V/H/S: Viral 2014

As Kevin, a budding videographer, documents his relationship with Iris, what begins as an exciting venture soon spirals into discomfort and dread. Iris’s initial eagerness to be filmed fades, revealing a growing apprehension as Kevin’s underlying intentions come to the forefront. His obsession with filming is rooted in a desperate need to cope with the emotional strain of his abusive home life, particularly involving his violent grandmother. This turmoil is subtly depicted through the physical evidence of Kevin’s suffering, such as a bruised nose, though this aspect remains shrouded in ambiguity.

Amidst the chaos of his personal life, a peculiar event captures the attention of their neighborhood: a high-speed chase involving an ice-cream truck, broadcasted live on television. Eager to turn this spectacle into an internet sensation, Kevin misses his chance to film the thrilling encounter as the truck zips past his home. In a surreal twist, Iris appears outside in a trance-like state after receiving a mysterious video call, only to vanish moments later when Kevin turns away. The situation escalates when an officer instructs Kevin to vacate the area, resulting in a shocking incident where the truck strikes him, shaking him to his core. He soon becomes fixated on the truck, convinced that it holds the key to rescuing Iris, who seems to be in grave danger.

As the story unfolds, it transforms into an investigative documentary, juxtaposing interviews with magic aficionados, critics, law enforcement, and Kevin himself. This multi-faceted narrative reveals a disturbing development: individuals begin to receive bizarre images on their phones that incite violent behaviors.

Amidst this chaos, the story threads in the tale of John McMullen, who rises to fame as “Dante the Great.” However, his ascent is marred by the dark legacy of the magical cloak once owned by Harry Houdini. This cloak, which grants John genuine magical abilities, demands sinister sacrifices to maintain its power. After hiring unsuspecting female assistants to fulfill these grotesque needs, John’s dark secret is threatened when Scarlett Kay discovers his hidden atrocities. In a desperate bid to escape the authorities closing in on him, John orchestrates an escape that leads to a brutal confrontation with law enforcement, resulting in devastating consequences.

In stark contrast, Alfonso toils away in a sleepy Spanish town, secretly inventing a machine for interdimensional travel. His work culminates in a portal revealing an alternate version of his garage, inhabited by a doppelgänger. This parallel encounter leads to a series of unsettling repercussions as Alfonso experiences his counterpart’s bizarre reality, encountering sinister figures and dark rituals, ultimately leading to chaos when their worlds collide.

Meanwhile, as Kevin’s frantic pursuit of the ice-cream truck continues, the city erupts into flames, ignited by a series of explosive incidents. The atmosphere thickens with tension when Kevin stumbles upon a woman in a trance, only to face a relentless drama as a nearby gang’s barbecue spirals into madness under the pressure of chaos and destruction. The ominous presence of the truck feeds into the overarching theme of violence and madness, leaving a trail of devastation that ensnares not just Kevin but the entire city.

All these threads converge as Kevin finally locates the truck, now an eerie shell of its former self. There, he encounters horror beyond imagination—a scene littered with body parts and ominous televisions, where Iris’s haunting visage appears on one screen, urging him to share the harrowing footage. Torn by guilt over the carnage his work has wrought, he ultimately succumbs, uploading the video as despair sinks in.

In the aftermath, Kevin discovers Iris’s lifeless body, further compounding his torment. The surreal chaos culminates as his reflection in her phone exposes the grotesque consequences of his obsession. The dark narrative concludes with an unsettling post-credits sequence, presenting a dialogue-free glimpse into an ominous organization tracking a serial killer, serving as a chilling metaphor for the chaos and destruction that ripple through their lives. This haunting introspection of Kevin’s journey poses profound questions about the nature of reality, morality, and the oft-bewildering-edge of technology.