Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Vile’ Is Not the Directorial Debut Fans Would Expect

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Known for his roles as an actor, scriptwriter, film director, producer, and show creator, Taylor Sheridan is making a significant impact in the world of television, contributing to its transformation with series such as Tulsa King, Mayor of Kingstown, Landman, Special Ops: Lioness, and Yellowstone. Each production that Sheridan contributes to seems to become essential viewing, with the controversial ending of Yellowstone still echoing in the thoughts of many viewers.

Examining Taylor Sheridan’s body of work, one standout project catches the eye, albeit not always for positive reasons. In 2011, Sheridan ventured into directing for the first time by taking on a horror movie. The film, Vile, leans heavily towards the more brutal and disturbing aspects of terror, which might seem surprising given the sophisticated artistic vision that Sheridan would eventually establish. This article will delve into the nature of Vile, Sheridan’s role in it, and whether it represents a hidden gem or an overlooked aspect of his career.

‘Vile’ Lives Up to Its Namesake

During a road trip, Nick, Tayler, Tony, and Kai come across a woman who needs gas help. However, this turns out to be a blunder as she overpowers them, leaving them unconscious in an unknown house with other strangers. They’re informed that they must work together to create a chemical for a drug by causing pain responses among themselves. Consequently, the group decides to take turns enduring severe pain to fulfill the task. At first, they try to maintain peace, but as time passes, frictions escalate, resulting in scheming and brutal attacks on those not pulling their weight.

In the crowded field of horror films inspired by series like the gruesome “Saw” and “Hostel,” “Vile” doesn’t stand out for its originality. Instead, it pits characters against each other, with a clear main character whose life is portrayed as more valuable due to pre-established conditions. The predictable plot encourages viewers to focus on the film’s more extreme aspects, and the self-inflicted tortures among the cast are hard to stomach. Essentially, “Vile” is all about cruelty.

2011 saw the debut of a film that might have gone unnoticed by many. Although Taylor Sheridan’s direction was an interesting aspect of the production, he wasn’t as well-known then as he is now. Vile, a low-budget indie flick, mainly featured actors active in that sphere. However, it boasted a few familiar faces, such as Greg Cipes, who later became the voice of Beast Boy in Teen Titans and Michelangelo in TMNT, and McKenzie Westmore, currently the host of Face Off, a long-running reality TV show.

What ‘Vile’ Says About Taylor Sheridan as a Director

The film Vile shows clear signs of a novice director’s work: it’s filled with excessive enthusiasm that sometimes misses the mark. Although competently made, it heavily depends on inexperienced use of various techniques like zooming into faces to express shared emotions and using shaky camera movements to portray disorder. The end product is functional, but far from refined.
Vile was a favor done for a friend, Eric Jay Beck, who wrote the script and had collaborated with Sheridan before. Taylor Sheridan does not view it as his directorial debut and seems unhappy about having it associated with his name.

In a departure from his previous work like “Vile” and the horror genre, Taylor Sheridan’s subsequent film, titled “Wind River“, demonstrated a new level of skill and versatility. Through his writing and directing for this movie, Sheridan proved that he could handle intricate characters and deeper themes, showcasing a maturity in storytelling. The film also highlighted Sheridan’s talent for eliciting compelling performances from his actors by fostering realistic interactions on set and providing them with a robust, emotionally resonant script. Additionally, the fast-paced narrative of “Wind River” was balanced with instances of violence that felt genuine rather than exploitative. Many aspects of Sheridan’s creative identity are reflected in this film, not only in the projects he directed but also in the numerous series he created.

Should You Watch ‘Vile’?

If you’re a fan of Taylor Sheridan’s acting or directing, ‘Vile’ might not offer the usual enjoyable experience. This film serves as a learning ground for Sheridan as a director, and while there are glimpses of his future talent, it doesn’t compare to the polish and finesse of his later works. As for the content, the overlap between viewers who appreciate intensely gory movies or shows like ‘Yellowstone’ is likely minimal. From a Sheridan-centric viewpoint, ‘Vile’ is more of a curiosity than anything else, and it’s only recommended for diehard fans who want to see everything he has ever worked on.

If you’re searching for a horror movie with an edge, “Vile” offers some unusual aspects. Although the content is disturbingly graphic and thought-provoking, it might disappoint those who prefer more extreme cinema because it isn’t overly gory and tends to avoid showing explicit details. On the other hand, viewers expecting a deep psychological exploration from the ‘death game’ format may find it falls short compared to other titles in this crowded sub-genre.

Critics and audiences alike have been rather harsh towards the film “Vile“, and it’s not hard to understand why, given its numerous flaws. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that “Vile” is not downright terrible. The movie offers some intriguing plot twists, convincing acting, an excellent soundtrack, and bursts of intense, chaotic violence. For horror genre enthusiasts, a ‘mid-level’ horror film with a touch of grittiness might just satisfy their cravings. If you’re curious, “Vile” is currently available for streaming on Plex or Crackle.

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2025-01-11 20:01