"Most of the shorts here try to use holiday goofiness as a gateway to serious terror, but unsurprisingly struggle to make it across that hell-mouth intact; meanwhile, the sole episode that keeps a straight face and taps into some of the real fears that accompany trick-or-treating manages to become the franchise's most genuinely upsetting short in years. All of the bits are diverting enough, and even the weakest among them boast spooktacular effects"
"(legendary makeup artist and creature designer Rick Baker even plays a small role in the final segment, which offers a worthy tribute to his work), but only one of them leverages Halloween into something creepier than empty calories. Written and directed by Scottish filmmaker Bryan M. Ferguson (known for his music video work with artists like Flying Lotus, as well as a wide variety of horror-infused shorts like the self-amputation-obsessed "Flamingo"), the wraparound story sets the tone for an anthology in which craft takes precedence over content."
A Halloween-themed V/H/S entry offers seasonal kitsch and familiar found-footage tropes, prioritizing craft over menace. Early omnibus entries established sinister credibility, but the eighth volume's focus on weird candy and cursed decorations undermines menace, ambition, and formal dexterity. Most shorts use holiday goofiness as a gateway to terror but fail to cross into sustained dread. One episode maintains seriousness and taps genuine trick-or-treat anxieties, becoming the franchise's most upsetting short in years. Practical effects remain strong across segments, including a Rick Baker cameo and a final tribute to creature design. Bryan M. Ferguson's wraparound favors style over substance.
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