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V/H/S/85 (2023) movie poster

Characters & Themes

V/H/S/85 (2023) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2023 · 1 h 50 m · English
Echo score 68
JustWatch #15,787 12
Directed by
Scott Derrickson, David Bruckner, Natasha Kermani
Starring
James Ransone, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Chivonne Michelle, Freddy Rodríguez, Chelsey Grant, Alex Galick

A 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.

Horror Thriller Cast, crew & box office
On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like V/H/S/85
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch V/H/S/85 (2023)

Where can you watch V/H/S/85? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on AMC+, Philo and Shudder: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

V/H/S/85 Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of V/H/S/85 (2023), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Rory

    Rory is a mysterious creature that intrigues scientists at Stamer University. Its origins and abilities are the focal point of intensive research, unveiling themes of curiosity and the unknown. Rory embodies vulnerability yet holds immense power due to its enigmatic nature, leading to unforeseen consequences for those studying it.

    • 🦄 Enigma
    • 🧬 Science

  • Rob

    played by Alex Galick

    Rob is portrayed as the observant documentarian among the camping group. His analytical nature and determination to capture moments put him in peril during their tragic outing. Rob's journey transforms as he navigates the aftermath of survival, grappling with guilt and the longing for revenge.

    • 🎥 Filmmaker
    • 🌲 Survivor

  • Ada Lovelace

    Ada Lovelace is a provocative performance artist who challenges the audience's conception of divinity through technology. Her ambitious creations symbolize the merging of digital and physical realms, yet they also illustrate the risks of such innovations. Her downfall serves as a cautionary tale about overreach in the pursuit of progress.

    • 🎨 Artist
    • 📡 Innovator

  • Luis

    Luis is the sole survivor of a catastrophic earthquake while working at Ahorita TV. His experience captures the harrowing tale of survival amidst devastation. As he navigates the wreckage, he embodies the resilience of spirit, transforming despair into a desperate quest for truth in the aftermath of horror.

    • 📹 Cameraman
    • 🌪️ Survivor

  • Wayne

    Detective Wayne is embroiled in the investigation of a series of murder tapes, digging deeper into a web of familial connections to crime. His relentless pursuit of the truth reveals unsettling realities that intertwine with his own life. Wayne symbolizes the quest for justice amidst personal and professional turmoil.

    • 🕵️‍♂️ Detective
    • 🔍 Investigator

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:31

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Setting

Where and When Does V/H/S/85 Take Place?

The setting of V/H/S/85 (2023): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The film intertwines contemporary settings with advanced technology themes, including virtual reality experimentation. It evaluates the past and present through its characters' confrontations with modern horrors, symbolizing a critique of societal norms and technological advancements.

Location

Stamer University, Ahorita TV, a peaceful lake

Stamer University is a research institution celebrated for its scientific explorations, particularly into extraordinary findings like Rory. Ahorita TV is the hub of local news where a catastrophic earthquake unfolds, exposing the chaos of disaster journalism. The peaceful lake serves as a backdrop for the blissful yet tragic camping adventure of seven friends, highlighting the serene juxtaposition of nature against the horrors they face.

  • 🏫 University
  • 📺 TV Studio
  • 🌊 Nature

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:31

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3 major themes

V/H/S/85 Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is V/H/S/85 (2023) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Survival

    The theme of survival is central to the narrative as characters navigate through trauma and tragedy after a brutal attack. Their miraculous survival ignites a thirst for vengeance, prompting a dark transformation in their lives. This struggle underscores the human instinct to fight back against insurmountable odds.

  • Technology

    Technology emerges as a double-edged sword, representing both innovation and grave consequences. Ada Lovelace's project demonstrates the potential for technology to connect or destroy individuals. The narrative explores how advancements can blur the line between reality and horror, raising questions about ethical boundaries in the digital age.

  • Violence

    Violence permeates the film, reflecting humanity's darker tendencies and traditions. The ritualistic killing within the Wrigley family emphasizes how deeply rooted violence can manifest even in seemingly ordinary settings. It highlights the unpredictable nature of human behavior and the monstrosities hidden beneath the surface.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:31

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Character & theme questions

V/H/S/85 Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about V/H/S/85 (2023): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where does this anthology film take place?

The film takes place across several distinct locations. Stamer University serves as a research facility where scientists study the mysterious creature Rory. Ahorita TV functions as a local news station that becomes the site of a catastrophic earthquake. A peaceful lake provides the backdrop for a camping trip gone horribly wrong.

