Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘For the Sake of Vicious’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for the motion picture, ‘For the Sake of Vicious’.
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Ask any parent out there, what they would do if someone ever decided to hurt their child and you’ll get quite the dark answer. Wherein the parent in question will inform you… that they would find the person that hurt their kid and make them pay in a horrible manner and well… that answer does make sense. After all, that little one is about as innocent as they come and the thought of having someone violate that innocence and betray the sanctity of family life and the protection that parents afford, would send any rational person into an irrational rage. The kind that would indeed motivate them to go to extremes to bring about justice for their child.
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But thankfully, most parents never have to genuinely answer that question and those faced with it, do indeed have the courts handle the justice in question. But such a scenario does motivate the morbid and macabre side of our minds… to ponder upon what it would look like if the system failed, and a parent was forced to handle justice on their own and oddly enough, fiction is a place where this can be explored. Since stories have no bounds and are indeed eager to indulge our darkest curiosities, especially the horror genre and really… the ‘what if?’ when it comes to this notion is top of mind today, simply because Shudder is now host to a movie that explores what could happen if a parent were to cross that line in… For the Sake of Vicious.

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to a happy go lucky nurse named Romina, who is looking forward to enjoying a quiet and fun evening with her son, trick or treating on Halloween. But upon returning home, Romina is faced with quite the conundrum. For a man named Chris, whose daughter was sexually assaulted and was helped to recovery by Romina, has broken into her home and has a powerful request of her. For a man named Alan is with Chris and Alan is badly injured and in need of medical attention. The kind Chris hopes that Romina will provide so that Alan can be kept alive long enough to produce a confession. One that recants his court testimony and makes it clear that he hurt Chris’ daughter and this brutal plan is going to test everyone in Romina’s house like never before and in ways… they never thought possible.

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Which is a plot that perfectly sells the theme in question, since we watch what is clearly a good, blue collar working man commit to utter darkness in order to find justice for his daughter and that leads to some bleak moments. The kind that really demonstrate the savagery that we are capable of and how fury burns bright when we let it and make no mistake about it… this is the true horror that this film has to offer. Because there is nothing more frightening than a man with nothing to lose and watching Chris realize and embrace that is as scary as it gets and what’s wild… is that his downward spiral into pure rage is only the beginning of the darkness that this film brings to the table. 
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Since a moment of kindness from Romina when she isn’t fully convinced that Alan is indeed the culprit, allows for Alan to make a phone call, one that alerts some bad people to his situation, and they are eager to keep the real truth hidden and that in turn… brings about an utter bloodbath. One that really does offer a fresh take on the home invasion sub-genre present within horror and well, there’s simply no deeper meaning to be found in this part of the story. Just gore and anger and guts and glory and this is definitely another sequence that will leave the viewer uncomfortable and cringing, since nothing is held back gore wise or violence wise and really in the end, that and the central theme present here, make this a savage and angry motion picture.

One where there are no redemptive actions to be found here. Just a need for revenge, plain and simple. But where this movie truly shines, is in its ambiguity. Because despite informing us of the fact that a parent would indeed go to the extreme to right a wrong against their child, it never informs us if such a decision is right or wrong and not going that route, puts the final answer in the hands of the viewer and that allows for a unique and personal experience to take place. One that forces the audience to really examine their moral core and well, that’s what good horror does; challenge us. So, if you’re looking for a wild and intense ride, one that is as intelligent as it is brutal, this swing by Shudder and give For the Sake of Vicious a look. You’ll be glad you did.  

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