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Bad Influence (1990)
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast overview: Rob Lowe, James Spader
Running time: 99 minutes
This is one of those thrillers that seems to have passed under the radar a bit. It doesn't appear to be very highly watched - or regarded, which is a shame because I think it's a decent little thriller, in the mould of those early nineties films such as Pacific Heights. Starring James Spader as a yuppie LA executive who bumps into Rob Lowe's sadistic character while in a bar one afternoon, it's a decent watch. Lowe's character was perhaps the highlight of the film - a menacing, devious, and malicious character who is a reasonably decent film villain.
What I thought was most impressive was Curtis Hanson's direction. It's very accomplished. Many of the shots felt like those that would come from a more well-regarded director. The cinematography was effective, and the Los Angeles setting was used in a fairly decent manner, although perhaps not to full effect - or perhaps it didn't need to, depending on your viewpoint.
The acting from the two leads is markedly the best of all the cast, particularly from Lowe, whose cunning and deviousness I've already touched upon. Spader has a good rapport with him, though, and contributes in his own way with a realistic performance. I did find the music to be a mixed-bag - I thought some parts were quite crude and out-of-place, yet I thought some of the music - often in the darker scenes - often was really apt.
Overall, this seems to be a film that's certainly under-seen. It's a watchable, entertaining thriller that's not bad at all - it perhaps would have been far less memorable had other actors occupied the main roles, but that's beside the point. This is a well-made and interesting film, and one that I was debating whether to give a seven to rather than a six. Maybe in the future...
Quotes
Alex: I'm sorry.
Michael: What?
Alex: Sorry.
Michael: Sorry? You - **** you, you're sorry? Sorry about what? Killing Claire? Trying to kill my brother? Or maybe you're just sorry for holding a guy down while I beat him? **** you, you're sorry!
Michael: What happened last night?
Alex: What do you mean?
Michael: The last thing I remember is we were driving around Patterson's neighborhood. And I go into the office today and find out that he got beat up. And I'm standing there in the middle of everybody with dried blood all over my hand. Did we go to Patterson's last night?
Alex: Yes. We went to Patterson's.
Michael: I mean, I didn't hit him, did I?
Alex: You didn't just hit him. You beat the **** out of him.
Michael: What the hell were you doing?
Alex: Holding him down.
[Michael looks frantic]
Alex: Oh don't worry, I'm not gonna tell anybody.
Michael: *Tell* anybody? Jesus Christ, this guy is a colleague of mine!
Alex: Oh, don't worry about him! *He's* not gonna tell anyone. He knows you'd kill him if he did.
Michael: Wait a second... kill him?
Alex: Yeah. And if you didn't, I would. Told him that this morning... when I went to get the donuts.
Michael: Get out.
[Alex continues eating donuts]
Michael: GET OUT!
Michael: [to Alex] You know, you make a funny face when you come.
Trivia
Rob Lowe researched his part by watching hours of footage of serial killer Ted Bundy.
In chapter seventeen of Rob Lowe's autobiography "Stories I Only Tell My Friends", he describes being at rehearsals in a church off Highland Avenue when he is asked to approve his make-up artist, Sheryl Berkoff. He recognises her because, years before, they'd been on a blind date together. He describes her as 'an artist of the face' who 'knows her **** cold'. In July of 1991, he married her. He also suggests that Bad Influence was originally submitted as a writing sample to producer Steve Tisch ("the only man with both an Oscar and a Superbowl trophy"). Lowe had originally wanted to play the role of Michael, "the average Joe", but was taken to lunch by David Koepp, and talked into taking the role of Alex. He describes Tom Brokaw leading the evening news with the Rob Lowe sex tapes, and following that item with news about Tiananmen square.
The film garnered a lot of unwarranted PR as it was released roughly around the same time that Rob Lowe's infamous sex tape came to light.
Trailer
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast overview: Rob Lowe, James Spader
Running time: 99 minutes
This is one of those thrillers that seems to have passed under the radar a bit. It doesn't appear to be very highly watched - or regarded, which is a shame because I think it's a decent little thriller, in the mould of those early nineties films such as Pacific Heights. Starring James Spader as a yuppie LA executive who bumps into Rob Lowe's sadistic character while in a bar one afternoon, it's a decent watch. Lowe's character was perhaps the highlight of the film - a menacing, devious, and malicious character who is a reasonably decent film villain.
What I thought was most impressive was Curtis Hanson's direction. It's very accomplished. Many of the shots felt like those that would come from a more well-regarded director. The cinematography was effective, and the Los Angeles setting was used in a fairly decent manner, although perhaps not to full effect - or perhaps it didn't need to, depending on your viewpoint.
The acting from the two leads is markedly the best of all the cast, particularly from Lowe, whose cunning and deviousness I've already touched upon. Spader has a good rapport with him, though, and contributes in his own way with a realistic performance. I did find the music to be a mixed-bag - I thought some parts were quite crude and out-of-place, yet I thought some of the music - often in the darker scenes - often was really apt.
Overall, this seems to be a film that's certainly under-seen. It's a watchable, entertaining thriller that's not bad at all - it perhaps would have been far less memorable had other actors occupied the main roles, but that's beside the point. This is a well-made and interesting film, and one that I was debating whether to give a seven to rather than a six. Maybe in the future...
Quotes
Alex: I'm sorry.
Michael: What?
Alex: Sorry.
Michael: Sorry? You - **** you, you're sorry? Sorry about what? Killing Claire? Trying to kill my brother? Or maybe you're just sorry for holding a guy down while I beat him? **** you, you're sorry!
Michael: What happened last night?
Alex: What do you mean?
Michael: The last thing I remember is we were driving around Patterson's neighborhood. And I go into the office today and find out that he got beat up. And I'm standing there in the middle of everybody with dried blood all over my hand. Did we go to Patterson's last night?
Alex: Yes. We went to Patterson's.
Michael: I mean, I didn't hit him, did I?
Alex: You didn't just hit him. You beat the **** out of him.
Michael: What the hell were you doing?
Alex: Holding him down.
[Michael looks frantic]
Alex: Oh don't worry, I'm not gonna tell anybody.
Michael: *Tell* anybody? Jesus Christ, this guy is a colleague of mine!
Alex: Oh, don't worry about him! *He's* not gonna tell anyone. He knows you'd kill him if he did.
Michael: Wait a second... kill him?
Alex: Yeah. And if you didn't, I would. Told him that this morning... when I went to get the donuts.
Michael: Get out.
[Alex continues eating donuts]
Michael: GET OUT!
Michael: [to Alex] You know, you make a funny face when you come.
Trivia
Rob Lowe researched his part by watching hours of footage of serial killer Ted Bundy.
In chapter seventeen of Rob Lowe's autobiography "Stories I Only Tell My Friends", he describes being at rehearsals in a church off Highland Avenue when he is asked to approve his make-up artist, Sheryl Berkoff. He recognises her because, years before, they'd been on a blind date together. He describes her as 'an artist of the face' who 'knows her **** cold'. In July of 1991, he married her. He also suggests that Bad Influence was originally submitted as a writing sample to producer Steve Tisch ("the only man with both an Oscar and a Superbowl trophy"). Lowe had originally wanted to play the role of Michael, "the average Joe", but was taken to lunch by David Koepp, and talked into taking the role of Alex. He describes Tom Brokaw leading the evening news with the Rob Lowe sex tapes, and following that item with news about Tiananmen square.
The film garnered a lot of unwarranted PR as it was released roughly around the same time that Rob Lowe's infamous sex tape came to light.
Trailer