Honestly, the cast of Vicious 2025 is probably the biggest reason anybody clicked "play" on this one after it skipped theaters. If you’re a horror fan, you know Bryan Bertino. He’s the guy who made everyone terrified of a knock at the door with The Strangers. Now, he's back with a weird, small-scale supernatural nightmare that basically asks: what would you give up to stay alive? It’s not just about jumpscares. It’s about the people trapped in that house.
Dakota Fanning leads the charge here. She's been acting since she was, what, five? Seeing her in a gritty, isolated horror role feels like a natural evolution from her child-star days to the "final girl" energy she’s been leaning into lately. But she isn't alone. The supporting players are a mix of character actors and fresh faces who turn a simple "evil box" concept into something that feels way more personal.
Dakota Fanning as Polly: The Heart of the Nightmare
Dakota Fanning plays Polly. She’s a woman in her 30s who is—let’s be real—kind of a mess. She’s living in a house she rents from her sister, stuck in a dead-end job, and basically drifting through life until a stranger shows up at her door. Fanning spends a massive chunk of this movie alone on screen. It’s a huge task. She has to carry the tension with nothing but her facial expressions and a lot of heavy breathing.
In Vicious, Polly isn't some superhero. She’s vulnerable. When the box demands a sacrifice, you see the genuine terror in her eyes. It’s a grounded performance in a movie that gets pretty ungrounded toward the end. Fanning has talked in interviews about how she loved the "solo" nature of the shoot. It’s intense. It’s visceral. You’ve seen her in The Watchers or Ripley, but this is much more raw.
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Kathryn Hunter: The Woman Who Starts It All
If you saw The Front Room or The Tragedy of Macbeth, you know Kathryn Hunter is a literal force of nature. She has this way of moving and speaking that is just... unsettling. In the cast of Vicious 2025, she plays "The Woman." She’s the one who visits Polly at night and hands over the cursed box.
She isn't on screen for long, but she casts a massive shadow over the whole film. Her character is the catalyst. She’s the one who explains the rules: give the box something you need, something you hate, and something you love. Hunter’s performance is theatrical and creepy, providing the perfect contrast to Fanning’s more modern, realistic vibe.
The Supporting Players: Family and Neighbors
While Polly is the focus, the people around her represent the stakes. The cast of Vicious 2025 includes some familiar faces you might recognize from TV or other genre hits.
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- Mary McCormack as the Mother: Most people know her from The West Wing or In Plain Sight. Here, she plays Polly’s mother. Or, more accurately, a malevolent version of her mother that the box uses to taunt Polly. It's a dark turn for her.
- Rachel Blanchard as Lainie: Polly’s sister. Blanchard (who was iconic in the Clueless TV show and You Me Her) plays the "put-together" sibling. Her relationship with Polly is strained, which the movie uses to ramp up the psychological pressure.
- Devyn Nekoda as Tara: She plays the neighbor, and let me tell you, her scenes are some of the most uncomfortable in the movie. You might remember her from Scream VI.
- Emily Mitchell as Aly: She’s the niece. In any horror movie, involving a kid usually means things are going to get emotionally devastating, and Vicious doesn't pull its punches there.
Why This Cast Matters for the Story
This isn't an ensemble movie in the traditional sense. It’s more of a deconstruction. Bertino uses the actors to represent different parts of Polly’s psyche. The "Mother" isn't just a monster; she’s Polly’s guilt. The "Sister" is her feeling of inadequacy.
The film was shot in Ottawa, Ontario, in early 2024. Because it’s so contained, the chemistry (or lack thereof) between these characters has to be perfect. If you don't believe Polly cares about her niece Aly, the final act has zero weight. Luckily, the cast delivers. Even when the plot gets a bit "wait, what’s happening?", the acting keeps you locked in.
Where to See Them in Action
Vicious had a weird road to the screen. It was supposed to be a big summer theatrical release from Paramount. Then it got moved. Then it got moved again. Eventually, it landed on Paramount+ in October 2025.
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If you’re looking to watch it, that’s your best bet. It’s also available on digital VOD platforms like Amazon and Apple. It’s 102 minutes of high-tension dread.
What to Do Next
If you just finished the movie and are scratching your head about the ending, you’re not alone. The best way to appreciate the cast of Vicious 2025 is to look at the "rules" of the box again.
- Re-watch the first 10 minutes: Pay close attention to what Polly says she "needs" and "hates" before the box even arrives. It’s all foreshadowed.
- Check out Kathryn Hunter’s other work: If you liked her creepiness, watch The Front Room. It’s even more wild.
- Look for the "A Vicious Look" featurette: Paramount released a behind-the-scenes clip where Bryan Bertino explains why he chose this specific group of actors to represent Polly's internal trauma.
The film might be polarizing, but the talent involved is top-tier. Whether you loved the ending or found it frustrating, there's no denying that Dakota Fanning and Kathryn Hunter are a powerhouse duo.