Coming Soon: Vicious (2025) by Bryan Bertino: A Vicious Psychological Nightmare Unfolds

A Fight for Existence Vicious is a psychological horror film from renowned director Bryan Bertino, known for his ability to craft terrifying and atmospheric nightmares. The movie follows Polly (Dakota Fanning), a woman who is thrust into a fight for her life when a mysterious, late-night visitor gives her a cursed box. The box comes with a simple, yet chilling, command: place three things inside—something you need, something you hate, and something you love. As Polly attempts to fulfill the unsettling request, she descends into a horrifying spiral where reality fractures and she must confront the deepest, darkest parts of herself to survive. The film is a tightly-wound, 98-minute exercise in dread that preys on its audience's senses and fears.

Why to Watch This Movie: An Intense, Claustrophobic Thrill Ride

• A Master of Dread's Return: Bryan Bertino, the visionary behind classics like The Strangers, returns to form with a film that prioritizes visceral, character-driven horror over cheap jump scares. This is a must-watch for fans of his signature "mean horror" style, where safety is never guaranteed and the atmosphere is thick with menace.

• A Powerhouse Performance: Dakota Fanning delivers a harrowing and physically demanding performance as Polly. The film's success rests on her ability to carry the emotional and psychological weight of the story, and critics have lauded her as the perfect anchor for this intense narrative.

• Innovative Aural Horror: The film is distinguished by its masterful use of sound design. It bombards the audience with a cacophony of disorienting noises—from ringing phones to slamming doors and unsettling whispers—that are meticulously crafted to enhance the feeling of dread and disorientation, making it an experience best seen with a high-quality sound system.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31511689/

Link Review: https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/vicious-review

About movie: https://paramountglobalcontent.com/title/vicious

What Trend Is Followed? Visceral, Contained Horror The film follows the trend of "visceral, contained horror," a subgenre that focuses on a single, isolated location and a limited number of characters to amplify tension and terror.

• Single-Location Setting: The film is primarily confined to Polly's house, creating a claustrophobic and inescapable environment that heightens the stakes.

• Psychological and Physical Torture: The horror is not just about a monster or an evil entity; it's about the emotional, psychological, and physical torment the protagonist endures, which is a hallmark of this trend.

Director's Vision: An Unflinching Descent into Hell Bryan Bertino’s vision for Vicious was to create a horror film that is emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, and physically challenging.

• Reality as an Enemy: Bertino wanted to make a film where the character's perception of reality is unreliable, leading to a profound sense of terror. The film's central "rabbit hole" is designed to disorient the audience just as much as it does the protagonist.

• Meaningful Brutality: He aimed to make the horror "visceral" and not just for "shock value." Every horrific moment is intended to be a part of the character's extreme test and is a reflection of the viciousness she must endure in all aspects of her being.

Themes: The Darkness Within The film explores several deep and unsettling themes.

• Confronting Internal Demons: The "three gifts" required by the box are a metaphor for the protagonist's internal baggage. The items she is forced to choose—something she needs, hates, and loves—force her to confront her own past, her regrets, and her suppressed emotions.

• Loss of Control: The story is a nightmare of losing control. Polly's entire world, her sense of reality, and her sanity are all systematically dismantled throughout the night, reflecting a universal fear of powerlessness.

• The Unrelenting Nature of Evil: The evil in the film is presented as a relentless, unyielding force that does not seek to be understood or reasoned with. Its pure, simple rules make it even more terrifying.

Key Success Factors: A Genuine Horror Experience

• Director-Star Collaboration: The synergy between Bryan Bertino's uncompromising vision and Dakota Fanning's dedicated performance is the film's greatest strength. Fanning’s vulnerability and raw emotion ground the supernatural horror in a human reality.

• Pacing and Atmosphere: The movie succeeds by maintaining a constant state of dread. The pacing is deliberate, allowing tension to build and fester, and the atmosphere is suffocatingly intense from start to finish.

• The Original Concept: The simple, yet sinister, premise of the cursed box with three rules is a highly effective hook that is both intriguing and terrifying. It’s an original concept that sets the film apart from other horror releases.

Awards and Nominations: A Prestigious Premiere Vicious had its world premiere at the prestigious Fantastic Fest on September 19, 2025. While no major awards have been announced at this time, its selection for this festival is a significant recognition of its quality within the genre.

Critics Reception: A Harrowing and Praiseworthy Ride Early critic reviews from its festival premiere have been very positive.

• [suspicious link removed]: The site's review praised the film's ability to earn its title, calling it a "nasty piece of self-contained horror" that is "emotionally challenging, psychologically challenging, spiritually challenging, and physically challenging."

• CinemaBlend: A review from this source was highly complimentary, stating that the film is a "greatest hits of horror scares and jolts" and that Dakota Fanning's performance is "excellent." The review also specifically lauded the film's sound design as its "most impressive element."

• IMDb: With an early IMDb rating of 6.1, the film has a positive initial reception from a small number of users.

Overall, critics have responded favorably to Bertino’s return to form and Fanning’s commanding performance, though some have noted the film's plot leaves a few questions unanswered.

Reviews: An Aural Assault Initial reviews from a variety of sources, including user discussions on social media and film forums, have highlighted the film's intense and relentless nature.

• User Reviews (from IMDb and Reddit discussions): Users have praised the film for its scares, and many have commented on how effective the sound design is. One user review on IMDb describes it as "a truly harrowing experience" that "will make you jump."

In general, reviews suggest the film is a visceral and often terrifying experience that succeeds in its primary goal of frightening the audience with a combination of psychological unease and sensory overload.

Release dates: Release date on streaming: The film will be available to stream on Paramount+ on October 10, 2025. It will also be available on digital platforms on the same date. Theatrical Release: The film had a limited theatrical premiere at Fantastic Fest but will not have a wide theatrical release.

What Movie Trend film is following: The 'Elevated' Horror Renaissance Vicious is a prime example of the ongoing "elevated" horror trend, where films use genre conventions to explore deeper psychological and emotional themes. It uses the framework of a home-invasion thriller to delve into a character's internal conflict and trauma, elevating the material beyond simple entertainment.

What Big Social Trend is following: The Exploration of Psychological Trauma The film follows the social trend of exploring psychological trauma and mental health on screen. The cursed box and the subsequent nightmare are a metaphor for confronting one's past and inner demons. The plot, where the protagonist is forced to deal with "something she hates" and "something she needs," directly reflects a societal move toward addressing personal baggage and the difficult journey of self-confrontation.

Final Verdict: A Vicious and Unforgettable Horror Film Vicious is a relentless and genuinely terrifying horror film that lives up to its name. Bryan Bertino has once again proven his mastery of dread and atmosphere, and Dakota Fanning delivers a career-defining performance that will haunt viewers long after the credits roll. While not for the faint of heart, it is a must-watch for horror enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates a film that uses its terrifying premise to explore the dark and complex landscape of the human mind.