an eerily possessed old nightclub, another takes us through Hell during a disastrous New Year’s Eve party, a sorority initiation ritual transforms into a chilling account of being entombed alive, a twisted take on a game show unfolds in a basement, and the tale of a group of teenage boys who discover more than they anticipated while spying on their attractive neighbor. Each segment plays homage to certain aspects of 1990s pop culture, such as Y2K anxiety and teen comedies like “American Pie,” with directors such as Maggie Levin, Flying Lotus, and the Winter sisters (Vanessa and Joseph) at the helm. Once more, it’s a self-contained masterpiece in franchise filmmaking.

‘V/H/S/85’

Instead of moving forward in time from two films set in the ’90s, the franchise opted to delve even deeper into the past, specifically the 1980s – an era marked by the widespread use of VHS tapes. This film is rich with ’80s nostalgia, references to popular culture, and a deep dive into public interests and preferred genres from that time.

In this new project, “V/H/S” original director David Bruckner is back with a TV-style documentary about an enigmatic shape-shifting entity. Various filmmakers like Scott Derrickson, Natasha Kermani, Gigi Saul Guerrero, and Mike P. Nelson take the helm for individual episodes, delving into diverse topics such as lakes holding unexplained powers, a twisted family of serial killers, the fallout following the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, and an avant-garde artist investigating the relationship between humans and rapidly advancing technology.

In this upcoming V/H/S film, there are a couple of unique firsts. Two segments, “No Wake” and “Ambrosia,” directed by Nelson, share the same narrative continuity, with “Ambrosia” following as a sequel to the events in “No Wake.” Additionally, “Dreamkill,” directed by Derrickson and co-written by Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill, offers an entirely new plot but links back to the family featured in Derrickson and Cargill’s film “The Black Phone,” making it a complementary piece for the horror movie. All together, it forms an engaging web of connections and is one of the franchise’s strongest entries.

‘V/H/S/Beyond’

Instead of sticking with time-bound episodes, “V/H/S/Beyond” steers the series towards science fiction, delving into various tales of alien encounters. The main narrative, helmed by Jay Cheel from “Cursed Films,” is presented as a genuine documentary, featuring Mitch Horowitz, a recognized UFO expert, and some distinctive, spine-chilling VHS tapes. Subsequently, the movie shifts through its different segments, introducing fresh faces to the franchise.

This movie’s array of directors – Justin Long, Christian Long, Virat Pal, Justin Martinez, and Kate Siegel – explore diverse aspects of sci-fi horror. Their individual segments range from a sinister dog kennel operation to a questionable Bollywood star’s inhumanity, a SWAT operation on an unusual complex, and in Siegel’s first directorial effort, the tale of a woman who gets abducted by an alien spaceship while UFO hunting. The film’s most thrilling segment, directed by Martinez, follows a skydiving excursion turned disastrous as an extraterrestrial invasion occurs mid-jump, while Cheel’s atmospheric, credible segment gradually escalates to a chilling climax. This film, arguably the most daring in the series yet, skillfully weaves common themes throughout its segments.

Is there another way to watch the ‘V/H/S’ movies?

Enjoying the “V/H/S” series movies in their release order provides an opportunity to witness the transformation of the franchise and its creators as it develops from an anthology idea into a terrifying phenomenon. However, there are alternative means to engage with the tales within these films.

A straightforward method for reordering the franchise series is based on its inherent structure, considering that many movies are set in distinct years. By arranging them chronologically by setting, starting from “85” up to the latest release, you can use the non-year-themed films’ release dates as a reference. This approach provides an interesting perspective on how the VHS format evolved over time, and here’s what the order looks like: [Provide the reordered sequence]

“V/H/S/85”
“V/H/S/94”
“V/H/S/99”
“V/H/S”
“V/H/S/2”
“V/H/S: Viral”
“V/H/S/Beyond”

Is there one more way to watch the V/H/S movies?

The initial three “V/H/S” movies share frame stories that build upon each other, yet they don’t necessarily maintain a consistent plotline throughout. However, this structure doesn’t rule out the possibility of further development in different directions.

Throughout the lifetime of the franchise, two segments from the V/H/S series – “Amateur Night” (from V/H/S) and “Slumber Party Alien Abduction” (from V/H/S/2) – have been expanded into standalone films titled “Siren” and “Kids vs. Aliens.” As full-length movies, they differ significantly from the main series as they are not entirely found footage. However, if you aim to be a comprehensive viewer of the V/H/S universe, these movies can be included in your collection in the order they were released, resulting in a more extended and diverse viewing experience. This sequence is:

1. “V/H/S” (including “Amateur Night”)
2. “V/H/S/2” (including “Slumber Party Alien Abduction”)
3. “Siren”
4. “Kids vs. Aliens”

“V/H/S”
“V/H/S/2”
“V/H/S: Viral”
“Siren”
“V/H/S/94”
“V/H/S/99”
“Kids vs. Aliens”
“V/H/S/85”
“V/H/S/Beyond”

2025-04-14 17:31