Survival Instincts Take Dark Turn

Read Time:3 Minute, 39 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Vile
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Genre: Horror, Mystery
Year Released: 2011, 2023 MVD Blu-ray
Runtime: 1h 28m
Director(s): Taylor Sheridan
Writer(s): Eric Jay Beck, Rob Kowsaluk
Cast: April Matson, Akeem Smith, Greg Cipes, Eric Beck, Elisha Skorman, Heidi Mueller, Maya Hazen, Rob Kirkland
Where To Watch: available October 24, 2023; pre-order here www.mvdshop.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Taylor Sheridan’s VILE catapults audiences into an abyss of moral dilemmas, redefining discomfort in a narrative that exposes the stark rawness of human survival instincts. It’s a ride that begins as unsettling and only tightens its grip as the plot unravels. Imagine a tranquil getaway that morphs into a grotesque fight for freedom where pain, in its most primitive form, becomes a monstrous form of currency.

This is the nightmarish reality for a group of young adults in VILE. They find their fates shackled to a horrifying directive: endure agonizing pain to fill vials with a chemical their bodies produce as a response, their only ticket to liberation. This gruesome scenario unfolds in a mysterious, claustrophobic setting that would send shivers down even the most seasoned horror lover’s spine, like the live-action MONSTERS, INC. of your nightmares!

Released in 2011, VILE carved a niche that gets overlooked in the psychological horror landscape. It dared to unravel what lies at the fringes of human endurance, reversing the concept of suffering. Agony isn’t an adversary; it’s an ally—a gruesome, unwanted ally in a twisted game of survival.

Nick and his partner and friends are central to this tale of terror. Their serene adventure derails drastically following a deceptive roadside encounter. Suddenly, they’re unwilling participants in a ghastly game where torment is both the lock and the key, a narrative element as innovative as disturbing.

VILE is a bold narrative with its heartbeat. In his directorial debut, Taylor Sheridan crafts a world where brutality isn’t just a plot device; it’s the core. This unflinching portrayal might not sit well with everyone, but this audacity sets VILE apart. I will say that Sheridan set the bar so high in his follow-up WIND RIVER and contributed his writing to the rest of the American Frontier trilogy (SICARIO and HELL OR HIGH WATER) that I had to compare this, even though I didn’t mean to intentionally.

The technical aspects of the film impressed in its simplicity; the setting is hazed with a foreboding dread, the narrative keeps viewers tethered to the screen, and unexpected jolts of horror are mostly well-timed. Yet, VILE needs to improve in character creation that resonate. While pivotal to the storyline, they lack the depth to form a genuine emotional bridge with the audience, rendering their suffering somewhat distant.

Despite these stumbles, VILE doesn’t lose its grip on the audience. The intense play on survival and morality enveloped in an atmosphere of dread, keeps viewers riveted even when they’re not fully invested in the characters’ fates. And while the graphic content may polarize, this audacity marks Sheridan’s entry into horror as something to notice. Though not exceptional, the performances are entirely overshadowed by the intensity of the plot’s unfolding. I would love to see what happens if Sheridan revisits horror.

Bonus Materials
– High Definition (1080p) presentation of the main feature in 1:78.1 aspect ratio
– Audio: 5.1 Surround, LPCM 2.0 Stereo Audio
– Optional English Subtitles
– Deleted Scenes
– Theatrical Trailer (HD)
– Reversible Artwork
– Limited Edition Slipcover (first pressing only)

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[photo courtesy of MVD MARQUEE COLLECTION]

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