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Brittany Snow, Adam Scott, J.K. Simmons, Alex Frost, Alysia Reiner ... see more see more... , Bill Buell , Jordan Berkow , Kate Krieger , Vittorio Brahm

Untrusting of women following a bitter breakup on the eve of Thanksgiving, a misanthropic construction worker finds himself inexplicably attracted to his younger brother's new girlfriend. Caleb Sincla... read more read more...ire (Adam Scott) has just been through a particularly difficult breakup. Isolated, yet strangely contented with his newly single status, Caleb wears his distain toward women as a macho badge of honor. However, when Thanksgiving weekend arrives and Caleb meets his younger brother Peter's (Alex Frost) new girlfriend, Emma (Brittany Snow), his initial attempts to convince his sibling that the relationship will yield nothing but pain are quickly sidelined by his growing attraction to the beautiful girl. His vulnerability gradually bubbling to the surface over the course of the holiday weekend, Caleb is soon forced to confront the feelings that he's been trying so desperately to conceal beneath a swaggering facade. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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70% liked it

1,474 ratings

Critics

70% liked it

10 critics

R, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Lee Toland Krieger

Release Date: December 11, 2009

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DVD Release Date: February 23, 2010

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Stats: 235 reviews

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BRITTANY SNOW, ALEX FROST, JK SIMMONS, ADAM SCOTT The Vicious Kind - Brittany Snow The Vicious Kind The Vicious Kind The Vicious Kind - Alex Frost
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Flixster Reviews (235)

  • aliceinpunderland
    March 24, 2012
    aliceinpunderland
    I haven't really seen Adam Scott in anything, but his turn in this dramatic role is indeed vicious but also vulnerable. Caleb's insulting outbursts cut with vitriol, and his blubbery apologies pour with nonsense that he can't quite understand himself.

    I'm not really sure of t... read morehe movie's premise - the only way Caleb knows how to protect is brother is by hurting him and that's why he sleeps with his brother's girlfriend...? The motifs of desperate need and succumbing to attraction because of the other person's attraction to you are all interesting, but the ending shows no real aftermath of that behavior.
  • hunterjt13
    March 20, 2011
    hunterjt13
    Secrets and lies unfold in a troubled family when a man develops a lustful fascination with his brother's girlfriend when the latter brings her home for Thanksgiving.
    Adam Scott's performance in this deftly constructed family drama is everything I've heard it was and more. His c... read morerying scenes are as convincing as his most vicious outbursts, and Scott conveys an emotional truth that is rarely seen but always enjoyed. In many dramas we see characters say nasty things to each other, and not seconds later, they either apologize or give that regretting look, which is supposed to convey to the audience that even though this character just did something we should disapprove of, we should still like him/her. It's false and performative, but I've learned to put up with it. When the script calls for such moments, Scott's strength is he makes such moments work, incorporating them into the manically depressive nature of Caleb; other times, Scott doesn't care if we don't like Caleb.
    Brittany Snow manages to be both alluring, vulnerable, and strong, while Alex Frost is perfectly douchey. And who knew that J.K. Simmons could handle drama with such emotional range and dexterity?
    The script starts off very well. The ways in which information is hinted at and slowly revealed are quite deftly carried, and most of the characters are finely drawn. However, by the end of the film, there were a few bits so ridiculous that writer/director Lee Toland Krieger deliberately aimed for laughs in the most awkward places. Also, the film's penultimate moment was so subtle that it slipped into obscurity. The last ninety minutes were leading up to this moment, but we don't know enough about what goes through the character's head to get a fair idea of what happens in these characters' lives after the film has ended. The smile, if it is a smile, is too enigmatic to hinge the entire film on.
    Overall, this is an excellent film with just a few minor flaws and what should be a star-making performance by Adam Scott
  • dreamfaeries
    June 3, 2010
    dreamfaeries
    Kind of odd and offbeat, but it was enjoyable to watch. Very interesting chemistry of characters.
  • LWOODS04
    May 23, 2010
    LWOODS04
    CAST: Brittany Snow, Adam Scott, Alex Frost, J.K. Simmons

