Very Bad Things (1998)

A prostitute is killed during a bachelor party and the attendees turn on each other as the wedding approaches.

Director:

Peter Berg

Writer:

Peter Berg

Stars:

Jon Favreau, Cameron Diaz, Christian Slater

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jon Favreau	...	Kyle Fisher
Leland Orser	...	Charles Moore
Cameron Diaz	...	Laura Garrety
Christian Slater	...	Robert Boyd
Rob Brownstein	...	Man
Jeremy Piven	...	Michael Berkow
Daniel Stern	...	Adam Berkow
Jeanne Tripplehorn	...	Lois Berkow
Joey Zimmerman	...	Adam Berkow Jr.
Tyler Cole Malinger	...	Timmy Berkow (as Tyler Malinger)
Kobe Tai	...	Tina (as Carla Scott)
Russell B. McKenzie	...	Security Guard
Pancho Demmings	...	Cop (as Pancho Demings)
Blake Gibbons	...	Suit
Angelo Di Mascio Jr.	...	Clerk

Storyline

A group of friends head to Las Vegas for a bachelor party.. only things go wrong and a woman is killed. Soon, the bodies are piling up and the friends find themselves turning against one another as the coverup builds.

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Plot Keywords:

bachelor party | friend | wedding | prostitute | psychopath | 

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Taglines:

A very savage comedy. This fall. Tell no one.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong, grisly violence, sexuality, drug use and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 November 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Malos pensamientos

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£437,514 (UK) (29 January 1999)

Gross:

£1,796,223 (UK) (5 March 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Initial Entertainment Group (IEG), Interscope Communications, Ballpark Productions Partnership

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The policeman in the hospital is named Randone. Peter Berg, the writer/director, played a policeman named Randone in Cop Land.

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Goofs

The coat hook embedded in the dead prostitute's head is missing except in the last shot when the security man is inspecting the body.

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Quotes

[Michael has accidentally killed Tina the prostitute]
Kyle: You fucking guys. You fucking guys. You fucking guys! YOU FUCKING GUYS!

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Connections

Spoofed in Scary Movie 2 (2001)

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Soundtracks

"Como Ves"
(1998)
Written by Jesus Perez (as Jesus 'Chuy' Perez)
Performed by Ozomatli
Courtesy of Almo Sounds, Inc.

User Reviews

Sick...twisted...and a lot of fun!

If you're expecting a pleasant Howard Hawks-ian comedy, you rented the wrong damn movie! So don't say I didn't warn you. Besides, the video/DVD cover shows Christian Slater holding a chainsaw. How much warning do you need? First of all, "Very Bad Things" works out better if you don't treat it as a straightforward comedy. It's basically a mix of suspense and comedy. Almost like "Fargo." Now before you jump on me, "VBT" is nowhere near as great as "Fargo," but the two films are practically equal in tone.

At least the film contains one element that some comedies lack: the characters AREN'T acting as if they're in a comedy! When the characters panic and do foolish things, they're not contrived comic moments. People do the most absurd things when they panic.

It's hard to explain what exactly it is that makes the film funny. You just have to watch the film. But people really, really mean it when they label this as a dark comedy. Writer/director Peter Berg tries to keep a somewhat quirky tone, though. There are some slanty camera angles and the soundtrack conflicts with the tone of each scene. Don't worry, it's done intentionally. Berg, who's known mostly as an actor in films like "Cop Land" and "The Great White Hype," makes a fine directorial debut, though there is some improper pacing.

Finally, the actors are what make this film most worth seeing. I've always been a fan of Christian Slater, and believe him to be an underrated talent. He seems passionate about every character he plays, and spouts out every line of dialogue like it's poetry. His character is very interesting, as he seems to keep his cool in every situation, no matter how tragic or violent. Daniel Stern's another underrated talent, since he mostly does lightweight family comedies like the "Home Alone" flicks, and does a great job at playing his constantly paranoid character, who's the complete opposite of Slater's. Cameron Diaz gives a fine comic performance as the tightly-wound, hot-tempered wife of Jon Favreau. I think this is one of her most unique performances up-to-date. I think this was before she became such a sex symbol. Now fame has gone a little bit more to her head, starring in such throwaway flicks as the "Charlie's Angels" films and "The Sweetest Thing." She is in fact a very talented actress, but this movie most proves that she's more than just a pretty face. Speaking of pretty faces, Jeanne Tripplehorn also gives a fine comic performance as Stern's tightly-wound wife.

I consider myself an admirer of dark comedies, but any type of film can fail. This one doesn't. It made me laugh and kept me in suspense. And it has a great share of profanity, violence and nudity (that Asian stripper was deliciously hot!!!). "Very Bad Things" is not for the straitlaced, or faint of heart, but for the rest of us--have fun!!!

My score: 7 (out of 10)