Sorry, this movie sucks

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

One of my all time favorites.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

James Spader is typically engaging in the role of Michael, a wimpy yuppie who tends to not stand up for himself. He is about to get obliterated by a jealous boyfriend in a bar, when a stranger (Rob Lowe) steps in to save his ass. He ends up running into Lowe again, and thanks him, and a curious relationship develops. "Alex" (Lowe) introduces the element of risk into Michaels' life, and helps him "grow a pair", so to speak. But Michael soon learns that only dark things will come out of this supposed "friendship", and he realizes that he must eliminate Alex from his life."Bad Influence" is a decent thriller set in hip, "modern era" California, with various clubs and parties used as backdrops. Well shot by Robert Elswit, it boasts a screenplay by then relatively fresh screenwriter David Koepp. It may not be on the level of "Strangers on a Train", but it entertains in compelling enough fashion. The give and take between our hero and his nemesis creates sufficient tension, as Alex sets about trying to prove that he was merely exposing the hidden ugly side that Michael wasn't showing the world. As this plays out, you can't help but sympathize with Michael to some degree, as the story turns into this kind of nightmare that seems to have no end in sight. There are some sexy ladies in the cast, and a little dose of gore, so this thriller does deliver in terms of some sex and violence. Director Curtis Hanson, who at this time hadn't yet achieved mainstream recognition, guides it all in style.Lowe is decent as the shady antagonist with the undetermined motives. He seems to be just plain evil. Spader outshines him, of course, and receives strong support from a cast including Lisa Zane, Kathleen Wilhoite, Marcia Cross, Tony Maggio, Grand L. Bush, and John de Lancie. Keep your eyes peeled for David Duchovny, who appears fleetingly in a club scene. Christian Clemenson delivers a standout performance as Michaels' slightly pathetic brother who tries to redeem himself in his siblings' eyes.Solid entertainment that picks up considerably in its second half.Seven out of 10.

***SPOILER*** Being pushed around all his adult life yuppie financial analyst Michael or Mick Boll's, James Spader, abusive life made a sudden turnaround when he accidentally ran into his "Knight in Shining Armor" the mysterious Alex, Rob Lowe.Just trying to be a nice guy Michael paid for a drink that Karen,Susan Lee Hofman,didn't have the cash for. In pops Karen's jealous boyfriend Willie, Jack Kaake, who in finding out that Michael acted like a gentleman to his now estranged girlfriend tried to plant, by slamming it, his face into the counter! If it wasn't for Alex coming to Michael's rescue, with a broken beer glass, the movie "Bad Infulance" would have been over almost as soon as it began.Taking the wimpy Michael under his wing Alex gets him involved, after getting Michael stone cold drunk, in a number of armed robberies that he later uses to blackmail him with. Alex also has Michael's rival, for senior financial analyst, at his firm Patterson, Tommy Maggio, beaten to a pulp in order for Michael to get the coveted job. Not that Patterson was an innocent party in his screwing Michael by erasing all the hard work, on his personal computer, that he did to get the job.It's later that Alex really gets to work on Michael in not only getting him in bed with hooker Claire, Lisa Zane, but video taping the sleazy and sordid event. Alex uses the incriminating video to destroy Michael's wedding plans to rich well beard and sweet Ruth Fielding, Marcia Cross, whom he was engaged to marry! Later in order to keep Michael in line Alex kills Claire, with Michael's favorite golf club,in his apartment leaving him as the police's prime suspect in her murder!As it turns out Alex's plan to have Michael under his control backfired in Michael becoming almost as smart and manipulative as he is. In fact Alex in trying to make Michael into his personal slave created a Frankenstein monster instead. A monster who in the end with the help of his even more scared and wimpy older brother Pismo, Christian Clemeron, would put the arrogant and sure of himself Alex in his place! By having him take a long walk off the end of a short pier on the Pacific Ocean!You never get to know what Alex's fascination with Michael really was. Alex like the "Lone Ranger" just shows up at the bar and takes control of Michael's life as if, Michael's confrontation with Willie, was planned far in advance! Alex getting Michael involved in his murderous antics also didn't make much sense in that Michael can, like Alex did to Michael, implicate him in them as well!The only explication I can see in Alex's actions is that he just wanted to corrupt, like the Devil, a harmless and innocent person. And as it turned out it was that person, Michael, who used Alex's underhanded tactics in his own self preservation by having them boomerang on him!

An smart Financial Analyst but socially shy and inept Michael Boll (James Spader) seems to be living the good life. But he feels, there's something missing in his life... a sense of danger. But when Micheal meets Alex (Rob Lowe), a mysteriously drifter but intriguing seemingly clever guy. Alex tells Micheal, he should be open more to his life and taking responsibility. At first... Micheal is having a great time with his new found friend. But Alex isn't what he seems to be and especially when Alex is slowly making Micheal's life is a living hell.Directed by Oscar-Winner:Curtis Hanson (8 Mile, L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys) made an fascinating, something lurid thriller that keeps on being entertaining. Lowe is actually pretty good in the lead and Spader is excellent as usual. This smart thriller has some suspenseful moments and a few great moments of black comedy. But sometimes... the script by David Koepp (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Death Becomes Her, Carlito's Way) goes over the line and it gets to be really silly at times. But still, the feature was made before Hanson's breakthrough feature "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" and Hanson handles the suspense like a pro.DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer (Also in Pan & Scan) and an good Dolby Surround 2.0 Surround Sound. DVD's only extra feature is the original theatrical trailer. Sometimes i wonder if "Bad Influence" would be a better thriller... if Lowe and Spader switched roles. But still, it offers better suspense what movies have to offer these days. It's worth a look. Plenty of familiar faces appears in small supporting roles and cameos. (*** ½/*****).

Rob Lowe's 1990 thriller (directed by Curtis Hanson - "The Bedroom Window") is no match for the slick and cleverly plotted "Masquerade" which, in 1988, he starred in.Story concerns a nervous young business man named Michael (James Spader) who allows a confident, smooth talking young guy named Alex (Rob Lowe) to greatly change and influence his somewhat stifled existence. Alex turns Michael's life upside down with a series of sadistic games which, eventually leave "Mick" fighting for his life.Spader is competent as the weak-spined account analyst who allows life to dictate to him, while Lowe is certainly well cast as the ultra-cool confidence trickster who seems to get his own way with everyone.David Koepp's story is as "90's" as they come, with plenty of sex, drugs and violence to please today's young audiences. Director Hanson makes sure to stick with the formula too, but the result is a movie that entertains only at surface level. Lacking in the necessary plot intricacies, it opts rather for a hit you in the face style that lacks a certain depth.Not a complete waste of time in any case, but we've definitely seen better in the last five years.Saturday, July 30, 1994 - Video