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Vicious

Name: Vicious
Director: Bryan Bertino
Released: 2025
Duration: 98 min

Representation Score

4.6/10

Fair

2025

Director

Bryan Bertino

Runtime

98 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Vicious is a psychological horror film that emphasizes atmospheric tension and systemic instability over social identity markers. While it lacks depth in terms of race and LGBTQ+ identities, it successfully challenges traditional hero archetypes. The protagonist is defined by stagnation rather than heroic action, providing a unique perspective on female empowerment. The film's strength lies in its critique of modern life and the erosion of social institutions. By portraying the domestic sphere and the nuclear family as sources of fear, the narrative challenges conventional ideas of safety and authority.

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Category Breakdown

Does Vicious have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The story centers around traditional family relationships between a sister and niece. There are no characters explicitly identified as LGBTQ+ or showing non-straight relationships.

How does Vicious portray gender?

Fair

The movie highlights a group of women leading the story and a main character dealing with professional uncertainty. It avoids male-dominated hierarchies by emphasizing the psychological survival of women.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Vicious?

Fair

The primary characters and cast list show limited diversity in race and ethnicity. The story focuses on a domestic and psychological setting without much ethnic variety.

How does Vicious represent religion and culture?

Good

The film critiques modern stability through Polly's unemployment and renting a home. It also questions the sanctity of the nuclear family through a harmful mother figure.

Does Vicious include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of characters with physical disabilities or neurodivergence in the synopsis. No representation of these conditions is noted.

Present on Screen

Highlights a strong female-led ensemble that avoids male-dominated leadership structures.
Offers a nuanced critique of modern capitalist systems and the instability of everyday life.
Challenges traditional hero archetypes by focusing on a protagonist defined by professional and personal stagnation.

Limited or Absent

Lacks visible representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight relationships.
Shows limited diversity in race and ethnicity among the main characters and cast.
Provides no depiction of characters navigating physical disabilities or neurodivergence.

Official Synopsis

When Polly receives a mysterious box, it comes with one rule: place inside something she needs, something she hates, and something she loves. If she doesn’t obey, it will consume everything—and everyone—she’s ever known.

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