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Writer's pictureMark's Dark Corner

“Vicious Fun” 2021 Review (Short) – True to its Name in All Ways

Have you ever wondered…if serial killers had something akin to Alcoholics Anonymous, or some sort of support group? And then wondered what that would look like?

Would they trade secrets of their kills? Secrets of their methods? Their planning and motives?


They would probably brag and boast about their favorite kills. Their messiest kills. Or perhaps, complain about the one that got away…


Now, imagine you’ve accidentally, due to drunken circumstances, stumbled upon such a meeting. You yourself are not a serial killer, but they’ve mistaken you for one of the attendees of their secretive meeting.


You don’t know it at first, but soon realize that you are in deep s**t!


That is the setup to the Comedy Horror movie, Vicious Fun, directed and co-written by Cody Calahan, which was released to Shudder just last month in June 2021.


The main character, Joel (Evan Marsh), is hot on the heels of his roommate’s recent hookup, as he thinks the creep, named Bob, is married, and cheating on his wife. Joel plans to record the truth and spill it all to his attractive roommate, on which he secretively has a crush. His desperate plan to win her over by catching the cheating husband red handed puts him right in the middle of the scenario laid out above. Joel, however, is lacking in the confidence and charisma to afford even just a few moments of her attention.

Vicious Fun makes Joel out to be a bit spineless and weak in that department. His personality adds to the comedic irony as he is faced with the group of serial murderers. Certain death is his future if the group of murderers discover he is not who they think he is. And yet…he can’t just walk out of the meeting without raising suspicion.


Who are these killers? Why…Bob, Mike, Fritz, Hideo, Carrie, and the leader of the group meeting, Zachary. All of which can pass as normal human beings, but each are unique in their killing style and methods. And all mentally messed! None of them are truly spectacular when compared to other slasher movie killers. They tend to be stereotypes of historic killers from plenty of Horror movies that have come before. However, it’s the scenario, situational irony, and the corniness that matches the humor that makes Vicious Fun…. well…viciously fun!

My Bloody raw feelings?


There’s honestly not too much more to the plot than that, but Vicious Fun is packed with gruesome kills, gore and guts, witty humor, sticky (with blood) situations. It’s just an enjoyable bloody 101 minutes that lends several good laughs and leaves you rooting for the nerdy Joel, as he frantically fights for his life! The movie is visually colorful and paces well from start to finish. It keeps the audience intrigued even if there are some overdone clichés within. Even though the setting is 1983, for some reason it was easy to lose sight of that regardless of the awesome nod backs to the time period (i.e. telephone booths, the vest jacket, and all the colors).


The ratings from both the critic and audience Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes gives a good picture of how well received the movie has been so far.


Vicious Fun is worth it in my books! I recommend it.

Vicious Fun

Released: 6/29/2021

Rating: Not Rated

Genre: Comedy, Horror

Running Time: 1 hour 41 minutes


Director: Cody Calahan (Antisocial, Antisocial 2, Let Her Out)

Writer: Cody Calahan (Antisocial, Antisocial 2, Let Her Out) and James VIlleneuve


Stars:

Evan Marsh as Joel (Shazam!, Workin’ Moms series)

Amber Goldfarb as Carrie (Sex/Life series, Bad Blood)

Ari Millen as Bob (The Expanse, Orphan Black)

Julian Richings as Fritz (Anything for Jackson, Urban Legend, True Fiction)

Robert Maillet as Mike (Sherlock Holmes, Pacific Rim, Deadpool 2)

Sean Baek as Hideo (The Expanse, Killjoys)

David Koechner as Zachary (Anchorman, Anchorman 2, Get Smart)


IMDB Rating: 6.6 out of 10

Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 72%

Metascore: 51 out of 100


Streamable on these Apps with subscription at time of Blog Post: Shudder, AMC+

Rentable on these Apps at time of Blog Post: N/A

Vicious Fun Official Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo4uoI4QBQo


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