The fine line between black comedy and outright misanthropy gets obliterated in "Very Bad Things," actor Peter ("Chicago Hope") Berg's writing/directing debut about a bachelor party gone horribly wrong.

In an effort to be shocking and hip, Berg takes his yarn to outrageous extremes of both violence and just plain unpleasantness.

Kyle (Jon Favreau of "Deep Impact") is engaged to Laura (Cameron Diaz), a control freak obsessed with having the perfect wedding. His friends, including seedy real estate agent Boyd (Christian Slater), decide to give Kyle one last night of bachelor bliss in Las Vegas. But things go terribly wrong when the stripper/hooker hired for the evening is killed.

Boyd convinces his pals their only hope is to bury all evidence of their misdeeds in the desert. As cracks appear in their facade of solidarity, the ruthlessly efficient Boyd finds new ways to silence them.

All this is handled with a sense of humor that wants to be savage but more often is just tasteless.

'Very Bad Things'

Starring Jon Favreau, Cameron Diaz and Christian Slater

Directed by Peter Berg

Released by Polygram

Rated R (violence, language, drug abuse, nudity and sex)

Running time 101 minutes

Sun score * 1/2

Pub Date: 11/25/98