Acclaimed writer-director Bryan Bertino, widely recognized for his 2008 directorial debut The Strangers, returned to Fantastic Fest 2025 to premiere his latest original horror film, Vicious. This special event coincided with the premiere of The Strangers — Chapter 2, highlighting Bertino’s ongoing influence in the horror genre. At the Austin-based film festival, Bertino, a horror visionary and aficionado, sat down with Collider's Perri Nemiroff to delve into the ideas behind Vicious, the casting of Dakota Fanning, and his reflections on The Strangers franchise.

Vicious features Dakota Fanning in the lead role as Polly, a woman whose life descends into a terrifying nightmare after she receives a mysterious box. This enigmatic gift comes with a peculiar set of rules, instructing the recipient to place three specific items inside: something they need, something they hate, and something they love. This bizarre ritual serves as the catalyst for Polly's ordeal, trapping her in a distorted reality where memories and her current circumstances blur. She is forced into a harrowing fight for survival, confronting the profound darkness that shadows her. The film's ensemble cast also includes notable talents such as Kathryn Hunter, known for her role in Poor Things; Rachel Blanchard from The Summer I Turned Pretty; and Mary McCormack of In Plain Sight.

During his interview with Nemiroff, Bertino shared overwhelming praise for Dakota Fanning's performance, highlighting her sheer genre versatility and impressive emotional range. He elaborated on a unique meta-textual benefit of Fanning’s casting, stemming from her history as a child actor. Bertino explained, “People have grown up with Dakota, and so that, on some level, would educate their interpretation of Polly. They would have seen her as a child.” This established connection, he believes, enriches the audience's engagement with Polly's character. Bertino further emphasized Fanning’s profound impact on the production, describing her as “another filmmaker” rather than just an actress. He recounted being “blown away by her and what she was able to do and turn on and turn off in different moments,” stating that her powerful talent changed the way he approached making the movie.

Bertino also revealed the unexpected origins of the central concept for Vicious, specifically the mysterious box. He admitted to having been long “very intrigued by a box,” noting how the simple phrase “the box” frequently reappeared on his list of ideas for new projects. The concept truly solidified when he developed the character of Polly. He humorously mentioned that he took Polly's name from the Nirvana song, explaining that the way the song made him feel as a kid “just clicked in terms of opening the door to who Polly would eventually be.” This personal connection helped flesh out the narrative and the character's journey within the film.

Beyond Vicious, the discussion naturally steered towards The Strangers franchise, which began with Bertino’s 2008 directorial debut and continues to expand today. His presence at Fantastic Fest 2025, with both his new film premiering and a new installment of The Strangers, underscored his significant contribution to the horror landscape. Currently, Vicious is available for streaming exclusively on Paramount+, where it has achieved the #1 spot.