It feels like this movie thinks it has something to say. On the nature of depression and despair, self-loathing and self-harm. Characters in the film even call out ‘broken’ people as what are sought by the movie’s curse-box mcguffin. The rules and logic behind the box are nonexistent, just some vagueries, and then some supernatural taunting. Taking its cues from Smile and J-horror, BOO! JUMP SCARE! The trauma was coming from inside the house! Jump scares a plenty, with few actually landing. Dakota Fanning gives a fantastic performance of vulnerability and breakdown, along with some mirror work of menace and malice. There’s some implied gore, but what really matters is BOO! SCARE! She does her best to elevate this movie above predictable scares and nonsensical plot but she does not succeed. BOO! Nothing matters, because we can never be sure what we are seeing is real or not. Whatever stakes there are become quickly nonexistent, and frankly, were already a secondary concern. There’s little to appreciate beyond the performance, and ultimately the movie has nothing to say other than: BOO!
Vicious (2025)