V/H/S: Viral

V/H/S: Viral is a 2014 anthology horror film, the third installment in the V/H/S series, featuring a compilation of found-footage short films inspired by various contemporary horror sub-genres. This edition stars diverse well-known talents such as Patrick Lawrie, Emilia Ares, and Celia K. Milius.

Investing heavily in the concept of viral videos as its primary concept, the movie fosters an environment revolving around ordinary people's fascination, obsession, and fear of the viral culture—an aspect of society that is equally captivating and terrifying.

In V/H/S: Viral, the anthology’s connective narrative encompasses a high-speed police chase running through the streets of Los Angeles. A desperate amateur video enthusiast named Kevin, portrayed by Patrick Lawrie, is drawn into a chaotic search as he pursues his ice cream truck-driving girlfriend who ends up being a part of this city-wide pursuit. Kevin's frantic chase is recorded on various mobile devices by gawkers, hoping that their footage may go viral too. Much like in the previous installments, the film outside of the short film entries is designed to weave the short stories into a single overarching plot.

Five independent "mini flicks" punctuate the storyline in this encapsulating anthology, each one more twisted and disconcerting than the last: "Dante the Great", "Parallel Monsters", "Bonestorm", "Gorgeous Vortex", and the film's wraparound segment. Each short film brings a fresh new horror, accompanied by an equally chilling backstory.

"Dante the Great", directed by Gregg Bishop, is a clever twist on the classic "deal with the devil" subplot using magic as its central theme. Emilia Ares embody the main character of Scarlett, whose pursuit of her former magician mentor after a series of unexplained deaths unfolds vividly.

"Parallel Monsters", directed by Nacho Vigalondo, is a surreal, intricate rollercoaster of weirdness. This segment utilizes sci-fi as well as horror, delving into alternative universes and their catastrophic outcomes when coincided with our own reality.

"Bonestorm", directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, is a visceral bloodbath of skater culture meshed with ancient occult rituals, energetic, cringy, and engrossing all at once.

While the "Gorgeous Vortex" does not figure into the North American theatrical & DVD releases, it's later appended to the Netflix release as a bonus segment. This short film is a nightmarish aesthetic journey loaded with disturbing imagery and a sinister suspenseful narrative, directed by Todd Lincoln.

The frame narrative, which consists of Kevin’s ongoing search for his girlfriend and the videos he encounters during the hunt, tries to stitch all segments together, proclaimed as "Vicious Circles" directed by Marcel Sarmiento. V/H/S: Viral maintains its commitment to the series’ format by connecting these seemingly disparate narratives with an engaging wrap-around story.

Woven into the screenplay are themes of obsession, voyeurism, and the inescapable allure of becoming “internet famous” — highlighting the destructive passions within people that the digital age has amplified. The movie, using uniquely styled cinematography, manages to remarkably capture scenes from a first-person perspective, intensifying the experience and authenticity of fear.

V/H/S: Viral, although polarizing even among seasoned horror fans, carries a unique commitment to the surprising turn of events, shockingly violent visuals, and a dark sense of humor, marking its ground in the found-footage horror genre. It's a mixed bag of creative horror tropes assembled to induce a spine-tingling, paranoia-infused cinematic experience and remind viewers, whether they love it or hate it, they are a part of the viral age and there’s no escaping it.