The horror flick "Vicious," helmed by Dakota Fanning, is poised to make its streaming debut later this year, following its earlier excision from Paramount Pictures' theatrical slate. Penned and directed by Bryan Bertino, this chilling tale will first captivate audiences at Austin's Fantastic Fest next month, before unleashing its chills on Paramount+ and digital platforms on October 10. The ensemble cast is rounded out byKathryn Hunter, Mary McCormack, Rachel Blanchard, Devyn Nekoda, Klea Scott, and Emily Mitchell.
"Vicious" revolves around Polly (Fanning), who, upon receiving a mysterious gift from a nocturnal visitor, finds herself ensnared in a realm where reality blurs and morphs beyond recognition. Initially slated for an August cinematic release this year, the film's theatrical bow was later rescheduled to February 28, 2025. However, late last year, the studio shelved the project temporarily, in search of a more opportune date.
Among the other highlights announced for Fantastic Fest's Thursday premiere lineup are Paramount's "Primate," Sony's "Sisu: Road to Revenge," Universal's "Black Phone 2," and Lionsgate's "The Strangers – Chapter 2."
The trend of shifting from theatrical to exclusive streaming premieres has waned in Hollywood recently, as studios have reaped the benefits of the heightened visibility and buzz that a cinematic release can garner. For instance, Universal's video game adaptation "Five Nights at Freddy's" enjoyed a simultaneous Peacock and theatrical release in 2023, with its sequel set to scare up theaters exclusively later this year.
The decision to launch "Vicious" on a streaming platform was taken by the former Paramount regime, predating its recent merger with Skydance. This strategic move aimed to provide viewers with a spine-tingling at-home option in anticipation of Halloween.
Fanning's recent credits span a diverse range, including features like "The Watchers" and "The Equalizer 3," as well as television series such as "Ripley" and "The Perfect Couple." Bertino, meanwhile, is renowned for penning and directing the 2008 horror sensation "The Strangers," which starred Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman.
