Very Bad Things (1998)

Director:

Peter Berg

Writer (WGA):

Peter Berg (written by)

Release Date:

25 November 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

A very savage comedy. This fall. Tell no one.

Plot:

A prostitute is killed during a bachelor party and the attendees turn on each other as the wedding approaches.

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Bachelor Party | Prostitute | Wedding | Best Man

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Jon Favreau	...	Kyle Fisher
Leland Orser	...	Charles Moore
Cameron Diaz	...	Laura Garrety
Christian Slater	...	Robert Boyd
Rob Brownstein	...	Man
Jeremy Piven	...	Michael Berkow
Daniel Stern	...	Adam Berkow
Jeanne Tripplehorn	...	Lois Berkow
Joey Zimmerman	...	Adam Berkow Jr.
Tyler Cole Malinger	...	Timmy Berkow (as Tyler Malinger)
Kobé Tai	...	Tina (as Carla Scott)
Russell B. McKenzie	...	Security Guard
Pancho Demmings	...	Cop (as Pancho Demings)
Blake Gibbons	...	Suit
Angelo Di Mascio Jr.	...	Clerk
Lawrence Pressman	...	Mr. Fisher
Steve Fitchpatrick	...	Cop at Hospital
Brian Grandison	...	Doctor #1
John Cappon	...	Doctor #2
Linda Klein	...	Doctor #3
Byrne Piven	...	Rabbi
Bob Bancroft	...	Barry Morris
Trey Davis	...	Receptionist
Marilyn McIntyre	...	Judge Tower
Wrangler	...	Bunker the Dog 4 Legs
Trooper	...	Bunker the Dog 3 Legs
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brian Sampson	...	Wedding videographer (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Berg

Writing credits (WGA)
Peter Berg		(written by)

Produced by
Cindy Cowan	....	producer
Ted Field	....	executive producer
Laura Greenlee	....	line producer
Michael A. Helfant	....	executive producer (as Michael Helfant)
Joanna Johnson	....	associate producer
Scott Kroopf	....	executive producer
Diane Nabatoff	....	producer
Michael Schiffer	....	producer
Christian Slater	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Stewart Copeland

Cinematography by
David Hennings		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Dan Lebental

Casting by
Debi Manwiller

Production Design by
Dina Lipton

Art Direction by
Michael Atwell

Set Decoration by
Kathy Lucas

Costume Design by
Terry Dresbach

Makeup Department
Nancy Baca	....	key makeup artist
Howard Berger	....	supervisor: K.N.B. Effects Group, Inc.
Daniel Curet	....	key hair stylist
Robert Kurtzman	....	supervisor: K.N.B. Effects Group, Inc.
Gregory Nicotero	....	supervisor: K.N.B. Effects Group, Inc. (as Greg Nicotero)
Rachel Russo	....	assistant hair stylist
Jeanne Van Phue	....	head makeup artist

Production Management
Eric Bergman	....	post-production supervisor
Beth DePatie	....	production supervisor
Shelly Glasser	....	executive in charge of production
Laura Greenlee	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lisa Campbell	....	first assistant director: second unit
Eric Heffron	....	first assistant director
Chris Howell	....	second unit director
Richard Oswald	....	second assistant director
Basti Van Der Woude	....	second second assistant director (as Basti Van der Woude)

