I'm a sucker for "found footage" horror movies, and the V/H/S anthology movies are some of the best examples. While often "hit-and-miss" in terms of quality, the variety and production values of the movies ensure that even the weakest segment has at least one memorably horrific moment.
The "Snap Originals" V/H/S series of shorts covers similar themes of body horror and supernatural phenomena with four shorts that are around five minutes long each. With the experimental series produced by and only viewable on Snapchat, it's only natural that each segment is filmed through the lens of a smart phone using the Snapchat app. The gimmick fits the tone of the V/H/S series and thankfully does not diminish the horror elements.
The first episode, "Stray Dog," offers an accelerated view of body horror, with a grisly transformation occurring in the midst of some teenagers' slumber party.
"Rearview Window" is the weakest of the shorts, but still taps into some primal fears associated with human trafficking.
"The Nest" is my favorite of the bunch. It's the littlest homage to folk horror with some brief-yet-memorable monster effects and a creepy forest setting.
"Last Kiss" circles back to the teen party setting, with a young man noticing unsettling sights and sounds while trying to muster up the courage to kiss a girl he's into.
And that's it - 20 minutes and you're done with it all! The series' biggest flaw is that there is very little substance to the stories or characters, but the creators make the most of what little time they have. No segment overstays its welcome, and it's a mostly enjoyable distraction while waiting for the next proper entry in the movie series.
The "Snap Originals" V/H/S series of shorts covers similar themes of body horror and supernatural phenomena with four shorts that are around five minutes long each. With the experimental series produced by and only viewable on Snapchat, it's only natural that each segment is filmed through the lens of a smart phone using the Snapchat app. The gimmick fits the tone of the V/H/S series and thankfully does not diminish the horror elements.
The first episode, "Stray Dog," offers an accelerated view of body horror, with a grisly transformation occurring in the midst of some teenagers' slumber party.
"Rearview Window" is the weakest of the shorts, but still taps into some primal fears associated with human trafficking.
"The Nest" is my favorite of the bunch. It's the littlest homage to folk horror with some brief-yet-memorable monster effects and a creepy forest setting.
"Last Kiss" circles back to the teen party setting, with a young man noticing unsettling sights and sounds while trying to muster up the courage to kiss a girl he's into.
And that's it - 20 minutes and you're done with it all! The series' biggest flaw is that there is very little substance to the stories or characters, but the creators make the most of what little time they have. No segment overstays its welcome, and it's a mostly enjoyable distraction while waiting for the next proper entry in the movie series.