    DIRECTED BY: Lee Toland Krieger

    SUMMARY: Caleb Sinclaire is a bitter construction worker whose life is turned upside down one Thanksgiving weekend. Estranged from his family, Caleb lives an isolated, but contented, l... read moreife. Following a difficult breakup, he becomes scornful toward women and wears his disdain as a badge of honor. Caleb's resolve is tested, however, when he meets his younger brother Peter's new girlfriend, Emma. Immediately distrustful of her, Caleb warns Peter that she will only end up hurting him. Despite his efforts to protect his brother, he finds himself drawn to Emma and surprised by his growing attraction. Caleb's unexpected feelings force him finally to confront the vulnerability he has struggled so long to conceal.

    MY THOUGTHS: I love these types of dark comedies. I am just drawn to them. I've found that you find really good acting in independent movies, that's why I like them the best. They always have great stories and good acting. This was a bit of a complicated story and I also found it to be a bit sad. Loved Adam Scott in this, he really gives a great performance in this film. His charater Caleb is very twisted in a sense cause of his dark humor. But he's also just a sad individual who's been wronged by the one's he cared the most about. He has this inner torment of good vs. evil and seems to be struggling with that. I happened to like his smart-ass attitude and found it funny. Brittany Snow was also good in this and I liked her darker look. J.K. Simmons was great as always and had some great one liners. If you like films that are more about the story and the characters, then you will like this one.
  • DrZeek
    April 27, 2010
    DrZeek
    Peter: Are you not sleeping again?...Is it safe for you to be driving?
    Caleb: I'm gonna be honest with you. No.

    Adam Scott is an actor I've come to enjoy seeing on screen. His two types of roles differ between being a smug, snarky but likable guy and a huge dick. In Step Brother... read mores for example, he's a huge dick, while in the amazing, but little known TV series Party Down, he's the likable, but somewhat snarky loser type character. In this film, he plays an insomnia suffering, confused, dickish guy, who is somehow an entertaining protagonist.

    Scott stars as Caleb, a bitter guy living an isolated life back home, away from his father, played by J.K. Simmons. He has recently been cheated on by his girlfriend and is now tasked with giving a ride to his brother Peter and his new girlfriend, played by Brittany Snow, to their father's house for Thanksgiving. Trying to protect his brother, Caleb tries to dissuade him from dating Emma, who he is suspicious of, but is also strangely drawn to her.

    J.T.: You alright Caleb? I've never seen you throw a hammer like that.

    Its a weird but simple structure for this darkly comedic indie drama, but the fact that the actors seem to get what they are working with helps. Its a tough and confusing role that Scott is given, but he delivers pretty well here. J.K. Simmons has pretty much elevated to my list of supporting actors I'll always enjoy, so that's enough for me there. The butt of the film is the character of Peter, played by Alex Frost, who pretty much goes through the film not knowing any of the drama in any of the other characters lives.

    By the end, this film has come out in a quirky way to show off some interesting characters.