Art Department
Brent A. Blom	....	swing gang (as Brent Blom)
Robert J. Carlyle	....	construction coordinator
Jennifer Croyle	....	shopper
Michael Deak	....	sculptor (as Michael S. Deak)
Bob DeCourt	....	carpenter
Jim Ealey	....	construction medic (as Jim Ealy)
Tim Ewell	....	carpenter
Chris Fobert	....	painter
William A. Fobert	....	general foreman
Gerald Gates Jr.	....	paint foreman (as Gerald Gates)
Randal R. Groves	....	carpenter
Jill Haber	....	painter
Ted Haines	....	sculptor
Robert Hale	....	painter
Chris Hanson	....	sculptor
Christopher Humbracht	....	carpenter (as Christopher R. Humbracht)
Garrett Immel	....	sculptor (as Garret Immel)
Noelle King	....	set designer
Richard Lambert	....	leadman
Vincent Lozano	....	carpenter (as Vince Lozano)
Dikran Mahakian	....	carpenter
Kurt Miller	....	carpenter
Patrizia Nicoloso	....	stand-by painter (as Patricia Nicoloso)
Gus Olafsson	....	assistant prop master (as Gus 'Gudjon' Olafsson)
Scott Patton	....	sculptor (as Scott Patten)
Mike Pearce	....	sculptor
Chris Pearson	....	swing gang
Mike Peritz	....	swing gang (as Michael Peritz)
Rodney Petreikis	....	on-set dresser
Ron Pipes	....	sculptor
Thomas A. Ritchotte	....	carpenter
Trevor Rudolph	....	swing gang (as Trevor A. Rudolph)
Ron Seigel	....	property master
Ashley Sibille	....	art department coordinator
Jeffrey Sibille	....	swing gang
William Small	....	swing gang
Gary Thomas	....	storyboard artist
Rod Walton	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Frank Bradley	....	cable puller
Joseph A. Brennan	....	stage engineer (as Joe Brennan)
G.W. Brown	....	sound editor (as Greg Brown)
Lawrence L. Commans	....	boom operator (as Lawrence Commans)
Steve Copley	....	foley supervisor
Kat Craig	....	additional boom operator
Yann Delpuech	....	supervising sound editor
Kim Drummond	....	sound editor (as Kim Haves)
Jim Eustace	....	foley assistant
Gary Gegan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Don Givens	....	machine room recordist
Galen Goodpaster	....	assistant sound editor
Rich Gorton	....	foley assistant
Philip Harrelson	....	sound production assistant
Matthew Iadarola	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robin Johnston	....	machine room recordist
Larry Keating	....	sound production assistant
Darren King	....	sound editor
Gregory King	....	supervising sound editor
E. Niles Klein	....	assistant sound editor (as Eric Klein)
Maura C. Lanahan	....	sound production assistant
Russell McAbee	....	additional boom operator
Rob Nokes	....	sound editorial technical consultant
Michelle Schubert	....	foley assistant
John Sievert	....	foley artist
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
John Switzer	....	post-production sound coordinator
Meg Taylor	....	sound editor
Tami Treadwell	....	adr recordist
Mark Weingarten	....	production sound mixer
James Wright	....	consultant: Dolby (as Jim Wright)

Special Effects by
Larry Fioritto	....	special effects coordinator
Bruce Mattox	....	special effects (as Wm. Bruce Mattox)
Virgil Sanchez	....	special effects
Jason Collins	....	lab technician: K.N.B. Effects Group (uncredited)
Gary Zink	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Lincoln Kupchak	....	visual effects editor: Flash Film Works
John P. Mesa	....	visual effects supervisor: Flash Film Works (as John Mesa)
Dan Novy	....	technical supervisor: Flash Film Works
Sean Prusak	....	roto artist: Flash Film Works

Stunts
Perry Barndt	....	stunt performer
Richard L. Blackwell	....	stunt performer
Francis Bradley	....	stunt performer
Hal Burton	....	stunt performer (as Harold Burton)
Jennifer Caputo	....	stunt performer
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunt performer (as Gil Combs)
J. Mark Donaldson	....	stunt performer
Chris Howell	....	stunt coordinator
Robert Jauregui	....	precision driver: second unit (as Bob Jauregui)
Robert Jauregui	....	stunt performer (as Bob Jauregui)
Kurt D. Lott	....	stunt performer (as Kurt Lott)
Billy Morts	....	stunt performer
Spiro Razatos	....	stunt performer
David Rowden	....	stunt performer
Spike Silver	....	stunt performer
Billy Morts	....	stunt double: Christian Slater (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Nick Arnds	....	grip (as Nick Arnds IV)
Keith Batchelor	....	electrician
Leo Behar	....	grip
Andrew J. Coe	....	grip
Alan Cohen	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Al Cohen)
Raul Colletta	....	video playback operator
Stephan Collins	....	Steadicam operator
Mark Shane Davis	....	key grip
Caleb Dewart	....	camera production assistant
Joseph Dianda	....	additional key grip (as Joey Dianda)
Eddie Farmer	....	electrician
Kevin 'Rambo' Fitzgerald	....	best boy grip
Ian Fox	....	camera operator
Ian Fox	....	director of photography: second unit
Jamie Franta	....	grip
Kirk R. Gardner	....	Steadicam operator (as Kirk Gardner)
Shai Greenberg	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Ted Kennedy	....	grip (as Ted S. Kennedy)
John W. Kristopik	....	electrician
Jack Lane	....	loader
Scott Levy	....	electrician
Steven R. Morales	....	rigging gaffer
Dominic Napolitano	....	first assistant camera
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator
Bill Pierson	....	dolly grip
Michael G. Riba	....	first assistant camera (as Mike Riba)
Clive Richards	....	best boy electric (as H. Clive-Richards)
Alex Skvorzov	....	chief lighting technician
Henry Tirl	....	Steadicam operator
Michael J. Walsh	....	second assistant camera
Shawn Whelan	....	rigging grip
Jeff Zimmerman	....	additional camera operator
Robert Zuckerman	....	still photographer
Joe Broderick	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Joe Broderick	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
Val Schubert	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Mindy Bazar	....	casting associate: Pagano Manwiller Inc.
Webster Kolich	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Renee Levy Hazelton	....	set costumer
Stacy Seeds	....	costume supervisor (as Stacey Seeds)
Karen Vanderhorst	....	wardrobe intern
Amy Wetherbee	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Dawn Michelle King	....	first assistant editor (as Dawn Gerrior)
Mary Nelson-Duerrstein	....	negative cutter: Executive Cutting
Chris Regan	....	color timer
Frank Salvino	....	executive in charge of post-production

