4 horror anthologies to keep Halloween spooky — Moviejawn

V/H/S Halloween (2025)

Directed by Bryan M. Ferguson, Casper Kelly, Michelin Pitt-Norman & R.H. Norman, Alex Ross Perry, Paco Plaza, and Anna Zlokovic

Now this is a movie that little Sam would absolutely be seated for. Just when I thought the Halloween spirit was low, Shudder returns with its fan-favorite found footage franchise themed to the season. I would describe it as an off-spring of the three previous anthologies. With six segments in total, it offers all of the same body horror, absurdity, comedy, and atmosphere wrapped in one gnarly ribbon. I like to think that its dynamic depictions of greed is a byproduct of the way Halloween has been capitalized on in the last decade. 

“Diet Phantasm” (dir. Bryan Ferguson) is interspersed between five other films with an unfolding story of a corporation sacrificing test subjects to push out their new Halloween soda. Timelines are scattered with some of the stories taking place in 1992 and others are more current to today, but it doesn’t make it any less of a reflection. A communal Halloween celebration lacks spirit when the community’s anxiety is riding on missing children’s reports in “Kid Print.” It’s a reminder that communal intentions can’t produce a strong community on its own. Not when pesky teenagers take more than one piece of candy!

It’s often cited that horror is society’s mirror showing us all of our flaws. Choose any of these anthologies and you’ll be exposed to two truths: we do not indulge our inner child enough and our malnourished inner child misses that compassion. We wish to grow older until the responsibilities catch up to us. Weighed down by adulthood, Halloween is the one time (for most people) where it’s socially acceptable to rekindle that sense of wonder. Why not take advantage? Paint pumpkins with your friends, pick a costume that you want to wear, and end your Halloween night with candy and a scary movie.