IMDb >
Very Bad Things (1998)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsVery Bad Things (1998) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 28 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 11 NEW) |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
25 November 1998 (USA) moreTagline:
A very savage comedy. This fall. Tell no one. morePlot:
A prostitute is killed during a bachelor party and the attendees turn on each other as the wedding approaches. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
2 wins & 3 nominations moreUser Comments:
Very original and black. It's fun while being depressing. *** (out of four) more (462 total)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) | |
| Kobé Tai | ... | Tina (as Carla Scott) | |
| Russell B. McKenzie | ... | Security Guard | |
| Pancho Demmings | ... | Cop (as Pancho Demings) | |
| Blake Gibbons | ... | Suit | |
| Angelo Di Mascio Jr. | ... | Clerk |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for strong, grisly violence, sexuality, drug use and language.Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
100 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Dolby DigitalCertification:
Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #35972) | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KNT | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2004) | Germany:18 (original rating) | Hong Kong:IIB | Israel:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Austria:16 (DVD rating) | Canada:18A | Canada:16+ (Quebec)Filming Locations:
Johnie's Coffee Shop - 6101 Wilshire Boulevard, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA moreFun Stuff
Trivia:
The policeman in the hospital is named Randone. Peter Berg, the writer/director, played a policeman named Randone in Cop Land (1997). moreGoofs:
Continuity: Laura's right arm jumps from Kyle's shoulder to being around his body as they kiss at their wedding. moreSoundtrack:
Como Ves moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (462 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Very Bad Things (1998) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Hostel | Grindhouse | Wild at Heart | Kill Bill: Vol. 1 | Bad Boys II |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |















VERY BAD THINGS / (1998) *** (out of four)
By Blake French:
"Allow me to be the first to say that what we have done here is not a good thing. It's definitely not a good thing. But it was, given the circumstances, the smart play." --Robert Boyd
If anything, Peter Berg's "Very Bad Things" triggers a response, regardless of the nature. My initial reaction to the dark, disturbing parody was bleak and unpleasant. The movie displays sick, demented behavior and despicable, annoying characters. It's not humanly possible to like anyone in the movie. Christian Slater's character is cruel and selfish. Cameron Diaz displays a whiny, obsessive portrayal. I needed an aspirin during this unfunny mess.
I viewed the film a second time; surprisingly, my opinion differed greatly. I liked all the same parts, but this time, my attitude changed. I watched with more of an open mind-the film is advertised as a dark comedy, but-although a few explosively funny moments occur-the film seldom provokes laughs. It's important to watch abstractly, with no remorse or guilt for enjoying the unholy revelation of events. Everything that happens here makes perfect sense under the circumstances. If you don't expect a light hearted, laugh a minute comedy, then "Very Bad Things" fulfills a long-needed niche in Hollywood.
"Very Bad Things" is, like the tagline notes, a very savage comedy. It does not paint a happy portrait of our society-it's a scathing satire on American values. It's needlessly racist, sexist, and vulgar. It depicts a gross portrayal of modern families, the delicate but perverse male mindset, disgusting bachelor parties, and even the "happiest day" of many lives-the wedding day.
Cameron Diaz plays Laura Garrety, a selfish, whiny bride-to-be. She's getting married in three days to a handsome fellow named Kyle Fisher (Jon Faveau from "Swingers"). She isn't happy with his decision to travel to Vegas with his friends for a bachelor party. They include two bickering brothers, Adam (Daniel Stern), and Michael (Jeremy Piven, who stepped into the role after Adam Sandler stepped out to make "The Waterboy."), as well as an organized but cruel real estate agent named Robert Boyd (Christian Slater), and a quiet mechanic named Charles Moore (Leland Orser).
Once they arrive in Vegas, a stylistic montage sequence shows the five friends gambling, snorting cocaine, and drinking lots of alcohol. They settle in for the night at a fancy hotel, where a stripper (Carla Scott) arrives and lap dances the guys into a frenzy. Michael takes her into the bathroom for sex, but accidentally drives the stripper's head into a towel hook, instantly killing her. The rest of the men panic and want to call for help, but Boyd has a better idea. He wants to bury the body in the nearby desert. The intrusion of a hotel security guard complicates the issue. Boyd kills him with a corkscrew during a particularly unpleasant scene. The rest decide to use a chain saw to cut up the bodies and carry them to the desert in suitcases, where they do indeed put the unfortunate souls underground.
Although not for the easily offended, "Very Bad Things" takes us on a roller coaster ride through immorality and its consequences. It's fun watching the sequences of events, the bodies piling up, and the exaggeration of our most improper impulses. A great cast demonstrates their fine acting abilities. The script, also by Peter Berg, features very smart, witty dialogue. Berg directs the chaos with an engaging style-especially during the scenes in Vegas, and keeps the momentum throughout the movie. If the filmmakers played the material as straight drama, it might have worked even better, but as it is, "Very Bad Things" is a joy ride through harsh satire.