Acorn Media International

Unveiled through a made-for-TV documentary, five tales of found footage horror emerge to take viewers on a terrifying journey into the grim underbelly of the 1980s. 

2023’s sixth instalment in the V/H/S series proves that there’s no lacking of imagination in the brains behind the cameras.

The wraparound story called Total Copy is written by Evan Dickson and David Bruckner and follows scientists at Stamer University studying a shapeshifter they’ve called Rory. This narrative is broken up by a series of other found footage stories, starting with No Wake, written and directed by Mike P. Nelson, about teens under attack at a lakeside holiday camp

God of Death, written and directed by Gigi Saul Guerrero, follows a Mexican film crew who stress trapped by an earthquake and find themselves at the mercy of an Aztec god. TKNOGD, written by Zoe Cooper and directed by Natasha Kermani, is the weakest of the stories, chronicling a performance artist who mocks God and pays the price for her blasphemy.

Ambrosia, written and directed by Mike P. Nelson, records the most bizarre family gathering – and you thought YOUR family was weird! – with the best saved for last,  Dreamkill, directed by Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange), written by Derrickson and C Robert Cargill. A series of murders has been prophesied by a series of video messages, but who is the killer here? It’s an accomplished Manhunter meets Saw period piece that could easily be fleshed out to a full feature.

The Blu-ray includes uncut Super 8 footage of Dreamkill, a commentary and uninterrupted cuts.

Verdict: Invention is the name of the game in this welcome, 80s-set collection of video horror stories. One of the strongest in the series. 8/10

Nick Joy