Review of Bad Influence (1990) by Jason Y — 31 Aug 2009

Surprisingly this movie does not have any cult status, especially so since it was ahead of its time with the celebrity sex tape furor and its influence in future movies, most notably the far inferior Fight Club.

Bad Influence is about an office worker played by James Spader who comes in contact with a devilishly manipulative stranger played by Rob Lowe.

Spader is a wishy-washy broker who lets just about everyone control his life, his co-workers screw him over and his fiance is planning her life with him as an after thought. Even though he makes good money at his job he buys things without any real purpose and the only person he can actually stand up to is his drugged up brother. One day after one of his co-worker has really messed him up he goes across the street to have a drink when he gets into a barroom brawl and the only thing that saves him from the beating is an intervention from Lowe.

There are several questions that can be asked at this point with the main one being; why did Lowe stop the fight? The start of the fight seems a bit improbable, and at the time the bar was empty, so just exactly how fortuitous was it for Lowe to go to this bar, stop a fight with the perfect "mark" for his sadistic ways. It is highly unlikely unless the fight was a setup and staged by Lowe for Spader which leads to another question in how did Lowe pick out Spader in the first place. We are never told this and it gives the movie the sense of mystery and questions that continue throughout.

Lowe and Spader develop an odd relationship from this point on. Lowe helps Spader become more assertive but the cost is a life of drugs, sex, crime, and eventually murder, with Lowe of course making sure it looks or at least has Spader believe he has committed the act.

Spader eventually realizes that his life is spiraling out of control and that he must rid himself of Lowe, which is easier said than done. Spader enlists the help of his brother and somehow the two of them come up with a plan to solve the problem.

Spader, in one of his more normal roles, plays the hapless Michael quite convincingly while still using his distinct enunciation. Lowe is positively chilling as Alex, the charming psychopath, whose intentions are never clear, except to cause chaos.

A film ahead of its time that has never been given its due.