V/H/S/85 (2023) Plot Summary & Ending Explained

As the camera gracefully traverses the serene vistas, a narrator's silky voice introduces us to the intriguing world of Stamer University, where a dedicated group of scientists stands on the brink of unveiling the mysteries behind a truly extraordinary specimen known as Rory. Discovered perched atop a windswept butte, this enigmatic creature captures the attention of Dr. Spratling and her research team.

In a contrasting narrative, seven friends set off on a blissful camping adventure by a peaceful lake. This group includes Rob, the observant documentarian, his sister Anna, her boyfriend Jared, along with Drew, Robin, Kevin, and Kelly. Ignoring the grim warnings surrounding the area, they dive headfirst into their lake escapade. However, their thrill quickly transforms into horror when a hidden sniper begins to rain down gunfire from the shore, tragically cutting short the lives of Anna, Jared, and three others.

In the wake of this catastrophe, Rob, Drew, Robin, and Kelly awaken, shocked to find themselves inexplicably alive despite their near-fatal encounters. Stumbling back to the safety of dry land, they are confronted by a chilling sight: the Roman numeral VII, painted in blood across the side of their abandoned RV—a haunting reminder of their ill-fated outing and the lives lost.

As these survivors come to grips with the reality of their miraculous survival, they are driven by a thirst for vengeance against those who caused their friends' tragic deaths. Thus, begins a dark and twisted chapter of their lives, filled with profound implications.

The documentary aspect of the story dives deep into Rory's origins, detailing how Dr. Spratling and her team at Stamer University painstakingly attempted to educate this being about human culture within a controlled setting. In an isolated room, Rory is subjected to a continuous loop of exercise videos, as the team fervently strives to decode the communication with this mystical entity.

Simultaneously, chaos unfurls at Ahorita TV, as a Mexican news crew finds themselves amidst a catastrophic earthquake, leaving Luis, the cameraman, as the sole survivor. After being rescued, he, along with his team members—Karla, Miguel, and Eddie—faces a horrifying revelation as they navigate through the wreckage. They stumble upon walls adorned with skulls and an ominous statue of Mictlān, an ancient Aztec deity. This encounter leads to Eddie's unwitting possession by the malevolent spirit, prompting a ruthless attack that culminates in his brutal demise.

As the story shifts, the audience is introduced to Ada Lovelace, a performance artist who captures her audience's attention with a provocative concept; she proposes that the divine has been superseded by the omnipotent "God of Technology." Through a mesmerizing video, she introduces a groundbreaking virtual reality device that allows users to intertwine both their physical and digital experiences. However, her experimentation goes horrifically awry when the device's entity attacks her, resulting in her gruesome downfall.

Amidst the backdrop of these intertwining narratives, the Wrigley family hosts a seemingly ordinary gathering that reveals a sinister tradition—the ritualistic annihilation of seven lives. With Ruth marking her initiation into this dark custom, her cousin James unwittingly captures the horrifying moment on film. As police sirens wail, the family's secret violent history comes to light, leading to a harrowing showdown resulting in chaos and bloodshed.

In a parallel investigation, lead detective Wayne finds himself entrenched in a series of unnervingly familiar murder tapes, leading him to uncover a shocking truth about his associate Bobby's familial ties to the orchestrator of these crimes.

As Rory's influence grows, the implications of its evolution become all too clear, drawing the researchers deeper into a web of their own making. With its grip tightening, the sheer unpredictability of Rory and the intertwined fates of the characters spell calamity with devastating consequences. The various threads of chaos converge, culminating in a horrific climax that revels in both the fragility of human existence and the dark shadows that linger within its depths.

In the ending of "No Wake," the survivors—Rob, Kelly, Drew, Kevin, and Robin—are inexplicably brought back to life after being shot and left to die by their unseen attacker. Although they are wounded and bleeding, they are essentially immortal now, as their injuries do not heal, but they do not die. They realize that the lake's water has granted them this bizarre immortality—like a Lazarus pit—transforming them from mortal to nearly unkillable beings. However, Robin and Jared, who didn’t go into the lake, remain dead, which confirms that their revival hinges on the water exposure. The group deduces that the attacker’s truck license plate was caught by Rob, and they vow to track down the assailant and exact revenge, turning the traditional slasher narrative on its head: instead of victims dying, they now have the power to hunt their killer. This grotesque twist also introduces a concept of eternal life filled with ceaseless wounds—living forever but not healing—highlighting the horror of a perverted form of immortality. The ending leaves open questions about how this curse will unfold for Ruth and the others, with the possibility of Ruth—or whoever survives—seeking vengeance or suffering endless torment, depending on how the story progresses. It’s a deeply unsettling take on revenge and the consequences of tampering with unnatural forces.