V/H/S/99

V/H/S/99

Starring Veronica Blue, Alexia Ioannides, Steven Ogg, Melanie Stone

Directed by Johannes Roberts, Vanessa & Joseph Winter, Maggie Levin, Tyler MacIntyre, Flying Lotus

The V/H/S/ franchise is a fantastic way for up-and-coming horror directors (as well as more seasoned ones) to deliver deliciously delectable bite-sized horror stories that the general moviegoing masses would never see since they're too short on their own to get a wide release. They're smaller in nature and yet their stories are frightening, unique, and compelling - at least some of them. As with any other anthology series, you're bound to have some duds, but more often than not they're not that bad because you're not sitting through a two-hour feature, but rather a twenty-minute tale. "V/H/S/99" is the newest installment of the franchise, and focuses on the fears, bad energies, and generally despicable behaviors of people in 1999 before they ushered in a new decade, offering five stories (that, for the first time in the series, isn't tied to an anchor story) that mostly deliver the goods, but only a few really shine.

Maggie Levin directs the short "Shredding" about a group of youths who videotape their antics, pranks, and stunts reminiscent of "Jackass" back in the day, and generally showcases their bad behavior. When they decide to investigate an abandoned venue that's been closed off since a fire killed five members of a band that was playing there, they end up with more than they bargained for as they learn they're not alone. "Shredding" is an obvious nod to the "Jackass" stunts of the late 90s, and offers a cast of morally reprehensible characters who you don't mind seeing die (if they do). It takes awhile for the story to get going, and once it does the camera is so shaky you can't really develop what's happening, and unfortunately this is the weakest of the shorts in my opinion - not a good way to start off this anthology (C+).

Next up is "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City" and "47 Meters Down" director Johannes Roberts' directed "Suicide Bid," centering on a young girl who wants to be initiated in a prestigious sorority, but only applying to one (hence the name of the short). The girls tell her of a former pledge who was buried alive, and when they went to get her, she was gone - and for the new girl to become a part of their sorority, she must also spend the night in a coffin. Claustrophobia, spiders, and a supernatural entity haunts the young girl, threatening to leave her in the coffin forever. Thankfully, this is one of the stronger stories in the anthology, filled with Roberts' natural talent to direct and tell stories confined to small spaces. It's no "Buried," but you feel the fear the girl feels in that coffin, and the practical effects come off as very reminiscent of the classic horror movies of yore (A-).

The third story is Flying Lotus's directed "Ozzy's Dungeon," about a kids' game show that ends with tragedy, and the unfortunate aftermath that follows for the hapless host. Obviously taking liberty with the classic kids' game shows of the 90s like "Double Dare" and "Legends of the Hidden Temple," and has a fun tongue-in-cheek dark humor tossed in. The host of the show is "The Walking Dead" and "Grand Theft Auto V" actor Steven Ogg, and he excels at the job. The first half of the story is best, as you see how dangerous the set actually is, and how inept the medical professionals are, so you know things will soon go sour. They do in a very intense way, and then the aftermath is equally violent, but slogs a bit near the end - before it erupts in total insanity. Another strong entry thanks to Ogg's committed performance (A-).

The fourth story is from director Tyler MacIntyre called "The Gawkers" about a group of youths who spy on their attractive neighbor, getting a spycam installed in her computer, and seeing a lot more than they bargained for. Poking fun at the raunchy coming-of-age comedies of the 90s, "The Gawkers" is a mid story that's easily forgettable, but does offer a few decent scares at the end with some decent special effects (B).

The final story comes from directing duo Vanessa and Joseph Winter called "To Hell and Back," about two videographers who are hired to film a witch's ritual which results in them literally going to the bowels of hell. There they meet a damned soul named Mabel who agrees to get them out of hell as long as they write her name down in the book of witches, giving her a chance to come to earth again - but the clock is ticking, and if they're there when it strikes midnight, they'll be stuck there forever. Last year's "V/H/S/94" offered the meme-worthy chant "Hail Raatma," and "99" ups that with "Hail Mabel," as this is clearly the strongest and best story in the film. The concept of hell is richly filed with both practical and special effects, despite the smaller budget, and gives compelling characters a chance to shine, especially Melanie Stone's Mabel, who comes across as a mix of the Sanderson Sisters and Gollum from "Lord of the Rings." You'll be hailing Mabel too at the end of it (A).

Offering a more mixed bag of talented stories than last year's "V/H/S/94," "V/H/S/99" still serves as a great addition to the franchise, offering unique stories told through different lenses that appreciates the true art of horror.

The Score: B+