Dakota Fanning (The Equalizer 3) just can’t seem to stay away from horror. After starring in M. Night Shyamalan’s 2024 supernatural genre flick The Watchers, she went on to land her role in Bryan Bertino’s Vicious. Today, as part of Collider’s Exclusive Preview event ahead of the 20th anniversary celebrations at Fantastic Fest, where the film will celebrate its world premiere, we’re thrilled to share a brand-new look at Fanning in her latest spooky-scary role. The good news is that audiences won’t need to wait long to catch Vicious on a screen near them, as after its debut at the annual event, it’s set for a release on October 10.

Our never-before-seen look at Vicious sets the stage for yet another movie that will get under your skin and stay with you long after the credits roll from the director who first introduced audiences to The Strangers. In it, we see Fanning’s Polly looking at something off-screen. In her eyes, we can tell she’s overwhelmed with emotion — primarily ones of terror and confusion. Donning a thick jacket lined with a hoodie, it appears that whatever transpires in the film will do so during the chillier months.

Like her turn in The Watchers, Fanning will once again be thrown into a dark mystery in Vicious, which Bertino also penned. As per the film’s official synopsis:

“When Polly (Dakota Fanning) receives a mysterious Box from an unexpected late-night visitor (Kathryn Hunter), it comes with a simple instruction: place three things inside: something you need, something you hate, and something you love. What begins as a strange ritual quickly unravels into a waking nightmare. Trapped in a terrifying world where reality bends and memory betrays, Polly must navigate a series of impossible choices. As time slips away, she’s forced to confront the darkness not just around her, but within her—before it consumes everything and everyone she’s ever known.”

Meet the Cast Behind ‘Vicious’

VICIOUS---Carlee-Osborn

Dakota Fanning stars in Paramount Pictures’ “VICIOUS.”

In addition to Fanning and The Front Room’s Hunter, the ensemble backing Vicious also includes the talents of Mary McCormack (The West Wing), Rachel Blanchard (The Summer I Turned Pretty), Devyn Nekoda (Scream VI), Klea Scott (Brooklyn South) and Emily Mitchell (Ordinary Angels).

Backed by Paramount Pictures, the movie marks Bertino’s return to filmmaking after a five-year hiatus following his 2020 Marin Ireland-led feature, The Dark and the Wicked. Having also helmed The Monster and Mockingbird, audiences most likely associate Bertino with the long-running franchise, The Strangers, of which he kicked off as the writer and director of the original Liv Tyler-led 2008 home invasion film.

Check out Fanning in her latest horror role above and stay tuned to Collider for more to come from our Exclusive Preview event. And check out the full Fantastic Fest film guide here.