Review of Primal Fear (1996) by Viv R — 12 Mar 2016

I have mixed feelings about this film. It's premise is simple enough, a shady, famous defense attorney takes up a seemingly open and shut case only to find out there's more to it. Unoriginal and over dramatic subplots dilute the film from being a A grade film.

But it's saving grace is the Aaron/Roy material and final climax and resolution of the case. Superb acting from Edward Norton and devilishly clever tricks allow this movie to go from from disappointing crime flop to dramatic crime thriller.

The plot twist was remarkably well done and the sympathy viewers felt is relatively smuthered out by the end of the film. Do not see this movie for Richard Gere or the alluring romantic lawyer plot but see it for its core storytelling, or, as I did, for Edward Norton.