Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Graphic violence, fear, some language in horror film.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Vicious
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In VICIOUS, an old lady comes to Polly's (Dakota Fanning) door one night, gives her a mysterious box, and tells her she's going to die. At first disbelieving, Polly quickly finds herself deep in the middle of a nightmare. Nothing is as it seems, she can't trust her loved ones, and dead and dying family members appear to her. It's more than her life at risk as Polly races against time to satisfy the box's demands.
Is It Any Good?
Fanning is convincingly creeped out and creepy in this twisty horror film with plenty of jump scares. Vicious maintains the tension and the gore for nearly its full run time. This could exhaust all but dedicated horror fans. Where the film fails to convince is in its pop-psychology messaging on why this stunted young woman may have been a target for the evil box in the first place—and how it chooses its victims. The seeming attempt at a rationale feels futile in an otherwise senseless tale.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the mystery of the box in Vicious. How would you explain its purpose or how it chooses its victims, if you could?
The violence in this film is explicit. Does it ever feel excessive? Where do you think filmmakers should draw the line, if at all?
What other films have you watched where only one person is on screen for most of the movie?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 10, 2025
- Cast : Dakota Fanning
- Director : Bryan Bertino
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount+
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Dystopia
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong bloody violence, some grisly images, and language
- Last updated : October 23, 2025
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