Evan Jacobs’ DV5: Cord Cutter Hell continues his underground horror legacy with a delightfully twisted take on the modern anxieties of screen addiction. Part of the long-running DV series that began in 2012, this latest entry ups the ante with a clever blend of lo-fi terror, digital distortion, and darkly comic horror.
The premise is as absurd as it is inventive: two mustachioed cord cutters accidentally resurrect a serial killer through their TV antennas. From there, Jacobs leans into the uncanny, merging static, distortion, and “digital ghosts” to create a uniquely unsettling atmosphere. The film revels in its low-budget aesthetic, turning grainy visuals and eerie technical glitches into a storytelling strength rather than a limitation. Fans of the DV series will recognize the familiar chaotic charm that has defined Jacobs’ work for over a decade.
Where Cord Cutter Hell shines is in its commentary on our relationship with screens. It’s a horror story that feels both timely and ridiculous—Jacobs balances scares with absurd humor, giving the audience moments to both cringe and laugh. The performances, particularly from the hapless cord cutters, lean into campy, over-the-top horror in a way that complements the series’ signature style.
If there’s a critique to be made, it’s that the narrative occasionally sacrifices clarity for spectacle. Newcomers to the DV series might find themselves slightly disoriented by the story’s rapid escalation and quirky logic. Still, the film’s energy and commitment to its unique horror-comedy vision make it a memorable and entertaining experience.
Overall, DV5: Cord Cutter Hell is a bold, inventive addition to the DV series. Evan Jacobs continues to prove that lo-fi horror can be both creatively daring and genuinely unsettling. It’s a must-watch for fans of underground cinema, screen-addiction horror, and anyone who enjoys seeing a serial killer brought back to life via antenna with gleeful absurdity.
Jessie Hobson