Bad Influence

1990 "When fantasy becomes a fatal distraction."
6.3| 1h39m| R| en
Details

Wimpy young executive Michael is about to get pulverized by a jealous boyfriend in a bar when a handsome, mysterious stranger steps in—and then disappears. Later that night, Michael runs into a stranger on a pier, who wheedles his way into Michael's life and turns it upside down.

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Reviews

Hellen I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
Jeanskynebu the audience applauded
Wordiezett So much average
Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
Mr-Fusion I think the real surprise of "Bad Influence" is that James Spader's not the bad guy. He's actually the good one, or this movies version of one anyway. The real sleaze is the fresh-faced Rob Lowe, going full-psycho.This movie pulls you in because Spader's a weakling, whose fortunes really take a positive turn after a chance encounter with the supportive Lowe. It's nice to see someone take charge and make things happen in their life; but that only lasts so long before the relationship sours and things get really bad. But there's also the moral quandary involved (Spade can't go to the police because hands aren't exactly clean) and that keeps things from settling into a tired stalker/prey groove.A good script and stylish direction really make this stand out as a noirish thriller. The two leads (on paper) seem better suited to the opposite roles, but they pull it off. And even though the ending has its surprises, it still stays true to the story.The influence might be bad, but the movie isn't.
punishmentpark This really is a nice slow burner, with plot elements reminding me of 'Fight club', 'The usual suspects' and 'American psycho', while it mostly looked like the latter (even if that one was mostly filmed in Canada, no less). David Koepp has written some interesting stuff over the years, and this one is pretty good. Not all of it is always credible, but if you're willing to go along for the sensational, nihilistic ride that it essentially is, you may just have a ball.James Spader and Rob Lowe play their parts with enough conviction, but let's not forget about Christian "I guess we can close the file on that one(!)" Clemens and the beautiful Lisa Zane. The story is perhaps a little far-fetched, but it fits right in with a lot of those over the top thrillers that were there aplenty in those dear '90s. 'Neo-noir', I read somewhere, and that it is in a way, and with lots of nice twists and turns and psychological baggage to keep you on the edge of your seat.8 out of 10.
seymourblack-1 "Bad Influence" is about an innocent person who's drawn into the control of a character who disguises his real nature by pretending to be motivated purely by a desire to help the hapless victim. The gullible male in this case suffers as a result of befriending a guy who initially seems to be a charismatic Good Samaritan but is later revealed to be a dangerous psychopath who takes great pleasure in doing all that he can to ruin his "friend's" life.Michael Boll (James Spader) is an ambitious marketing analyst who's doing well in his job but comes up against a problem when one of his colleagues sabotages his work by wiping one of his most important files off the company's computer system. Michael's a rather diffident person who has no idea how to deal with this predicament and also has an additional problem, as he doesn't want to marry his posh fiancée. When he goes to a nearby bar to console himself with a beer, he gets caught up in an altercation with a violent customer who holds his head down against the bar but fortunately a good-looking stranger comes to his rescue.The stranger, who's called Alex (Rob Lowe) and Michael soon become friends and Alex makes it his business to show Michael how to overcome some of his problems. This results in Michael successfully turning the tables on his scheming work rival and freeing himself from his fiancée. Michael's sense of liberation and empowerment is profound but doesn't stop there because, through his new friendship, he soon gets involved in nightclubbing, doing drugs and enjoying some "no commitment" sex.Alex turns out to be a mystery man who uses a variety of names, doesn't seem to have any commitments and adopts a number of different accents. The wild behaviour that he and Michael indulge in gets more serious when they rob a series of convenience stores. This makes Michael uncomfortable when he has time to reflect on his actions but when he tries to free himself from his friendship with Alex, things turn ugly and he soon finds himself framed for a murder he didn't commit. The methods that Michael uses to restore some sanity to his life are both ironic in nature and entertaining to watch.This movie has a good sense of time and place as Michael is a typical 1980s style yuppie with an impressive apartment, lots of expensive possessions and a strong appetite for improving his status. Alex, on the other hand, is a dedicated pleasure seeker who's manipulative and completely amoral. Whilst Michael is initially repressed and passive, Alex is very confident and has no inhibitions whatsoever and the hedonistic and decadent behaviour that they indulge in is also symptomatic of 1980s affluence and excess."Bad Influence" is an intriguing thriller which features a couple of interesting characters, plenty of suspense and excellent performances from Rob Lowe and James Spader. Spader is particularly good at conveying Michael's anxiety, naivety and discomfort in certain situations and Lowe conveys Alex's combination of charm and menace very effectively. The action is delivered at a good pace and there are also some humorous moments to enjoy.
wes-connors "Financial analyst Michael Boll (James Spader) seems to have everything: brains, money, a socially connected fiancée, and a blindingly bright future. Then he meets Alex (Rob Lowe), an impeccably dressed drifter with a fatal charm and an insatiable appetite for wine, women… and danger. Alex befriends Michael and takes him for a walk on the wild side - but Michael soon discovers that there's a terrible price to pay for life in the fast lane, because hanging out with Alex can be murder…" according to the film's official synopsis. "Don't touch that dial!" Christian Clemenson's character is almost a "Pepto-Bismol" anagram.Director Curtis Hanson's "Bad Influence" has been compared to Alfred Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train" (1951). The plot's comparison to Hitchcock's classic is justifiable, but Mr. Hanson makes "Bad Influence" look much more like "Psycho" (1960). And, this story is clearly Faustian; "Alex" isn't merely psychopathic, he's evil incarnate. The deal Mr. Spader makes with "the Devil" involves help in beating Tony Maggio (as Patterson) out of a promotion at work, and weaseling out of a marriage with Marcia Cross (as Ruth). "Come on down!" The only way "Mick" can defeat "Alex" is to send him plummeting back into the depths of Hell.It's always nice, when watching old movies, to stumble upon an undiscovered jewel, or even a lost masterpiece. "Bad Influence" is one of those films. The film had a relatively unheralded reception, when originally released; and, it received zero nominations from any of the major film awards groups. One of the problems may have been the media "scandal" erupting over the nearly simultaneous uncovering of a "sex tape" featuring Mr. Lowe. Presently, this sort of "publicity" would be planned to help the film, which includes Lowe's character in a similar situation; but, it was no publicity stunt.And, if you see Lowe with Spader in a bunny mask, that is a gun in his pocket.This was before celebrity Paris Hilton and FOX showed how to use the "celebrity sex tape" to their advantage - making Ms. Hilton and the network's "The Simple Life" hits. Lowe's appearance in a "Snow White" opening at the previous year's "Academy Awards", and his "teen idol" backlash didn't help. But, Lowe is terrific in "Bad Influence"; it should have established him as an "A-list" film actor. Ironically, co-star Spader had just received the same kind of career break, in the recent "sex, lies, and videotape" (1989). Ah, those were the camcorder days… "Does anybody want an espresso?" With perfect performances, and a dazzling display of light and shadows, "Bad Influence" should have received six "Academy Award" nominations, including one for "Best Picture"; it is absolutely one of the best-looking films of its year, and surfaces as one of the more stylish looks at MTV generation. Those most responsible, director Hanson and cinematographer Robert Elswit, received "Oscars" for work on subsequent films. Writer David Koepp's screenplay is also excellent; to appreciate his story, and understand the L.A. scene depicted in "Bad Influence", simply use the code words given, to enter the film: "Dominant Athletic Female", "Gay White Male", "Fun-Loving Couple".********** Bad Influence (3/9/90) Curtis Hanson ~ Rob Lowe, James Spader, Christian Clemenson, Lisa Zane