  • locations
  • settings
  • stamer university
  • ahorita tv
  • lake
Q2

What time period is the film set in?

The film exists in a contemporary setting but prominently features footage from the 1980s through the discovered VHS tapes. The framing suggests present-day investigation of these recovered recordings, blending modern settings with the nostalgic yet disturbing 1980s footage.

  • time period
  • era
  • 1980s
  • modern
  • vintage footage
Q3

What are the main themes explored in the film?

The film explores three interconnected themes. Survival drives characters to confront trauma and seek vengeance after brutal attacks. Technology serves as a double-edged sword, with innovations like virtual reality and digital creations blurring the line between reality and horror. Violence permeates the narrative, exposing humanity's darker tendencies through ritualistic killings and senseless acts.

  • themes
  • survival
  • technology
  • violence
  • horror themes
Q4

Who is Rory and what role does it play?

Rory is a mysterious creature that becomes the focal point of intensive research at Stamer University. Its origins and abilities remain enigmatic, driving the scientific curiosity of researchers. Rory embodies both vulnerability and immense power, leading to unforeseen consequences for those who study it.

  • rory
  • creature
  • monster
  • stamer university
Q5

Who is Ada Lovelace in the film?

Ada Lovelace is a provocative performance artist who uses technology to challenge audiences' conceptions of divinity. Her ambitious projects symbolize the merging of digital and physical realms, illustrating both the potential and risks of such innovations. Her storyline serves as a cautionary tale about overreach in the pursuit of progress.

  • ada lovelace
  • performance artist
  • technology
  • digital art
Q6

Who is Detective Wayne and what is he investigating?

Detective Wayne investigates a series of murder tapes that reveal a web of familial connections to crime. His relentless pursuit of truth uncovers unsettling realities that intertwine with his own life. Wayne represents the quest for justice amid personal and professional turmoil.

  • wayne
  • detective
  • investigation
  • murder tapes
  • police
Q7

Who is Luis and what happens to him?

Luis is the sole survivor of a catastrophic earthquake while working at Ahorita TV. His experience captures survival amidst devastation as he navigates the wreckage. His storyline embodies resilience of spirit, transforming despair into a desperate quest for truth in the aftermath of horror.

  • luis
  • earthquake survivor
  • ahorita tv
  • disaster
Q8

Who is Rob in the camping group?

Rob is portrayed as the observant documentarian among a group of seven friends on a camping trip. His analytical nature and determination to capture moments put him in peril during their tragic outing. His journey involves grappling with guilt and the longing for revenge after surviving the horror.

  • rob
  • documentarian
  • camping
  • survivor
  • found footage
Q9

How does the film use technology as a horror element?

Technology in the film functions as both innovation and grave consequence, representing a double-edged sword. Virtual reality experimentation and digital creations blur the line between what is real and what is imagined. The narrative raises questions about ethical boundaries in the digital age, using technology to deliver disorienting and unsettling experiences.

  • technology
  • virtual reality
  • digital
  • horror
  • reality vs fiction
Q10

What is the structure of this anthology film?

The film is a found footage anthology that weaves together multiple distinct storylines: a creature experiment at a university, a lake massacre during camping, a TV station possession during an earthquake, a performance art piece, and a family ritual. These narratives eventually converge toward a bleak, catastrophic climax, unified by recovered VHS tapes.

  • anthology
  • found footage
  • vhs
  • multiple stories
  • structure

Movie threads

More Movies Like V/H/S/85, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes V/H/S/85 tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Anthology horror movies with fragmented stories like V/H/S/85

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.

  • fragmented
  • chaotic
  • sinister
  • disorienting
  • anthology
  • unraveling
  • Tone: dark, disorienting
  • Pacing: variable, segmented
Why these movies?

The story pattern: 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.

Why they belong together: 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.

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2019
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Amusement

2008
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V/H/S: Viral

2014
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Darna Mana Hai

2003
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2010

Sinister found footage horror movies like V/H/S/85

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.

  • dreadful
  • anxious
  • gritty
  • gruesome
  • immersive
  • sinister
  • Tone: dark, dreadful
  • Pacing: variable, immersive
Why these movies?

The story pattern: 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.

Why they belong together: 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.

Grave Encounters movie poster

Grave Encounters

2011
The Final Project movie poster

The Final Project

2016
V/H/S movie poster

V/H/S

2012
Terror movie poster

Terror

1978
Undertone movie poster

Undertone

1972
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2023
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Hell House LLC

2015
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V/H/S/99

2022

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Every angle

V/H/S/85 (2023) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about V/H/S/85 in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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