In Vicious, Dakota Fanning stars as Polly, a woman in her 30s trying to rebuild her life while living alone in a family-owned house. One night, a mysterious older woman (played by Kathryn Hunter) knocks on her door and presents her with a strange box. To survive the night, Polly must give the box something she loves, something she hates, and something she needs — a creepy setup that unfortunately doesn’t deliver.
Directed by Bryan Bertino, known for The Strangers, the film tries to recapture the eerie magic of his earlier success but struggles with slow pacing, unclear rules, and a lack of suspense. While Bertino creates a moody atmosphere, the story feels confusing and the horror elements rely too heavily on gore rather than tension.
Critics say the film’s concept had potential but was poorly executed. The box’s powers and consequences are vague, and the characters feel underdeveloped. Even at just 98 minutes, the movie feels long and unfocused, with a messy ending that doesn’t satisfy.
Fanning gives a committed performance, but the role doesn’t offer much depth. Hunter’s dramatic style, once refreshing, now feels overdone. Overall, Vicious is seen as a missed opportunity — not scary enough to stand out and not strong enough to start a new horror franchise.
The film was originally planned for a summer theatrical release but was quietly moved to streaming on Paramount+, where it risks getting lost among other Halloween titles.