V/H/S/MIXTAPE Cranks Up the Volume as Shudder Reveals the Next Wild Horror Anthology With RZA, Flying Lotus, Ernest Dickerson, and More

The V/H/S franchise is getting ready to blast back onto our screens, and this time it's turning horror into something you can hear as much as you can see.

Shudder has officially announced that the ninth installment in the long-running found footage anthology series, V/H/S/MIXTAPE, will premiere exclusively on the streaming service on October 9.

As the title suggests, this chapter leans heavily into music and sound, with each story exploring how rhythm, audio, and performance can become the stuff of nightmares.

I've had a great time with the V/H/S franchise over the years. Like any anthology series, some segments land harder than others, but that's part of the fun.

There have been some awesome horror shorts throughout the series, and it's always exciting to see what kinds of twisted ideas each new group of filmmakers brings to the table. That's one of the reasons I keep coming back every time a new installment is announced.

This latest collection features an eclectic lineup of filmmakers. Ernest Dickerson (Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight), RZA (The Man with the Iron Fists), David Moreau (Mads), and Renee Zhan (O Black Hole!) each direct a segment.

Zhan's story also features original creature creations from Jim Henson's Creature Shop, which should make practical effects fans especially happy.

The movie also brings in Flying Lotus, who contributes a series of music video interludes. Tobias Forge, making his filmmaking debut, directs a music video for the anthology, while heavy metal legends GWAR also make a featured appearance. That's a pretty wild combination of talent, and it certainly gives this entry its own identity within the franchise.

According to the official press release, the film "cranks the signature found-footage horror up to eleven with an electrifying new anthology where music and sound become the source of terror.

“United by a theme that explores the power of music, rhythm, and audio to haunt, possess, and destroy, the film blends cosmic horror, psychological suspense, outrageous splatter, and groundbreaking practical effects into one unforgettable mixtape of nightmares,"

That's a fun concept to build an anthology around. Sound has always been one of horror's most effective tools, so making it the driving force behind every story feels like a natural fit for V/H/S. It also sounds like the filmmakers aren't holding back with the practical effects and over-the-top horror the series has become known for.

The producing team includes Josh Goldbloom, Steven Schneider, Roy Lee, Michael Schreiber, and Brad Miska, with Ben Ross and Rami Yassin serving as executive producers.

The franchise is still riding a wave of momentum. Last year's V/H/S/Halloween became the most-watched exclusive film premiere of 2025 across Shudder and AMC+, while also delivering Shudder's biggest subscriber acquisition weekend of the year.

That's an impressive achievement for a series that first launched back in 2012 with the original V/H/S, featuring memorable segments from filmmakers including Ti West, Radio Silence, Joe Swanberg, and several others.

It's always cool to see this franchise continue to evolve instead of repeating itself. Every installment experiments with different horror styles and introduces audiences to fresh creative voices, while occasionally bringing in established filmmakers to shake things up.

V/H/S/MIXTAPE looks like it's doing exactly that, and the music-focused concept could make for one of the most unique entries the series has delivered yet.

I'll definitely be checking this one out when it premieres on Shudder on October 9. Here's hoping it delivers another collection of creepy, creative, and unforgettable horror shorts to add to the V/H/S legacy.

Source: Variety