Search - The Vicious Kind on DVD

Superb acting really carry this story...

Stuart Milton | Luton UK | 02/15/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I watched this more for J.K Simmons who plays the Father. He is superb as always but it's Adam Scott and Brittany Snow who really carry this picture. I was pretty blown away by Adam Scott in this picture. A superb performance, this guy has to be seen more. Not to give too much away I was expecting this to be more twisted than it actually turned out to be. But if you appreciate acting this is a must see. Only giving it Four as it did feel like it was plodding in places........over all well worth seeing."

Great performances, decent DVD

Steve Kuehl | Ben Lomond, CA | 02/19/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Another indie that flew under the radar, but without a doubt deserves a watch. The family angst story of two brothers interested in the same woman aggravated by bad dad relations sounds old, but the acting carries through very believably and the DVD quality turned out solid.

The Connecticut locations add a relevant blandness to these characters' dysfunctional relationships and mommy/daddy issues, but Adam Scott shines through in what I would consider his break-out performance (he got some kudos for the lame film August, and usually most recognized as being that bad brother in Step Brothers). Brittany Snow was given some notice for her bold and slightly forward role here, but I think she broke that barrier with On the Doll. I like what everyone showed here, so even though it gets slow a few times and does not explain all of the character outbursts, it should keep the discerning indie viewer entertained.

The picture and sound quality are adequate and showed no real shortcomings. The supplements include:
* Behind the scenes, 16:19 minutes. Director interviews spliced with too much clip footage, but he gives a thorough background on creation and actor support in making this film.
* Deleted scenes, 5 totaling 6:30 minutes. Four of them have optional commentary. Glad they were cut.
* Extended scenes, 5 totaling 16 minutes. Worth the watch if you REALLY liked the acting.
* Two commentaries, one with director solo and one with him and Scott.

English and Spanish subs, 5.1 English only."

A virgin gets betrayed by 3 people who claim to love him

Elisabeth | 07/01/2010

(1 out of 5 stars)

"*** REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS ***

This is a story about a young man named Peter, who's also a virgin, who brings his girlfriend home to meet his family for Thanksgiving. What Peter doesn't know is that soon after, he's going to get betrayed by 3 people who claim to love him. Here's a list of the 3 people who betray Peter :

BETRAYER # 1 -- His brother Caleb

Caleb sees himself as protective of Peter by constantly telling him how women are whores who'll cheat on a man if given the chance. He clearly hates women and yet, stalks Peter's girlfriend until she agrees to have sex with him.
So not only does he have sex with his brother's girlfriend (which is cruel), but he does this soon after his brother confesses to him that he's in love and wants to lose his virginity to her (which is incredibly cruel).
Caleb shows what a coward he is by splitting when Peter's girlfriend reveals she lost her virginity to him...as well as by never confessing to Peter that he slept with his girlfriend.

We're given many reasons why we should sympathize with Caleb: he's upset his mom cheated, he's upset his dad cheated, he's upset his ex cheated. He also says horrible, vicious things to people, but since he immediately follows it up with an apology, we're supposed to believe he's a good guy after all. Sure he's a misogynist, but he's a misogynist with a heart of gold.
But Caleb is just too self-absorbed and too hate-filled to have a heart.

BETRAYER # 2 -- His girlfriend Emma

At first, Emma appears like a sweet and loving girlfriend, but then proves anything but by flirting with Caleb behind Peter's back. After Peter professes his love for her and requests to lose his virginity to her, she accepts it. However, Peter's awkward in bed and can't perform. Instead of sympathizing that he's new at this (and apparently, so is she), she acts annoyed, but plasters a fake smile anyway.
She then masturbates, thinking about Caleb. Soon after, she has sex with Caleb behind Peter's back (which is cruel) and then takes Peter's virginity immediately afterward (which is incredibly cruel).
After cheating with Caleb, she shows no remorse and instead, wants to talk intimately with Caleb. They even share a big smile afterwards. It's only when Caleb splits after learning she lost her virginity to him does she start to get mad. She then goes back to Peter, never confessing what she's done behind his back (proving she's just as big a coward as Caleb is).

BETRAYER # 3 -- His father Donald

Donald shows his creepiness by inappropriately flirting with Emma (so it's not just Caleb who's after her). But his real creepiness is revealed when he confesses to Emma that he misled his sons into believing he and their mom divorced because their mom cheated on Donald...when really, it was Donald who cheated on their mom. He holds up this lie even after their mom died of cancer!
Later on, Donald finds out Caleb slept with Emma and threatens to tell Peter. Caleb threatens back saying if Donald tells about Caleb's affair, then Caleb will tell about Donald's affairs. The two strike a deal to keep Peter in the dark to save their own skins. And the movie ends with Donald and Caleb bonding over this lie.

No one in this movie seems to care about Peter's best interest. Instead, they only care about preserving their own self-interest.
I kept expecting these characters to redeem themselves, but they never do. I wasn't sure what message I'm supposed to glean from this movie. Early in the film, Caleb says all women will cheat if given a chance to do so...and sure enough, when Emma is given the chance to cheat, she does, and with Caleb no less. So does that mean the misogynist was right? All women really are whores?
What a hateful message to send and the happy ending is really only happy for these 3 betrayers who get away with lying.
"

Coming Apart Meets Coming of Age

born into this | Southwest Virginia | 04/15/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Basically a four-person film: Disgruntled underachieving older Brother. Wide-eyed college student younger brother and girlfriend. Obnoxious Father. Sound dramatic material with solid performances all-around this is a film that among other things will have you revising your notion of 'brotherly love'. Adam Scott as the alienated older brother is absolutely on fire--I haven't seen a seething with sarcasm 'angry young man' done this well since "Look back in Anger" or "Naked". One only regrets that most of the venom is wasted on displaced woman-hating when there is a whole worthy wasteland to consider.

I didn't like the ending, and some of the scenes requiring physical agility don't come off so well but it hardly matters with such a powerful lead performance--the best young male lead I've seen since Ryan Gosling's in "Half-Nelson".










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