Very Bad Things Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		2.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

Very Bad Things Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 18, 2020

Throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, Peter Berg was a character actor trying to make his way through the industry, acquiring supporting roles and finding success as a cast member on the television series, “Chicago Hope.” However, his real dream was to be a director, making his feature-length filmmaking debut with 1998’s “Very Bad Things,” also claiming credit for the screenplay. While often playing mild men as a thespian, Berg goes hog- wild as a helmer, creating a black comedy with profound depths of bad behavior, always trying to find the darkly humorous potential of characters engaged in destructive antics that involve multiple murders. Berg unleashes his id with “Very Bad Things,” trying to make a distinct impression with a manic effort that’s not short on macabre incidents, but remains laugh-free as it lovingly details ugliness.

A young man about to marry Laura (Cameron Diaz), Kyle (Jon Favreau) is struggling with his Bridezilla, who demands a perfect wedding, stressing out over every last detail. Eager to enjoy his bachelor party in Las Vegas, Kyle meets up with pals Charles (Leland Orser), Michael (Jeremy Piven), Adam (Daniel Stern), and Robert (Christian Slater) for a weekend of debauchery, numbing their anxieties with cocaine and booze. Bringing in stripper Tina (Carla Scott) for a hotel room show, Michael elects to pay to play, having rough sex with the entertainer in the bathroom. During the violent encounter, Michael accidentally slams Tina’s head through a towel spike, killing the prostitute. Robert quickly takes control of the situation, which is soon complicated by another body, inspiring the buddies to get rid of the evidence in the desert. Trying to return to their normal lives, guilt and paranoid have their way with the men, shredding their nerves.

Berg doesn’t do dainty with “Very Bad Things.” He’s showcasing his jackhammer directorial style with the feature, keeping the bachelor party adrenalized and characters cartoonish, beginning with Laura, who’s depicted as a walking nightmare of demands and judgments, even freaking out over the padding on reception seats. Kyle is submissive, trying to keep the peace, but time with his friends is clearly what the doctor ordered, giving Berg a chance to showcase a Las Vegas weekend of drugs, drink, and Tina, brought in to seduce Kyle, only to end up murdered by Michael. The party scenes are pure Berg, with characters rambling, camerawork quaking, and behavior unrestrained. What doesn’t work for “Very Bad Things” is Berg’s insistence that the entire viewing experience remain breathless, which, for a 100-minute-long movie, is nearly impossible to manage.

Performances tap into the nervous energy of the screenplay, with Slater the standout of the bunch, leaning into Robert’s oiliness and lack of moral core, trying to keep the gang as calm and focused as possible as they set out to butcher the bodies for easier disposal, also organizing a promise of silence as the friends return to their everyday lives. This type of ghoulish focus is passably entertaining in “Very Bad Things,” but Berg doesn’t want it, preferring to bathe the effort in tedious argumentative behavior, botched slapstick with Adam’s runaway nerves, and jokes that deliberately aim for bad taste (including making fun of the physically disabled), giving the feature an unshakable vibe of desperation. Add in overlength, and “Very Bad Things” grows exhausting in a hurry.

Very Bad Things Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Very Bad Things" has not been refreshed for its Blu-ray debut, with the AVC encoded image (1.84:1 aspect ratio) presentation sourced from an old scan. Visual limitations are obvious, as filtering is present, resulting in limited textures and some haloing. Detail isn't wiped clean, but there's little film- like appeal, finding close-ups most defined, picking up on skin surfaces and sweatiness, which there is a lot of in this endeavor. Colors are flat overall, without a natural punch of primaries. Bright elements, such as blues skies, are muted, and costuming lacks vibrancy, especially when surveying wedding dresses and suits. Skintones are bloodless. Delineation periodically solidifies.

Very Bad Things Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix captures intensity of thought from the cast, with furious dialogue exchanges appealingly pronounced, isolating individual antagonisms and performance choices. Scoring is mild but effective, while soundtrack selections are dialed down, showing little authority with montages. Surrounds deal nicely with atmospherics, identifying suburban tours and room activity, and a few panning effects are included, with the whooshing of editorial transitions noted.

Very Bad Things Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features podcasters Witney Seibold and William Bibbiani.

• Interview (17:23, HD) with Jeremy Piven details his personal history with Peter Berg, sharing how "Very Bad Things" was based on a true story and how his role was initially intended for Adam Sandler before his pal called him into duty. Piven explores what it's like to work for Berg, appreciating the "gonzo director" and his special energy, struggling to match the screenplay's insanity. Co-stars are assessed, with the gang getting along despite aggressive acting, and the interviewee shares some thespian philosophy as well, discussing his approach to the character. A few memories from the shoot are presented, along with recollection of fan interactions who've helped to sustain the film's unexpectedly legacy. Piven's also shares his hesitance to permit his mother (who've been his acting coach since he was a boy) to view the sex scene from "Very Bad Things," gently taking her on a stroll around the theater lobby during the premiere.

• Interview (21:00, HD) with Daniel Stern is a highly bizarre flurry of memories, though he doesn't just dive into anecdotes, making sure to put on a silent show while wearing an Alfred E. Neuman mask, striving to creep out viewers before explaining the origin of the disguise and its use during the "Very Bad Things" shoot, enraging cast and crew (the saga continues after the credits, so stay tuned). Already drawn to twisted humor, Stern was onboard from the get-go, embracing Berg's sick sense of fun, eventually appreciating his leadership skills once cameras rolled. The interviewee marvels over the writing and its tonal bravery, examining "toxic masculinity," and he recounts his interactions with co-stars, with camaraderie solidifying quickly, easing the performers into the darkness of the concept and the manic energy required to bring it to life. Stern recounts his brief time with a car stunt, complicating his character's journey, and surveys the dismal marketplace performance of "Very Bad Things" in 1999, which helped to make it a cult movie that still inspires fan interactions for the actor, who knows exactly what type of human he's dealing with when love for the feature is shared out in the wild.

• Still Gallery (6:54) collects film stills, publicity shots, and BTS snaps.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:15, SD) is included.

Very Bad Things Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Shock value is the big draw here, but Berg doesn't have much of an imagination for the stuff, recycling confrontations and falling short of expectations when it comes to the comic insanity of the picture. He's always been a problematic director, consistently drawn to overstimulation, but here, in his debut, the raw ambition of an actor trying to transition to a career behind the camera doesn't create magic. "Very Bad Things" is merely a half-realized collection of crude ideas and acting styles, with Berg failing to conduct this noxious orchestra with any noticeable authority.