Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- caustic
- uneasy
- melodramatic
- indie film night
- character drama evening
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's sharp dialogue, complex performances, and darkly funny take on dysfunctional family drama, while finding its melodramatic reckoning and denouement uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Caleb's warnings, resentment, infatuation, and abrasive behavior drive the family and romantic conflict.
The film combines dysfunctional father-son and sibling relationships with unexpected, uneasy laughs.
Caleb becomes attracted to Peter's new girlfriend Emma while deciding whether to protect his brother's first love.
The college pickup and Thanksgiving return bring the brothers, their father, and Emma into the Sinclaire home.
Films like The Vicious Kind, and why
The Squid and the Whale
caustic dysfunctional family dynamics, uncomfortable humor, and emotionally abrasive characterizations
Little Children
small-town relationship tensions, uneasy comedy, and flawed adults confronting family wounds
The Ice Storm
morally messy romantic entanglements, sharp dialogue, and an off-kilter indie tone
The Royal Tenenbaums
dysfunctional family drama shaped by dark humor, betrayal, and difficult male characters
Movie Details
- Director
- Lee Toland Krieger
- Release Date
- 2009-12-11
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (126)
Cast
- Adam Scott
- Brittany Snow
- Alex Frost
- J.K. Simmons
- Vittorio Brahm
- Bill Buell
- Alysia Reiner
- Kate Krieger
- Jordan Reid
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Vicious Kind about?
- During a fraught Thanksgiving visit, a bitter older brother’s attraction to his sibling’s girlfriend exposes the corrosive wounds of an emotionally estranged family.
- What is The Vicious Kind like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Vicious Kind as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Vicious Kind violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Vicious Kind.
- What did critics think of The Vicious Kind?
- Critics broadly praised the film's sharp dialogue, complex performances, and darkly funny take on dysfunctional family drama, while finding its melodramatic reckoning and denouement uneven.
- Which films are like The Vicious Kind?
- Films with a similar feel include The Squid and the Whale, Little Children, The Ice Storm, and The Royal Tenenbaums.
- How long is The Vicious Kind?
- The Vicious Kind runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Vicious Kind?
- In United States, The Vicious Kind is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