Music Department
Jennifer Barak	....	assistant music editor
Michael Dittrick	....	supervising music editor
Sterling Meredith	....	music supervisor
Judd Miller	....	musician
Jennifer Nash	....	additional music editor
Jeff Seitz	....	music mixer
Sisters in Christ	....	performers: "Walls Come Down"
Dawn Soler	....	executive in charge of music: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (as Dawn Solér)
Michael Thompson	....	musician
Sharyn M. Tylk	....	music editor (as Sharyn Tylk)

Transportation Department
Paul Burlin	....	driver
Bruce Callahan	....	driver
John Charachy	....	driver (as John Characky)
Curtis Clark	....	driver (as Curtis E. Clark)
Jeff Coffman	....	driver (as Jeffrey A. Coffman)
Angel Desanti	....	driver
Don Feeney	....	driver
Scotty Goudreau	....	driver (as Scott Goudreau)
David Joseph	....	driver
Brian Moore	....	driver
Derek Raser	....	transportation coordinator
Laurence John Reynolds	....	driver (as Laurence J. Reynolds)
Geoff Teagardin	....	driver
J.T. Thayer	....	transportation captain (as JT Thayer)
Earl Thielen	....	driver (as Earl V. Thielen)
Tracy Thielen	....	driver
Charles A. Visconte	....	driver
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car (uncredited)
George A. Sack	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Sally Allen	....	associate: Michael Schiffer
Edward Argüelles	....	cast production assistant
Ryan Beveridge	....	assistant: Stewart Copeland
Tracey V. Black	....	craft service
Dale Brandenburg	....	caterer: DeLuxe Catering Inc.
Deborah Concalves	....	assistant: Peter Berg
Richard Davis Jr.	....	additional locations
Matt Draves	....	set production assistant
Kimberly Edwards	....	post-production accountant (as Kimberly Edwards-Shapiro)
Richard Eggers	....	caterer: DeLuxe Catering Inc.
Steve Elster	....	studio teacher
Richard Frasca	....	caterer: DeLuxe Catering Inc.
Marc C. Geschwind	....	cast production assistant
Ellen Gessert	....	location scout
Joanne Griffin	....	animal trainer
Kathy Guerra	....	cast production assistant
Derek Guiley	....	assistant: Mr Schiffer and Ms Nabatoff
Paul Hargrove	....	craft service
Jim Hartz	....	studio teacher
Sheri Jeffrey	....	legal council: Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler
Linda Klein	....	medical consultant
Gary Kurashige	....	set medic
Patricia LaMagna	....	assistant: Mr. Slater (as Patty La Magna)
Lucienne Lane	....	assistant: Peter Berg (as Luci Lane)
Jerry Legget	....	first assistant accountant
Robert J. Lemos	....	cast production assistant
Erin Maguire	....	cast production assistant
Don McDaniel	....	animal trainer
Bega Metzner	....	set production assistant
Teresa L.E. Meyer	....	production coordinator
Eddie Michaels	....	unit publicist: Michaels, Wolfe & Tencer
Hilary Momberger	....	script supervisor
Bryan O'Cain	....	office production assistant
Jeffrey Craig Owens	....	office production assistant (as Craig Owens)
Dave Reynolds	....	office production assistant (as David Reynolds)
Bobbi-Lynn Riley	....	assistant production coordinator
Mindy Sheldon	....	production accountant
Mary Ann Stewart	....	script supervisor: second unit
Ken Struck	....	assistant locations
David Thornsberry	....	location manager
Albert Torres	....	assistant: Mr Nabatoff
Alison Troy	....	key set production assistant
John Vidal	....	set production assistant
Chris Warren	....	caterer: DeLuxe Catering Inc.
Jennifer Coyle	....	clearences (uncredited)
Michael DeSantis	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Kristin Gwinn	....	animal wrangler (uncredited)
Michael Hansen	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Monica Mullens	....	assistant: Mr Kroopf (uncredited)

