The defence The Sentimental Softie
“Sincerity is not manipulation.”
The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.
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Vicious Fun
Comedy · Horror · Romance · 2021
Joel, a caustic 1980s film critic for a national horror magazine, finds himself unwittingly trapped in a self-help group for serial killers. With no other choice, Joel attempts to blend in with his homicidal surroundings or risk becoming the next victim.
Movie details
Vicious Fun
“We're going to have a lot of fun tonight.”
2021 Comedy · Horror · Romance 1h 43m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.5 / 10
Community rating
Joel, a caustic 1980s film critic for a national horror magazine, finds himself unwittingly trapped in a self-help group for serial killers. With no other choice, Joel attempts to blend in with his homicidal surroundings or risk becoming the next victim.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over Vicious Fun?
For the defence
The Sentimental Softie
“You came to feel something, and you will.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Big-Idea Head
“You watch with your brain, not your gut.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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The Voices
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Terror Firmer
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A low-budget film crew working in New York City find themselves being preyed upon by a sexually conflicted serial killer.
Gatlopp: Hell of a Game
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Four friends get together for a nostalgic evening of fun and games after a decade of absence, which takes a dark turn.
Porno
Comedy · 2019
When a group of naive teens working at a movie theater in a small Christian town discover a mysterious film hidden in its basement, they unleash an alluring succubus who gives them a sex education…written in blood.
The Blackening
Horror · 2023
Seven black friends go away for the weekend, only to find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta. They must pit their street smarts and knowledge of horror movies against the murderer to stay alive.
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Cody Calahan
Written by
James Villeneuve · Cody Calahan
Evan Marsh
Joel
Amber Goldfarb
Carrie
Ari Millen
Bob
Julian Richings
Fritz
Robert Maillet
Mike
Sean Baek
Hideo
David Koechner
Zachary
Court is in session
Put Vicious Fun on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Big-Idea Head
“The strings are showing.”
Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.