Vicious Movie: Director Bryan Bertino Explains How the Horror Movie’s Changing Rules Have a Deeper Meaning

by

Bryan Bertino, the director behind the acclaimed horror film *The Strangers*, returns with a new thriller called *Vicious*. The movie features Dakota Fanning as Polly, whose life is thrown into chaos when a mysterious stranger arrives with a box that unleashes a terrifying presence.

At Fantastic Fest 2025, director Bertino talked with Russ Milheim from TopMob about his latest film. He explained that he intentionally created specific rules for the supernatural elements in the story. Viewers might notice these rules appear to shift unexpectedly during the movie, but Bertino made this a deliberate choice to add a layer of meaning.

Bertino explained that the movie is largely symbolic of being in a damaging relationship. He noted that a common pattern in these situations is constantly shifting expectations, and no amount of effort can prevent those changes. He powerfully described the feeling of helplessness, stating that it’s often impossible to feel like you’re succeeding because, realistically, you can’t.

The full interview can be read and viewed below. Vicious lands on Paramount+ on October 10, 2025.

Vicious Director Bryan Bertino Reveals Why the Rules Change in the Film

“So Much About the Movie Is a Metaphor for Being In An Unhealthy Relationship.”

  • TopMob: “There’s a supernatural spin to [Vicious]. Can you just talk about, within the context of the film, establishing kind of the ruleset and parameters about how everything is working and what we’re watching unfold?”

Bryan Bertino explains that a large part of the film is experienced through the character Polly’s perspective, as she discovers and understands the rules she must follow – and which ones don’t matter. He believes the movie is largely a metaphor for being in a difficult or unhealthy relationship.

I think a common problem in difficult relationships is constantly shifting expectations. It’s incredibly frustrating – whether it’s with a partner, a boss, or anyone else – because you feel like you can never meet their demands. No matter how much you try, the goalposts keep moving, and you’re set up to fail.

What I find compelling about this story is how it explores a character’s deepest fears, hopes, and dreams, and then pits them against a relentless evil force that constantly adapts and pursues them, no matter how hard they fight back.

How the Film’s First Line Sets up the Movie Perfectly

“I Don’t Want to Be Me.”

  • TopMob: “The film opens with the line, ‘I don’t want to be me.’ Can you talk about how that line alone not only served as the perfect entry point for audiences, but also represents so much about what the movie is about?”

You know, when I initially wrote the script, that one particular line wasn’t even there. It was a later addition, and honestly, it felt like a turning point. Once I wrote it and included that little pause – that ‘beat,’ as we call it in the biz – everything really clicked. It became this central idea, something I kept coming back to with every revision. It really shaped the whole story, and I used it as a guide for all the drafts that followed.

The film really centers on Polly – not just who she is as a person, but how others exploit her vulnerabilities. Starting from that relatable place – feeling used or taken advantage of – was key, because I think a lot of people can connect with that experience. It became a guiding principle throughout the entire filmmaking process.

The Terror of Strangers Showing Up to One’s Doorstep

“I Get Very Frightened By the Unexplained.”

  • TopMob: “You have a soft spot, it seems, for random strangers showing up to places and really messing everything up, you know, with ‘The Strangers,’ which is one of my favorite films, horror films of all time. Can you talk about, with ‘Vicious,’ exploring that idea in a very different way, and adding that supernatural kind of spin to everything?”

Bryan Bertino says he’s really scared of things he can’t explain – things that unexpectedly disrupt your life. He feels this way because life often brings bad news out of nowhere, and he finds that fear makes for a compelling starting point for storytelling.

The full interview can be seen below:

To get the latest horror news from Fantastic Fest 2025, don’t miss TopMob’s interview with Mark Duplass, a star of *The Creep Tapes* Season 2, and the show’s director, Patrick Brice.

Read More

2025-10-06 23:06