Vicious

Vicious

Year: 2025

Runtime: 1 h 38 m

Language: english

Director: Bryan Bertino

Echo Score: 61
Horror

When Polly (Dakota Fanning) receives a mysterious box with a note to place three items—something she needs, hates and loves—the ritual quickly descends into a waking nightmare. Reality warps, memory betrays, and she faces a series of impossible choices, forced to confront the darkness inside her before it consumes everything she knows.

Vicious (2025) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Vicious (2025) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a quiet suburban neighborhood, Polly drifts through a life that feels both ordinary and suffocating. Stuck in a dead‑end job and hesitating at the edge of a new educational pursuit, she lives alone in a modest rental house, sharing occasional visits with her sister Lainie and the bright‑eyed niece Aly she dotes on. The domestic routine is punctuated by a lingering sense that something is missing, a restlessness that makes even the simplest tasks feel weighty.

One evening, an enigmatic elderly woman arrives at her doorstep, offering a small wooden box and an hourglass, along with a cryptic note that asks her to place three items inside: something she needs, something she hates, and something she loves. The box quickly becomes the focal point of Polly’s world, its presence turning a mundane evening into the start of a strange, unsettling ritual. The simple act of gathering those items seems to crack open a doorway to something far larger than any ordinary mystery.

From the moment the box is introduced, the film settles into a tone that blends psychological horror with surreal, nightmarish imagery. Polly’s perception of reality begins to wobble, memories flicker and betray her, and the familiar walls of her home feel increasingly like a labyrinth of hidden depths. The ordinary worries of paychecks and interviews give way to an inner confrontation with forces she never imagined lurking within herself.

As the ritual unfolds, Polly is drawn into a series of impossible choices that force her to examine the darkness she carries inside. The atmosphere remains tense and claustrophobic, inviting the audience to wonder whether the true threat lies in the mysterious box, the twisting of reality itself, or the hidden shadows of Polly’s own psyche.

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:30

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Supernatural horror movies with deadly rituals like Vicious

Characters facing a cruel supernatural entity with strict, brutal rules.If you're looking for movies like Vicious that feature intense supernatural trials, you've come to the right place. This list includes horror films where characters are trapped in a ritual or curse with brutal, non-negotiable rules. These movies share a similar feel of high-stakes dread and moral torment.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves the introduction of a supernatural curse or entity that presents a clear, brutal set of rules. The protagonist is then thrust into a sequence of escalating trials, often involving terrible sacrifices, forcing them to confront their deepest fears and moral boundaries under extreme duress. The story is propelled by a constant race against time and the harsh logic of the supernatural force.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped because they all focus on the terrifying experience of being subjected to a merciless supernatural system. They share a high level of intensity, a dark tone, and a plot-driven structure where survival hinges on completing a series of horrific tasks, creating a consistently tense and desperate viewing experience.

Psychological horror movies about facing inner darkness like Vicious

A descent into paranoia where reality blurs and the enemy is within.For viewers who liked the psychological depth of Vicious, this selection focuses on horror films about confronting inner demons. These movies explore themes of paranoia, fractured reality, and the struggle against a darkness that may come from within the protagonist, offering a similarly heavy and unsettling experience.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative journey is an inward one, charting a character's psychological collapse. The conflict arises from a confrontation with repressed memories, personal guilt, or a latent malevolence inside them. The plot often involves a distorted perception of reality, making the protagonist question what is real and who the true antagonist is, leading to a profound internal struggle.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their focus on psychological horror over purely physical threats. They share a heavy emotional weight, a dark and paranoid tone, and a common theme of the protagonist being forced to grapple with their own mind and morality. The experience is defined by a sense of claustrophobia and deep unease.

Unlock the Full Story of Vicious

Don't stop at just watching — explore Vicious in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Vicious is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Vicious Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Vicious, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Vicious Summary

Vicious Timeline

Track the full timeline of Vicious with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Vicious Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Vicious

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Vicious. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Vicious

Vicious Ending Explained

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Vicious Ending Explained

More About Vicious

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