Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘V/H/S/85’

10/9/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

V/H/S/85 directed by David Bruckner, Scott Derrickson, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Natasha Kermani, and Mike P. Nelson. Courtesy of Shudder. A Shudder Release.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘V/H/S/85’. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

It really is quite amazing, how nostalgia is being transformed into a critical analysis tool in this day and age. Because more and more, we are hearing less about how a certain era of time was better or more magical in nature, and more about how… most decades were rough in nature. Wrought with ugly days and moments that nostalgia sought to wipe out. A reality which could be attributed to the current political climate, since cries of taking America back to ‘better days’ has made so many critical of that notion, and allowed for folks to point out how the good old days of Americana were wrought with the worst parts of us and filled with sorrowful acts that we should be ashamed of cannot erase and really… those discussions and those truths are spreading like wildfire into every corner of nostalgia, including popular media.

For stories are now looking at the past with a critical eye and celebrating the good whilst pointing out the bad and of course… horror films that are turning their eyes toward the past… are holding nothing back in their examinations of what other eras really looked like. Allowing for horror to really lead the charge in deconstructing nostalgia and its power, and one particular franchise that is leading the way in such matters is the V/H/S saga. Which is surprising since it started out as a hardcore anthology designed to celebrate both the subgenre and the era in which it first appeared, but the advent of V/H/S/99 changed all that. Since that film dug deep into how the 1990s were not the cuddly years we remember. No, that decade of boybands and TGIF had a lot of societal issues, the kind whose foundation were laid down in the 1980s and for proof… well then look no further than the latest intelligent entry in this saga, V/H/S/85.

For this brand-new Shudder release, does precisely what the prior film did, by giving us multiple vignettes set in the 1980s that explore the downs of the decade and the problems that we created then that we are still dealing with today. For instance, there is a set of vignettes entitled, ‘No Wake’ and ‘Ambrosia’ that examine how the gun violence that leaves us in fear for our children today, more or less found its genesis point in the 1980s and would serve as the prelude to shocking moments in our history. Such as Waco and Ruby Ridge. Courtesy of a story that speaks to how Americans’ constant need to be in conflict, led to heinous acts of gun violence that made more gun violence acceptable and the powerful commentary doesn’t end there.

After all, there are vignettes here that speak to how the 1980s was an era when technology exploded upon the market, and moved so quickly that it stirred up all kinds of worry and unrest about technology. The kind that we still suffer from today since simple technology innovations are seen as world-ending or can somehow bring forth physical changes. Which makes ‘TKNOGD’ and ‘Total Copy’ very poignant pieces. That speak to how those fears come to life and how the push to create upgrades and technology at a rapid rate created trouble with those that needed time to adjust and lost themselves in the mix of it. All of which provides us with some fine reminders that the 1980s were not just filled with bitchin’ music and big hair, they were uncertain times that were filled with fear and what’s even more impressive… is that this anthology offers up so much more.

Because this motion picture also just served to remind us that the turbulence of the era was also attributed to natural disasters and the surprise discoveries we made about the human condition. For ‘God of Death’ takes place during the great earthquake that hit Mexico City in 1985, and while it adds a delightful and amazing supernatural twist to that moment, it serves to remind us that Mother Nature was a touch aggressive in the 1980s, since Mt. St. Helens erupted in that era as well. Of course… the 1980s were also when Serial Killers rose to prominence in the news and opened up a new world of worry for us and ‘Dreamkill’ takes the time to explore the fears that generated, and how hard it was for us to cope with the reality that seemingly everyday people were eager to cause harm… to satiate a bloodlust that few understood in that era.

All of which brings together, the angriest and best chapter in this franchise. Because in addition to the incredible commentary and observations about how the 1980s were not the charming years we want them to be… it holds nothing back with the scares and the gore and offers us moments that resonate and feel familiar in every uncomfortable way imaginable. Making this a powerhouse horror anthology, one that takes the medium to new heights and keeps your attention every step of the way. Courtesy of quality writing, quality performances and surprises left and right that you don’t see coming in the slightest and well, hopefully this really is the beginning of a bold new era for this franchise. Where it will continue to showcase the best parts of horror by removing our rose-colored glasses, so we can see the truth about eras we hold near and dear to our hearts.

Watch ‘V/H/S/85’

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