Note: This is a capsule version of my previously published review
A horror film critic accidentally finds himself at a support group for serial killers in Vicious Fun. Joel (Evan Marsh) is a young horror film critic in 1983 Minnesota, who writes for a magazine called “Vicious Fanatics,” while secretly harbouring a crush for his roommate Sarah (Alexa Rose Steele). In an elaborate attempt to win her over, Joel ends up following Bob (Ari Millen), the man Sarah just went on a date on, to a Chinese restaurant in the middle of nowhere, where he finds a late-night support group, led by Zachary (David Koechner) and including Carrie (Amber Goldfarb), Fritz (Julian Richings), Mike (Robert Maillet), Hideo (Sean Baek). Joel quickly clues into the fact that the members of this support group are all serial killers and Joel has to be careful unless he wants to be their next victim.
Vicious Fun is a 1980s-set horror-comedy directed by Cody Calahan (The Oak Room), which centres upon a secret serial killer support group. Joel is already in over his head when he literally stumbles into the meeting and pretends to be one of their absent members. However, things quickly become sour when Bob arrives at the meeting and recognizes Joel from their earlier encounter. With the help of skilled vigilante Carrie, Joel has to figure out a way to survive through the night or become just another statistic for this group of serial killers.
Vicious Fun is a film that is all about hearkening back to the horror films of the 1970s and 1980s, particularly through its neon lighting and synth score and allusions to everything from Friday the 13th to Assault on Precinct 13. Anchorman). While Vicious Fun gets the aesthetic right, I do have to admit that the plot of the film is a bit disjointed at times. That said, I do have to admit that that Vicious Fun lives up somewhat to its title and is a fun watch. Overall, despite some flaws, Vicious Fun is still a 1980s homage worth checking out.
Vicious Fun screens at the Royal Cinema on Thursday, November 18, 2021 as part of the 2021 Blood in the Snow Film Festival
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Trailer for Vicious Fun – Blood in the Snow 2021
