V/H/S Violence

Hey folks, welcome back. Many of you are probably wondering where that Shaft Audio Review is and well...I accidentally deleted it. Yeah so I have to start all over again. But we are not here to talk about that.  SoCal Cinema Studios director/writer/producer Dustin Ferguson (Terror at Black Tree Forest, The Legacy of Boggy Creek, Escape to Black Tree Forest, Black Tree Forest III, Doll Killer, Die Sister, Die, Occult Holocaust, Gloved Murderess, Cheerleader Camp: To the Death and Shockumentary) asked me to give his new tantalizing tales of terror a visit and my thoughts on it. Apparently, he is under the belief that I am a decent writer and who am I to tell him otherwise, right? With an anonymous package of foreboding standing, a young woman decides to dust off her VCR and pop in this tape. This is V/H/S/ Violence.

3 Ninjas Kick Back?  The Hell?

With the trusty JVC working through the tape, our young lady starts to watch this VHS of unknown origin. If the little girl from the Ring pops out, just hook up the VCR to YouTube and share the film ASAP! We get a grainy intro and rocking opening theme. Excellent!!!

You get the general vibe this is an anthology and yup, you would be right. Along with Dustin comes Axemas 1 and 2's very own John Ward, Tony Newton (Welcome to Hell, Halloween Hell Night,Virus of the Dead and O' Bloody Night) Sam Mason-Bell (Toxic Schlock, Home Videos, A Taste of Phobia, Deep Web XXX and 2 Die For) and Jason Impey (The 12 Slays of Christmas, Home Videos, 60 Seconds to Die, Grim Places, Grindsploitation 4: Meltsploitation and Schlock-O-Rama)

Midwestern Art?

When open with a VHS camcorder viewing of what can only be described as a sex/torture dungeon and its various tools of infliction. Could be the beginnings of a snuff movie, could be a private director's collection. Two masked loopies stick and torment a guy they abducted. Or he answered an ad on Craigslist he is regretting in his final moments.

We cut to what looks like a early film school documentary with a buxom British blonde and yes guys, she gets naked. You have no idea how many times I get asked that. Also the cinematographer/director seems to have a vocal distorter on or it was done in post. Cut to a brunette machete chopping away. Looks a bit similar to the one Schuylar Craig used in Camp Blood 4 and 5. Just chaos happening here.

Dishy, right?

A segment looking like an audition in spite of the impatient couch casting director, the girl seems pretty compliant...or is she?

A stalker with a camera and clearly female voice trailing a couple, disgusted by what she sees. You can almost hear the hatred, the confusion and bile building up her moment by moment. Piece by piece. A dark epiphany happens and the girl will see it executed no matter what.

But enough of that darkness, how about a stroll through the local suburbs? Y'know, where everything is normal, happy go lucky and cheery. Appearances can be most deceiving though, can't they? With acts of violence, this film is woven like a dark tapestry. It's ultimate end, who is to say? Showing evil can happen whenever and however it likes, perhaps.

With a collective of new faces in this such as: Valerie Mulligan (Bikini Swamp Girl Massacre, Auteur, Cannabus Confessions, Steve's Garden and Troma presents: Mulligan's Monsters) Selena D (Party Bus to Hell, Meathook Massacre 4, Madame X and The Bread of Wickedness) Julie Anne Prescott (House of Blood, The Lost Girls, Scarred, Meathook Massacre 4, Hell Nurse, BAD ASS ANGELS and DEMONS and Night People) and Robert Mulligan (Bikini Swamp Girl Massacre, No Ordinary BJ, Cannabis Confessions and Steve's Garden)

I still see many a Ferguson regulars to the likes of: Jennii Caroline (Doll Killer, Die Sister, Die!, Gloved Murderess,The Amityville Legacy and Nemesis 5: The New Model) Breanna Mitchell (Cheerleader Camp: To the Death, Silent Night, Bloody Night 2: Revival, Meathook Massacre, Tales for the Campfire, Night of the Clown Meathook Massacre II and Nemesis 5: The New Model) Jared Allen (Cheerleader Camp: To the Death, Invitation to Die, Silent Night, Bloody Night 2: Revival, Demon Dolls and Conjuring Curse) and Justice Strong (Shockumentary and Meathook Massacre)

My only complaint would ruin the scope of the film, the lack of stabilizer was giving this photophobic, a headache. Not a severe one mind you, so nothing too bad there. With a unique blend of CGI post production effects, practical effects and grim story telling; it gives you a morbid fascination of what each tale is being told. A sort of nebulous fable if you will.

With some stories being mischievous, while others downright stygian, this film keeps you guessing if these men and women will ever know justice for their horrific acts.

Let's be clear. There is some creepy stories here but we are not approaching Faces of Death gross out factor. That being said, there is some clever, warped and bizarre segments in this movie and frankly I was impressed how certain components of this elaborate film unnerved me. I would like to see a collaboration like this again.

Professor Bobo could party in college.