TL;DR
- Vicious is the new horror-mystery film written and directed by Bryan Bertino (The Strangers, The Dark and the Wicked).
- The trailer teases Dakota Fanning as Polly, a woman whose life unravels after receiving a mysterious box with sinister rules.
- Supporting cast includes Kathryn Hunter, Mary McCormack, Rachel Blanchard, and Devyn Nekoda.
- Premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 19, 2025 before releasing on Paramount+ and digital October 10, 2025.
A chilling new trailer has arrived for Bryan Bertino’s latest horror film, Vicious. Known for crafting slow-burn dread in The Strangers and The Dark and the Wicked, Bertino returns with a new story about fear, memory, and an unshakable nightmare that comes in the form of a simple box.
Plot & Premise
In Vicious, Dakota Fanning stars as Polly, a young woman whose quiet life is upended when a stranger delivers a mysterious package. Inside the box comes an ominous message:
“Place something you need, something you hate, and something you love.”
As Polly obeys, reality begins to warp. Her memories falter, her relationships fracture, and she becomes trapped in a psychological spiral where nothing is what it seems.
Trailer Highlights
Ominous nighttime shots, minimal score, heavy shadows paint an eerie atmosphere. Front and center is “the box”, an unsettling ritual object that looms throughout, raising more questions than answers.
The trailer showcases an intense Dakota Fanning, hinting at both vulnerability and terror. Distorted imagery, subtle body horror, and dread-filled silences fill the screen rather than flashy jump scares.
Cast & Crew
- Director/Writer: Bryan Bertino
- Lead: Dakota Fanning as Polly
- Supporting: Kathryn Hunter, Mary McCormack, Rachel Blanchard, Devyn Nekoda, Klea Scott, Emily Mitchell
- Production: Filmed in Ottawa, Ontario (2024)
Release Details
- World Premiere: September 19, 2025 at Fantastic Fest
- Streaming/Digital Release: October 10, 2025 on Paramount+ and VOD platforms
- Runtime: 1h 43m
- Rating: R (for disturbing imagery, language, thematic material)
Why Vicious Matters
Bryan Bertino has a reputation for redefining modern horror by grounding supernatural dread in everyday life. Vicious looks set to join his body of work as another slow-burn, tension-heavy thriller. For Dakota Fanning, the role of Polly represents a shift into darker psychological territory — a performance already being spotlighted after the trailer’s release.
If you crave horror that seeps under your skin and lingers long after the credits roll, Vicious looks ready to deliver. Between Bryan Bertino’s tension-driven filmmaking and Dakota Fanning’s intense performance, this fall’s most unsettling nightmare may arrive inside a small, sinister box.
FAQs
The story follows Polly (Dakota Fanning), who receives a mysterious box that demands she put inside something she needs, hates, and loves. The ritual unleashes a nightmare of warped memories and psychological torment.
It premieres September 19, 2025 at Fantastic Fest, then releases on Paramount+ and digital platforms October 10, 2025.
The film is written and directed by Bryan Bertino, best known for The Strangers and The Dark and the Wicked.
Like Bertino’s previous work, it relies less on jump scares and more on atmosphere, silence, and psychological dread.
