Michael Douglas

Glenn Close

Anne Archer

Ellen Hamilton Latzen

Stuart Pankin

Ellen Foley

Fred Gwynne

Tom Brennan

Lois Smith

Mike Nussbaum

J.J. Johnston

Sam Coppola

Justine Johnston

Jane Krakowski

Christine Farrell

Mary Joy

James Eckhouse

Faith Geer

Carol Schneider

Judi Durand

Anna Thomson

Barbara Harris

Larry Moss

Vladimir Skomarovsky

Eunice Prewitt

Meg Mundy

Michael Arkin

David Bates

Marc McQue

Alicia Perusse

Christopher Rubin

Thomas Saccio

Chris Manor

Greg Rhodes

Lillian Garrett-Groag

J.D. Hall

Rocky Krakoff

David McCharen

Jan Rabson

Marilyn Schreffler

Lynnanne Zager

Stanley R. Jaffe

Michael Kahn

Adrian Lyne

Howard Atherton

James Dearden

Sherry Lansing

Maurice Jarre

Jane Paul

Billy Hopkins

Craig Haagensen

Vinnie Gerardo

Bill Gerardo

Andrew D. Schwartz

Christopher Cronyn

George DeTitta Sr.

Terry Porter

George C. Villaseñor

Mel Metcalfe

James Finnerty

David J. Hudson

Heidi Levitt

Michael Zansky

Gerald DeTitta

Ken Haber

Sylvia Trapanese

Dan Curry

Vito L. Ilardi

Chris Stoia

David Horton Sr.

Renata Stoia

Jack Garsha

Linda Murphy

Les Lazarowitz

Dan Carlin Sr.

Richard Dean

Risa Bramon Garcia

Lyndell Quiyou

Eric Myers

Robert V. Girolami

Nicholas Korda

James P. Dolan

Brooke Henderson Ward

Paul Adler

David R. Ellis

Jack Blackman

Alan Robert Murray

Peter E. Berger

Mel Bourne

Ellen Mirojnick

Robert G. Henderson

Bruce Lacey

Janet Brady

Laurie Shepard

Freddie Hice

Tracy Keehn-Dashnaw

Steve M. Davison

Annie Ellis

Thriller

Drama

Romance

Fatal Attraction

Paramount Pictures

United States of America

I wont be ignored Dan!

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Seemingly happily married man, Dan Gallagher, gives in to the seductive charm of Alex Forrest and partakes in a night of wild sexual passion with her. Trouble is, is that Alex is a tad unhinged and a woman scorned can be the ultimate nightmare.

I have just revisited this monster smash hit from the 80s (highest grossing film of 1987), and it still packs the same punch as it did back in the late 80s when it not only became a big hit, it also became a cultural phenomenon and one of the most talked about films of the decade. I'm saddened by the relatively average rating here because its significance and bravery should always be highlighted instead of pointless allegations about it being only of its time. Just how many imitations did Fatal Attraction spawn I wonder? Fatal Attraction was a monster hit because it gave the audience something different, a monster flip flop of having the man stalked by an uncontrollable female loony. Much credit goes to screenwriter James Dearden for laying it on like a slowly tightening spring waiting to explode, for as the plot unfolds and Alex Forrest's Madame Butterfly fuelled revenge gathers apace, the audience starts to realise it has been doubly conflicted on the emotional character attachment front.

Dan has done the dirty on his beautiful wife and child, the bastard deserves what is coming to him for sure? Alex is right in that he's had his fun and now she can basically go and whistle at the moon, but the cheeky saver here from the makers is that Alex did the chasing knowing that Dan was happily married, she led the way fully armed with the facts. This makes for a wonderfully constructed thriller that ups the suspense quota to positively seal the deal with a heart stopping finale. I'm mightily relieved that American test audiences gave the thumbs down to the rather downbeat original ending that saw Alex committing suicide and thus framing Dan for her murder, the ending that stands may lose impact on repeat viewings, but boy it has still got a kick to it.

Glenn Close is fantastic as Alex, playing against type she manages to convince as a disturbed individual, a perfect blend of sadness and soul destroying stupidness. Michael Douglas is also giving a performance of depth, firmly in the shadow of Glen Close's film stealing show, he none the less plays it perfectly and is believable in all aspects of the character, and I'm sure the ladies watching were pleased to see no sign of the saggy bottom that scared them in Basic Instinct five years later! This film coupled with Wall Street in the same year would propel Douglas to major A list status, and he rightly deserved it in my opinion. Anne Archer is Beth Gallagher, the hurt wife of the piece, she looks stunning and sexy, but thoughts of her looks are quickly erased with a special two layered performance of note. Containing a great script and directed astutely by Adrian Lyne, Fatal Attraction remains one of the best thrillers of the 80s, it was talked about profusely back then, and here and now it should not be forgotten. 9/10

English

Fatal Attraction (1987) Original Trailer [FHD]

Allan Arkush on FATAL ATTRACTION

Fatal Attraction - Trailer