Review of Primal Fear (1996) by Clint D — 25 Aug 2012

"Primal Fear" is your run-of-the-mill courtroom drama in almost every way. Richard Gere brings his usual slickness to the screen in playing the lead character, Martin Vail. Vail is your typical hotshot attorney, making big money to defend his likely-guilty clients in Chicago. He's no stranger to attracting media attention but everyone, including his own staffers, think he's in over his head when he decides to defend Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton), a 20-something altar boy who's the only suspect in the brutal murder/mutilation of a well-known local Archbishop.

The performance of Norton is definitely the best thing about "Primal Fear". At only 27 years-old, this was his feature film debut and in a movie full of one-dimensional characters, he's definitely asked to do the most. The cast reads like a dream team of 90's talent--Gere, Norton, Laura Linney, Frances McDormand, and Terry O'-freaking Quinn (aka: John Locke from "Lost"), but with all that talent, the young Norton brings the only great performance.

The problem here isn't with storyline, direction, or execution; it's the script and aesthetics that fall well short. Instead of looking sleek and modern like its main character, "Primal Fear" feels like it was made in the late-80's rather than in 1996. The scoring is very bland and the cinematography is very safe, which is in direct conflict with the graphic gore (a man's fingers are chopped off with a knife in the first five minutes) and controversial subject matter (sex crimes) featured in this film.

My problem with the screenplay is that it tries to cram too much information in while still being simplistic. About halfway through the story, while Vail is searching for the mysterious "third man" who Stampler claims was in the room when the murder took place, a psychiatrist realizes that Stampler may have some serious mental issues, bringing his sanity into question. As I wrote before, when you have a cast of talent like director Gregory Hoblit has here, it's a travesty to give them characters that are as flat as the ones in this movie are.

Like most courtroom dramas, "Primal Fear" boils something as complicated as a murder trial down to its most basic state. The prosecution calls 2-3 witnesses damning Stampler, then the defense calls 2-3 witnesses to provide the jury with some doubts, and (voila!) a verdict is reached. One thing I can't rip this movie for however, is the ending. "Primal Fear" fits in with the late-90's fad of shocking twist endings ("Arlington Road", "The Usual Suspects", "The Sixth Sense")...and this one is equally great! If the film leaves you feeling flat for the first 90 minutes, stick around because the ending will make it feel somewhat worth it.

Bottom Line: "Primal Fear" boasts a great cast and an effective twist ending but is ultimately an average courtroom drama.