Thanks
Jonathan Bader	....	special thanks
Joe Blake	....	special thanks
Fiona Copland	....	special thanks (as Fiona Copeland)
Rob Corn	....	special thanks
Colin Cotter	....	special thanks
Bill D'Elia	....	special thanks
David Dotson	....	special thanks: Panavision, Woodland Hills
Ari Emanuel	....	special thanks
Todd Gray	....	special thanks
Davis Guggenheim	....	special thanks
Andrew Gumpert	....	special thanks
Jim Hart	....	special thanks
Katia Herman	....	special thanks
Toni Howard	....	special thanks
Tracey Jacobs	....	special thanks
Graham King	....	special thanks
Rick Kurtzman	....	special thanks
Andy Miller	....	special thanks
Guy Oseary	....	special thanks
Cynthia Pett-Dante	....	special thanks (as Cynthia Pett Dante)
Dawn Soler	....	special thanks (as Dawn Solér)
Nick Stein	....	special thanks
Jamie Tarses	....	special thanks
John Tinker	....	special thanks
Happy Walters	....	special thanks
Kym Wulfe	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Initial Entertainment Group (IEG) (presents)
• Interscope Communications
• Ballpark Productions Partnership (in association with) (as Ballpark Productions)
• VBT Productions (copyright owners)

Distributors

• Polygram Filmed Entertainment (1998) (USA) (theatrical) (as Polygram Films)
• Croco Film (2008) (Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Splendid Film (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (Switzerland)
• Ascot Elite Home Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Ascot Video (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• GAGA
• Manga Films (1998) (Spain) (all media)
• New Films International
• REP Distribution (Australia)
• SND (France)
• Scanbox Entertainment (Finland)
• Sherlock Media S.L. (Spain)
• Vitória Filmes (Portugal)

Special Effects

• Flash Film Works (visual effects)
• K.N.B. Effects Group (special make-up effects)
• Park Place Editing (visual effects)
• Special Effects Services (uncredited)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  production insurance provided by
• American Humane Association, The  animals monitored by
• Camera One Canine Actors  animals provided by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Cinema Completions International (CCI)  completion guarantee provided by
• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  color (as CFI)
• Deluxe Catering  caterer (as DeLuxe Catering Inc)
• Digital Filmworks  digital film services
• Entertainment Partners  payroll services provided by
• Executive Cutting Service  negative cutting (as Executive Cutting)
• Interscope Records  soundtrack available on
• Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hayes & Handler  legal council (as Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler)
• L.A. Mad Dogs  adr group (as L.A. MadDogs)
• Lewis Horwitz Organization, The  production financing provided by
• Micdi Productions  music editorial (uncredited)
• Michaels, Wolfe and Tencer  unit publicist
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals
• Pagano / Manwiller  casting by (as Pagano Manwiller Inc.)
• Panavision  special thanks
• Park Place Editing  avid editing
• S.E.G. Sports Corporation  footage: "Ultimate Fighting Championships" courtesy of
• Sound Dogs  sound design and editorial services
• Spacecam Systems  Spacecam aerial camera system provided by
• Troop, Meisinger, Steuber & Pasich LLP  production legal services
• Webster Kolich & Co.  extras casting (as Webster Kolich & Co. Casting)

Also Known As:

