Bryan Bertino is a filmmaker known for writing and directing films such as The Strangers, The Monster, and The Dark and the Wicked. This year he came to Fantastic Fest for the world premiere of his latest film, Vicious. The film follows Polly, a woman struggling to figure her life out when she gets an unexpected knock at the door from a strange old woman. The woman gives Polly a gift that takes her on a twisted, dangerous, nightmarish journey she might not escape from.

Bertino has made a name for himself creating intimate indie horror films highlighting the darker side of human nature. Vicious is another great example of that. When Polly is introduced, she’s at a crossroads in her life. She’s in her early 30’s working dead-end jobs, has no real close relationships, rents a house her sister owns, and is thinking about finally going back to school to pursue a career in the arts. After her surprise late-night visitor arrives, Polly’s already tumultuous life is thrown into chaos. The visitor gives her an hourglass in a wooden box. Little does she know, this “gift” is really a curse, and supernatural forces begin to terrorize Polly, forcing her to do unspeakable things. The film is stressful, haunting, and delivers plenty of great scares. While Vicious has a few too many endings before the credits finally roll, it still tells a fascinating story many audiences will connect with.

Vicious is a film that, on the surface, appears to be a supernatural horror film. Yet a deeper look shows a more fascinating story of Polly’s struggles with anxiety and self-doubt, something Bertino himself has expressed he struggles with. The reason Polly’s life is at a standstill is because of her anxiety. She has no faith in herself and questions every aspect of her life, making it so she often gives up before ever really trying out of fear of failure. This has resulted in Polly leading a self-destructive life – she sabotages relationships, quits when things get tough, and never really grows up. The strange happenings that ensue are a great way to highlight and emphasize not only how severely anxiety has infected Polly’s life, but the lives of those around her as well. It’s a powerful story conveying an important message that anxiety and fear of death never goes away, but acknowledging and letting go of those feelings can help lead to a more fulfilling life.

While there are some smaller roles, a majority of Vicious focuses on Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds, The Twilight Saga: New Moon) as Polly. It’s no secret Fanning is a phenomenal actor with years of experience. With her portrayal of Polly, audiences get to see a different side of Fanning. Her performance is raw, emotional, revealing, and audiences everywhere are sure to see themselves in Polly. Fanning might be the focus of the film, and she definitely rises to the occasion, but there’s one other performance that stands out. Kathryn Hunter (Poor Things, The Front Room) plays the mysterious late night visitor that unleashes this hell on poor Polly. Hunter might only have a small amount of screen time, but she leaves a lasting impression. She manages to switch between feeble, vicious, and remorseful depending on the scene. Not to mention, Hunter did her best to do all her own stunts in the film, proving she’s a true badass.

In keeping with Bertino’s style, Vicious gives an intimate, almost voyeuristic view into Polly’s life by taking place almost entirely in a single location. The film is primarily set in the home Polly rents from her sister. It’s a beautiful old row home that’s mostly well-kept, but is also cluttered with the paraphernalia of Polly’s life. The set design gives a peak behind the curtain, showing the audience the unmasked side of this character most people likely never get to see. A visual theme throughout the film is mirrors. The mirrors, as well as the gift Polly receives, are a literal and figurative representation of self-reflection as Polly is forced to take a hard look at her life. Vicious uses a combination of ambiance and jump scares to inject anxiety and terror into the story. Much of this is helped by beautifully done practical effects for the more gnarly, violent scenes. Adding to the terror is brilliant sound design, helping to make the audience feel as on-edge as Polly.

Vicious is a frightening examination of anxiety, brilliantly using horror to convey just how damaging those feelings can become. Bertino is at his best when telling intimate stories that show the highs and lows of the human psyche. Not only does this film feel like one of his most personal films, but it also features a career-high performance from Fanning. While the ending could have been streamlined a bit, the message is crystal clear. It’s a film with an important story to tell that still delivers goosebumps and big scares. Be sure to catch Vicious streaming on Paramount+, and available to buy on digital, on October 10th.

OVERALL RATING: 7.5/10