    Emma: I think you owe me an explanation.
    Caleb: I don't think you understand how awkward this is.
  • fb1144932598
    April 1, 2010
    fb1144932598
    A powerfully dark tale of obsession, lust, and betrayal that plays out over a Thanksgiving weekend, somewhere in the Northeast. The bleak scenery fits the story, highlighting the barrenness of the characters and physically affecting the viewer. The cast and script are superb, wit... read moreh each character fully fleshed out and enough back story to make the tale completely accessible, without becoming tedious. Adam Scott as the older brother, Caleb, deserves special mention in that regard. This viewer was blown away by his performance as the deeply disturbed older son with psychological wounds hanging out all over him. There is a subtlety in the way things unfold that require the viewer to have to work to understand the dynamics. This is not all wrapped up in pretty paper with hearts and flowers, but delves into the psyche of the four main characters, the two brothers, the girlfriend, and the boys' father. In the end, we are not left with the feeling that things will work out very well for the two young lovers. There is no fairy tale ending, but there is opportunity for growth and healing, and in that there is a glimmer of light.
  • fb796967648
    February 17, 2010
    fb796967648
    Fascinating and frustrating, this atom-deep character study of a true misanthrope would probably fail if not for the utterly fantastic central performance by Adam Scott. The writing is difficult to say the least - hairpin character turns in emotion and intent (not always remotel... read morey believable) and a truly unlikeable guy to boot. But Scott is flawless moment after moment. Though his talented cast members are sometimes undone by these shifts, Scott is thoroughly, magnetically mesmeric, and I can't wait to see what he does next.
  • xas5
    March 1, 2012
    xas5
    Adam Scott enters the role of his career...The Vicious Kind is a peerless venture shrouded in, literally, lusterless packaging. The old adage ānever judge a book by its coverā? becomes quite literal here as well.
  • xxdebxx
    October 2, 2010
    xxdebxx
    The story revolves around Caleb (Adam Scott), an embittered misogynist with a fervent belief that "all women are whores". While giving his brother Peter (Alex Frost) and his new girlfriend Emma (Brittany Snow) a drive home for Thanksgiving, he develops ambivalent feelings for her... read more. On the one hand, he repeatedly warns her not to cheat on his brother. On the other, he can't quite leave her alone.
    Only after seeing her can he get some sleep; an insomniac, he seems to be hurtling toward self-destruction, saying awful things and then apologizes for them sincerely. He gets into fights and treats people like dirt. Caleb is the lovable anti-hero and we find ourselves, against our better judgment, rooting for him and sympathizing with his spiraling depression as he's dealing with a heartbreaking break up and having to be reminded of it based on the fact that his younger brother's girlfriend looks so much like his two timing ex. Veteran actor J.K. Simmons puts a great performance as the father who has issues of his own and Brittany Snow is brilliant as the confused Emma who perfectly illustrates that women are attracted to 'bad boys' and not wimps.
  • StefanoEarnest
    May 5, 2012
    StefanoEarnest
    The greatest thing about "The Vicious Kind" is Adam Scott, who has the all around best portrayal of a misanthrope I have ever seen. His character is cruel, threatening, and a real downer of a person, and to say that Scott nails his role would be an understatement.

View All The Vicious Kind Reviews

Critic Reviews

Manohla Dargis
February 11, 2010
Manohla Dargis, New York Times

The characters spend far too much time working through their problems with drama-deadening directness.

Frank Scheck
December 14, 2009
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

Indie drama reveals talent in front of and behind the camera.

Gary Goldstein
December 11, 2009
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times

The Vicious Kind upends the heavily tread dysfunctional family drama in ways that are unique, surprising and memorable. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
March 1, 2010
Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com

Vicious Kind doesn't have much in the way of new corners to offer the domestic disturbance genre, resulting in a film greatly dedicated to misery, but offers no tangible reason why anyone outside of t... Full Review

Nick Schager
February 10, 2010
Nick Schager, Time Out New York

It's the sort of Sundance-approved movie that takes place in a stereotypically bleak rural locale, while an acoustic guitar twangs mournfully over the soundtrack. Full Review

Pam Grady
December 18, 2009
Pam Grady, Boxoffice Magazine

What lifts this trenchant dramedy out of the ordinary are Krieger's ear for dialogue and Adam Scott's breakthrough performance as a family's black sheep seemingly intent on earning that bad rap. Full Review

Aaron Hillis
December 14, 2009
Aaron Hillis, L.A. Weekly

Inevitably, the film devolves into weepy catharsis, but with slick cinematography and colorfully cruel dialogue for Scott to chew up and spit at every member of this fine ensemble. Full Review

Simon Weaving
December 11, 2009
Simon Weaving, Screenwize

In a sharply scripted comic drama, Brittany Snow stars as the pensive Emma, a girl caught between two quite different brothers. Full Review

Geoff Berkshire
December 10, 2009
Geoff Berkshire, Metromix.com

What initially seems like a [Neil] LaBute knockoff develops into its own rather interesting examination of men who mask pain with maliciousness. Full Review

Kyle Smith
December 11, 2009
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Click to read the article Full Review

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