Very Bad Things (1998)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Peter Berg

Writer (WGA):

Peter Berg (written by)

Release Date:

25 November 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Bachelor Party | Prostitute | Wedding | Best Man

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

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

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

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

Company:

Initial Entertainment Group (IEG)

Trivia:

The policeman in the hospital is named Randone. Peter Berg, the writer/director, played a policeman named Randone in Cop Land (1997).

Goofs:

Continuity: Laura's right arm jumps from Kyle's shoulder to being around his body as they kiss at their wedding.

Quotes:

Mike: Your kid is one crutch short of a telethon.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 100 Mile Rule (2002)

Soundtrack:

Como Ves

Very original and black. It's fun while being depressing. *** (out of four)

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.