Reviewers often compare it to the V/H/S series, though many argue it offers a more cohesive experience because the segments are primarily written and directed by a single creator, Michael McQuown.
The film consists of four interlocking stories—"To Catch a Demon," "The Hunters & The Hunted," "Cam Girls," and "Amanda’s Revenge"—linked by an overarching narrative involving transdimensional entities and sleep experiments. Critical Perspectives Watch GR The Dark Tapes 2017
: Some reviewers, like those at Heaven of Horror , found the "Cam Girls" segment poorly executed and noted that the film's heavy use of scientific exposition could occasionally feel cumbersome. Community Experiences Reviewers often compare it to the V/H/S series,
: Critics from Film Inquiry praised it as consistently tense and "intelligent," noting that it relies on atmospheric dread rather than just jump scares. Dread Central noted it contains "really cool creatures" and frightening, original moments. Community Experiences : Critics from Film Inquiry praised
“While the ending to pretty much every segment was a letdown the stories themselves were all engaging. The practical effects work was mostly laudable as were the performances.” Heaven of Horror · 8 years ago
: "The Hunters & The Hunted" is frequently cited as the strongest segment for its subversion of typical haunted house tropes.
The 2017 found-footage anthology has been described by critics as a "thinking man's horror film," notable for blending high-concept science fiction with supernatural scares on a micro-budget of approximately $65,000.