Review of Bad Influence (1990) by Timothy S — 12 May 2013

Most forgotten thrillers are that way for a reason; they aren't worthy of your time or attention. "Bad Influence", on the other hand, is a gem of a film just waiting to be rediscovered, a gleefully down and dirty winner that had the misfortune of bad timing upon its initial release.

It came out just as the notorious sex scandal of its star Rob Lowe was breaking, casting a lot of similarities between his personal life and his seedy character in the film. It was unjustly ignored by audience. It's a shame really, because the picture holds up just as well today as it did then, a tight thriller that grows more sinister as it goes along all under the very capable direction of Curtis Hanson. He would gradate on to more serious fare, but he cut his teeth on suspense thrillers, and he has a real knack for them.

This is engrossing from start to finish, and it's perfectly cast as well. Lowe relishes the chance to play upon his tawdry public image, and James Spader is cast against type, wonderfully so, as the weakling who learns what he's truly capable of. The two actors play off each other terrifically, and it's nice to see the film avoid the graphic violence that plagues many like it. This is a suspense thriller, not a bloody mess.

It also gets points for being logical and plausible, as the pent-up Spader gets a chance to cut loose. "Bad Influence" is a top-notch picture, an overlooked one that deserves a second chance to find a new audience.