Watch Very Bad Things

Very Bad Things is a dark comedy movie released in 1998, directed by Peter Berg and starring Christian Slater, Daniel Stern, Cameron Diaz, and Jon Favreau. The movie deals with the concept of the butterfly effect, but in a much darker way than most. This is a story of how a simple mistake can snowball into a much larger one; how one seemingly small act of negligence can lead to a cascade of terrible events.

The plot centers around Kyle Fisher (played by Jon Favreau) who is about to get married to his fiancé, Laura Garrety (played by Cameron Diaz). Kyle and his friends, Robert Boyd (played by Christian Slater), Charles Moore (played by Leland Orser), Michael Berkow (played by Jeremy Piven), and Adam Berkow (played by Daniel Stern) celebrate the bachelor's party in Las Vegas, where they hire a prostitute named Tina (played by Keesha Sharp). During the night, Tina dies accidentally, and the group decides to cover up the death to avoid any legal complication. The movie follows these friends as their situation spirals out of control.

From the beginning of the movie, we get a sense of the violent and unpredictable tone. The plot is disturbing, and the humor is dark, but the execution is remarkable. The narrative plays out like a tragedy but with moments of black comedy scattered throughout. The movie acknowledges that it is dealing with a subject matter that is inherently bleak, and the humor is the only way to help the audience get through these twisted series of events.

One of the most outstanding aspects of the movie is the cast. Christian Slater shines as Robert, a friend who is the mastermind behind the cover-up plan. He is charismatic, charming, and sinister, all at the same time. Cameron Diaz also delivers a remarkable performance in this movie, in a character out of her comfort zone with the bubbly, cheerful types of role she usually plays. She plays Laura, Kyle's fiancé, and in this movie, she is portrayed as manipulative and ruthless, with her desire for the wedding and her husband causing the group's moral unraveling.

The real standout in the cast is Daniel Stern, who plays Adam, the friend who is the most nervous about the cover-up. He delivers an exceptional performance, walking the line between humor and intense drama seamlessly. The movie benefits from his ability to anchor the story emotionally, creating a character that the audience can root for and empathize with despite the chaos surrounding him.

The movie's cinematography and production design are also noteworthy. The opening credits sequence is full of vivid imagery and bold colors that hint at the story's darker tone. The entire film is exceptionally well-shot, with a sharp and crisp style that complements the performances and the narrative. The music also plays a crucial role; the soundtrack of the movie features music from Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, and Nina Simone, adding to the movie's ominous and foreboding atmosphere.

The movie is not without flaws. At times it feels excessively violent, and the characters' motivations are not always clear. It occasionally feels like the movie is pushing the black comedy too far, veering into grotesque territory. However, the movie's exploration of a single action causing a chain reaction of events that are impossible to control stays consistent throughout, making it an intense and exhilarating cinematic experience.

In conclusion, Very Bad Things is a movie that deals with the complexity of the human psyche under duress. It is a bleak, humorous, and twisted ride that is not for the faint of heart. The movie deals with a sensitive subject with irreverence but manages to keep the humanity in its characters intact. The performances, direction, and storytelling are top-notch, making it a must-see movie for fans of dark comedies.

Very Bad Things is a 1998 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 31.