Inside the Making of the Terrifying New Film VICIOUS, Which Sees Dakota Fanning Face Pure Evil
Paramount+ just shared a behind-the-scenes featurette for Vicious, the latest nightmare from Bryan Bertino, the filmmaker behind The Strangers and The Dark and the Wicked.
The two-minute sneak peek dives into the creative process behind what’s shaping up to be one of this October’s most unsettling horror experiences.
The film centers on Polly, played by Dakota Fanning, who receives a mysterious box from a late-night visitor, portrayed by Kathryn Hunter. The box comes with simple yet chilling instructions: place three things inside—something you need, something you hate, and something you love.
What begins as an odd ritual quickly spirals into a waking nightmare. As Polly follows the rules, reality starts to fracture around her, forcing her to confront not only the darkness surrounding her, but the one within.
The official synopsis reads: “When Polly (Dakota Fanning) receives a mysterious Box from an unexpected late-night visitor (Kathryn Hunter), it comes with a simple instruction: place three things inside: something you need, something you hate, and something you love.
“What begins as a strange ritual quickly unravels into a waking nightmare. Trapped in a terrifying world where reality bends and memory betrays, Polly must navigate a series of impossible choices. As time slips away, she's forced to confront the darkness not just around her, but also within her—before it consumes everything and everyone she’s ever known.”
The featurette offers a glimpse at the eerie atmosphere Bertino and his team crafted, highlighting the film’s intimate setting and psychological tension. Bertino, known for exploring fear in deeply personal ways, seems to be pushing his own boundaries again here.
Alongside Fanning and Hunter, the cast includes Mary McCormack, Rachel Blanchard, Devyn Nekoda, Klea Scott, and Emily Mitchel.
It’s a little surprising that Paramount isn’t giving this one a theatrical run, because Vicious looks like it was made for that dark, collective theater experience with other horror fans. Still, they are streaming it right in time for spooky season.
If you’re craving a slow-burn, reality-twisting horror experience, Vicious will hit Paramount+ on October 10.