VHS viral continues the series that has had some horror fans in twitchs of fear and other in an induced coma. By turns we have found footage story of a chase thrill filmer that is caught out in the carnage and is posted over the internet for the world to see (Vicious Circles), the dark tale of an evil illusionist (Dante the Great) who obtains a magical object of great power and uses it. There is a scientist that makes a homemade machine that opens a door to a parallel world of horribleness (Parellel Monsters).The next is the tale of teenage skaters, who have the misfortune of become targets of a Mexican death cult that have a ritual to perform (Bonestorm). Included is the cut from original release due to lack of cohesion, short by Todd Lincoln a deranged story called Gorgeous Vortex.
Portmanteau films were all the rage once. The 40s saw them leap into the horror field with the extremely sublime Dead of Night and though all the film were not masterpieces, the films of note were very good. They came back in horror field in the 60s and 70s. This links this film to The Skull, reviewed recently and a part of the Amicus output away from portmanteau films. Portmanteau has made a resergence in the last few years (as has found footage) and espically so in the Horror genre field. Often over crowded with slock and dullness it has become the cheaper and more versitile norm. This format has always been used to give directors, writers and actors a chance to get something into the wider stream and production houses a wider spread to bet on.The real problem here is not that it is portmanteau format or that it is a series of horror films. Far from it. The problem is that the stories, directors and most of the content is just really very dull.
The story lack any body or any real clear strength. They have not real ability to ask new or interesting questions or shock you. Thr films each individual piece of them, feel unambitious and empty but when put toghether become turds….This also may not be the film makers fault however and it could be the very lapsed way of making these ideas work that has caused a stinker to be dropped.
The DVD I would go so far as to say it is so dire and not helped by the lack of a disc to check it features.