Malos pensamientos (Argentina) (Venezuela) [es]
Very Bad Things (Austria) (Germany) [de]
Cose molto cattive (Italy) [it]
Eram Todos Bons Rapazes (Portugal) [pt]
Hiç hesapta yokken (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Ronda ügy (Hungary) [hu]
Sairasta sakkia (Finland) [fi]
Uma Loucura de Casamento (Brazil) [pt]
Very Bad Things (Spain) [es]
Very Bad Things (France) [fr]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong, grisly violence, sexuality, drug use and language.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #35972) | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KNT | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2004) | Germany:18 (original rating) | Hong Kong:IIB | Israel:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Austria:16 (DVD rating) | Canada:18A | Canada:16+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Johnie's Coffee Shop - 6101 Wilshire Boulevard, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Initial Entertainment Group (IEG)

Trivia:

Adam Sandler was originally cast as Michael Berkow but dropped out at the last minute to make The Waterboy (1998). Jeremy Piven took the role.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the final scene, Laura has two spots of spray household cleaner (foam) on her face. These switch from cheek to cheek at least twice.

Quotes:

Security Guard: [seeing the mess in the room] What the hell gets into you people?
Robert Boyd: [cheerfully] Drugs and alcohol.
Security Guard: [grins] Well, I got no problem with that.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Fur on the Asphalt: The Greg the Bunny Reunion Show (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Bridal Chorus

Very original and black. It's fun while being depressing. *** (out of four)

VERY BAD THINGS / (1998) *** (out of four)

By Blake French:

"Allow me to be the first to say that what we have done here is not a good thing. It's definitely not a good thing. But it was, given the circumstances, the smart play." --Robert Boyd

If anything, Peter Berg's "Very Bad Things" triggers a response, regardless of the nature. My initial reaction to the dark, disturbing parody was bleak and unpleasant. The movie displays sick, demented behavior and despicable, annoying characters. It's not humanly possible to like anyone in the movie. Christian Slater's character is cruel and selfish. Cameron Diaz displays a whiny, obsessive portrayal. I needed an aspirin during this unfunny mess.

I viewed the film a second time; surprisingly, my opinion differed greatly. I liked all the same parts, but this time, my attitude changed. I watched with more of an open mind-the film is advertised as a dark comedy, but-although a few explosively funny moments occur-the film seldom provokes laughs. It's important to watch abstractly, with no remorse or guilt for enjoying the unholy revelation of events. Everything that happens here makes perfect sense under the circumstances. If you don't expect a light hearted, laugh a minute comedy, then "Very Bad Things" fulfills a long-needed niche in Hollywood.

"Very Bad Things" is, like the tagline notes, a very savage comedy. It does not paint a happy portrait of our society-it's a scathing satire on American values. It's needlessly racist, sexist, and vulgar. It depicts a gross portrayal of modern families, the delicate but perverse male mindset, disgusting bachelor parties, and even the "happiest day" of many lives-the wedding day.

Cameron Diaz plays Laura Garrety, a selfish, whiny bride-to-be. She's getting married in three days to a handsome fellow named Kyle Fisher (Jon Faveau from "Swingers"). She isn't happy with his decision to travel to Vegas with his friends for a bachelor party. They include two bickering brothers, Adam (Daniel Stern), and Michael (Jeremy Piven, who stepped into the role after Adam Sandler stepped out to make "The Waterboy."), as well as an organized but cruel real estate agent named Robert Boyd (Christian Slater), and a quiet mechanic named Charles Moore (Leland Orser).

Once they arrive in Vegas, a stylistic montage sequence shows the five friends gambling, snorting cocaine, and drinking lots of alcohol. They settle in for the night at a fancy hotel, where a stripper (Carla Scott) arrives and lap dances the guys into a frenzy. Michael takes her into the bathroom for sex, but accidentally drives the stripper's head into a towel hook, instantly killing her. The rest of the men panic and want to call for help, but Boyd has a better idea. He wants to bury the body in the nearby desert. The intrusion of a hotel security guard complicates the issue. Boyd kills him with a corkscrew during a particularly unpleasant scene. The rest decide to use a chain saw to cut up the bodies and carry them to the desert in suitcases, where they do indeed put the unfortunate souls underground.

Although not for the easily offended, "Very Bad Things" takes us on a roller coaster ride through immorality and its consequences. It's fun watching the sequences of events, the bodies piling up, and the exaggeration of our most improper impulses. A great cast demonstrates their fine acting abilities. The script, also by Peter Berg, features very smart, witty dialogue. Berg directs the chaos with an engaging style-especially during the scenes in Vegas, and keeps the momentum throughout the movie. If the filmmakers played the material as straight drama, it might have worked even better, but as it is, "Very Bad Things" is a joy ride through harsh satire.