Vicious Fun

Vicious Fun unfolds with cinematic delight, serving up a retro-flavored broth of suspense, humor, and horror. Set in the year 1983, the film thrives on a nostalgic palette of neon-infused color, a synthwave score, and a vibe reminiscent of 80's B-grade horror flicks. Directed by Cody Calahan, with a script by James Villeneuve, Vicious Fun is a diverse mix of tension, macabre humor, and unexpected plot turns seen through the eyes of our quirky protagonist, Joel.

Evan Marsh adroitly plays Joel, a perpetually single, socially awkward film critic for a renowned horror magazine, "Vicious Fun." Joel still hankers after his roommate, Sarah (Amber Goldfarb), who is unfortunately dating his best friend. Post his nightly routine of scrolling through video cassettes, Joel, still hung up on his unrequited love, finds himself stalking Sarah's current boyfriend to a mysterious sushi restaurant.

Soon, a series of random events and a few cocktails too many lead Joel into a surreal scenario where he finds himself in a self-help group situated in the restaurant's basement. But this is no ordinary group. It comprises a collection of serial killers knocking back brews, opening their hearts about their homicidal compulsions, and sharing techniques to perfect their morbid craft—all done with an unnerving nonchalance.

As the only "normal" person in this motley crew, Joel has to smooth-talk his way through, pretending to be a serial killer himself to avoid grabbing their murderous attention. Joel's self-proclaimed status as a serial killer gone rogue elicits a well-plotted cascade of unexpected events, forcing him to make choices he wouldn't have dreamed of, in a bid to survive and escape.

To add another layer of complexity in the already convoluted plot, a mysterious woman named Carrie (Amber Goldfarb) suddenly arrives at the meeting. Carrying a past as enigmatic as her persona, she appears to be quite knowledgeable about this homicidal brotherhood. However, her agenda remains cloaked in deep secrecy. Warmly welcomed by the gang, she adds a surge of deadly surprises in this whirling vortex of events.

Ari Millen deserves a special mention for playing the ‘multiple-personality disorder’ serial killer who oscillates between clean-cut gentleman and a terrifying beast, liable to break out into violent fits any minute. His transition, from a boring accountant into a rabid maniac within seconds legitimately adds sparks to the already chaotic ensemble.

Vicious Fun accentuates its title perfectly by offering a film that is vicious in nature and gleefully fun in execution. The grotesque scenes of violence find a harmonizing counterpart in unhinged humor, as the movie takes us on a whirlpool of the unpredictable. The movie goes beyond the traditional horror narrative, twisting the suspense into a sleekly interwoven plot where the prey might just become the predator.

Director Calahan successfully ensnares his audience within the movie's distinct setting, aesthetics, and ear-pleasing synth musical score. The film achieves an immaculate blend of old-school horror and the new-age carnivalesque "fun" part of the genre's equation, all carefully laid out in a blood-splattered yet lovably kitschy 80’s backdrop.

Cinephiles with a taste for horror comedy, who seek an outrageous mashup of wit, gore, and dark humor wrapped in 80's nostalgic charm, will find Vicious Fun a delightful treat. It challenges the predictability often associated with the genre and adds a fresh, clever twist to survive-among-killers scenario, making it a unique addition to the horror-comedy genre.

In a nutshell, Vicious Fun is a movie that celebrates the 80's horror glamour, delivers a rollercoaster of a narrative, and offers a darkly comedic take on multilayered characters. So, buckle up because Vicious Fun promises a riotous, albeit fearful, journey back to the heydays of quirky serial killer flicks.