Year: 2023
Runtime: 1 h 50 m
Language: English
Directors: Scott Derrickson, David Bruckner, Natasha Kermani
Echo Score: 68A collection of unsettling VHS tapes surfaces, revealing fragmented news reports and disturbing home videos from the 1980s. These found recordings create a portrait of unease and dread, blending nostalgia with a chilling exploration of the era’s anxieties and the darker aspects of human nature. The recovered footage blurs the boundary between what is real and what is imagined, delivering a disorienting and unsettling experience.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen V/H/S/85 yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of V/H/S/85 (2023), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
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.
Last Updated: November 17, 2024 at 17:50
Still wondering what the ending of V/H/S/85 (2023) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.
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.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where multiple terrifying tales converge into a single, overarching dread.If you liked the complex, multi-story structure of V/H/S/85, you'll find similar chilling experiences here. This section features movies like V/H/S/85 that use anthologies and found footage to weave together several terrifying tales into one cohesive and deeply unsettling narrative, perfect for fans of creepy compilations.
Films in this thread typically present a series of self-contained horror vignettes linked by a framing device. The narrative pattern involves the gradual revelation of connections between the stories, leading to a climax where the separate threads of terror converge, often revealing a larger, more sinister truth that impacts the frame narrative.
These movies are grouped together because they share a specific structural approach to horror. They prioritize a complex, layered narrative over a linear plot, using the anthology format to explore different facets of fear while building towards a collective sense of disorientation and a bleak, overarching conclusion.
Movies where discovered recordings reveal a horrifying and inescapable truth.For viewers who enjoyed the gritty, first-person terror of V/H/S/85, this section collects similar found footage horror movies. Discover more films like V/H/S/85 where the action is seen through the lens of a camera, creating an immersive and intensely dreadful experience with bleak endings and heavy emotional weight.
The narrative follows characters who record events that spiral into unimaginable horror. The journey is one of mounting dread, captured in real-time, where the protagonists often become victims themselves. The structure is typically linear but presented with the raw, unpolished quality of a real recording, emphasizing the fragility of the characters and the inevitability of their fate.
These films are united by their distinctive format and the specific brand of anxiety it produces. The found footage style creates a powerful sense of immersion and immediacy, making the horror feel more real and threatening. They share a high intensity, a dark tone, and a focus on the visceral shock of witnessing events unfold through a subjective, vulnerable lens.
Don't stop at just watching — explore V/H/S/85 in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what V/H/S/85 is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of V/H/S/85 with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape V/H/S/85. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
What really happened at the end of V/H/S/85? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of V/H/S/85 that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about V/H/S/85: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like V/H/S/85 that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
V/H/S/85 (2023) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
V/H/S/85 (2023) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
V/H/S/85 (2023) Ending Explained & Theories
V/H/S/85 (2023) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like V/H/S/85 – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
V/H/S/94 (2021) Full Movie Breakdown
V/H/S (2012) Film Overview & Timeline
V/H/S/2 (2013) Full Summary & Key Details
V/H/S/99 (2022) Movie Recap & Themes
V/H/S: Viral (2014) Story Summary & Characters
V/H/S/Beyond (2024) Movie Recap & Themes
Nasty (2015) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Slaughter Studios (2002) Full Summary & Key Details
The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007) Complete Plot Breakdown
Screamtime (1983) Complete Plot Breakdown
Video Violence (1987) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Frightvision (2020) Full Movie Breakdown
Horror Anthology Volume 1 (2022) Detailed Story Recap
Terror (1978) Film Overview & Timeline
V/H/S/Halloween (2025) Movie Recap & Themes