Written By: Sam Santiago
The V/H/S franchise is proof that horror fans will complain about a series running too long, then eagerly hit play the moment a new installment drops. We’ve all seen it happen. Every new sequel sparks the same debate, yet somehow we all end up back in line for another round of found footage mayhem. Count us among the guilty.
Now, Shudder has officially announced that the next chapter is arriving this October, and this one is turning the volume all the way up.
V/H/S/MIXTAPE will premiere exclusively on Shudder on October 9, 2026, making it the ninth entry in the long running anthology franchise.
Unlike previous installments that centered around holidays, decades, or supernatural phenomena, V/H/S/MIXTAPE builds its stories around music and sound, exploring how rhythm, recordings, and audio can become instruments of terror. It’s a concept that feels tailor-made for the franchise, which has never been afraid to experiment with different themes and filmmaking styles.
The directing lineup is one of the strongest the series has assembled to date. Ernest Dickerson returns to horror after classics likeDemon Knight, while filmmaker and musician Flying Lotus, Ghost frontman Tobias Forge, MadS director David Moreau, RZA, and Renee Zhan all contribute to the anthology. Flying Lotus provides music video interludes throughout the film, Tobias Forge directs a music video segment, heavy metal legends GWAR make a featured appearance, andJim Henson’s Creature Shop supplies practical creature effects.
According to Shudder, the new anthology “cranks the signature found footage horror up to eleven,” blending cosmic horror, psychological suspense, outrageous splatter, and practical effects into a nightmare fueled by the power of music. If that description doesn’t sound like a love letter to horror and metal fans alike, we don’t know what does.
The original V/H/S debuted in 2012 and quickly became one of the most influential modern horror anthologies, giving established filmmakers and rising genre talent alike a chance to experiment with bite-sized nightmares. Since then, the franchise has producedV/H/S/2, V/H/S: Viral, V/H/S/94, V/H/S/99, V/H/S/85, V/H/S/Beyond, and last year’s V/H/S/Halloween, cementing an annual tradition many horror fans have come to expect each October.
Of course, this isn’t the only project on the horizon. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the franchise is also expanding with V/H/S: SCP, a feature inspired by the wildly popular SCP Foundation universe. That project is expected to arrive in 2027, meaning fans will have even more found footage nightmares waiting in the wings.
Whether every sequel lands is always up for debate, but one thing is undeniable. TheV/H/Sfranchise continues to evolve instead of simply repeating itself, and that’s a big reason horror fans keep coming back. We’ll gladly grab another tape, dim the lights, and see what nightmares V/H/S/MIXTAPE has recorded for us this October.