‘V/H/S/Mixtape’ Trailer: Horror’s Unkillable Anthology Franchise Returns with a Music-Inspired Twist

The latest entry, which includes shorts directed by Flying Lotus, RZA, and Ernest Dickerson, streams on Shudder next month.

Death, taxes, and a new “V/H/S” film hitting Shudder each October.

The long-running anthology franchise, which assembles short films from genre filmmakers and arranges them around a loose theme (recent entries include “V/H/S/Halloween” and the decade-specific “V/H/S/85”) is returning with a music-inspired twist. The upcoming “V/H/S/Mixtape,” which will premiere at Beyond Fest before streaming next month, consists of five new shorts about the dark side of music and the industry that surrounds it, complete with an MTV-style music video segment hosted by the heavy metal icons of GWAR.

This time around, directors include franchise regular Flying Lotus, hip-hop legend RZA, and longtime Spike Lee collaborator Ernest Dickerson. An official synopsis for “V/H/S/Mixtape” describes the film as “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, transform, and destroy, the film blends cosmic horror, psychological suspense, outrageous splatter, and groundbreaking practical effects into one unforgettable mixtape of nightmares”

Still on the fence? Check out the individual synopses for the film’s segments.

“Dance, Dance, Dance, Dance” (dir. Renee Zhan): A studio attempts to reboot a long-cancelled puppet show with a mysterious past. Featuring work from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.

“Heartbeat” (dir. David Moreau): A pair of YouTube urbex influencers find themselves trapped in a decommissioned military facility used for sonic experimentations.

“The Music of Mr. SZE” (dir. Ernest Dickerson): A college film student’s documentary project uncovers the reclusive life of a tormented musician.

“Death Tone” (dir. RZA): A young sound engineer follows her late Dad’s instructions to create the ultimate track.

“Wrap Segment”: GWAR hosts skits and music videos in an MTV-style show from hell. Featuring music videos directed by Tobias Forge and Flying Lotus.

What’s next for the franchise? An A24-backed installment could be up next, as the studio has boarded a new “V/H/S” installment based on the SCP Foundation, an open-source fictional wiki about a mysterious company that many have flagged as a “Backrooms”-esque IP.

“V/H/S/Mixtape” streams exclusively on Shudder beginning on Friday, October 9. Watch the trailer below.