Hellen I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

StunnaKrypto Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Nonureva Really Surprised!

ChampDavSlim The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Scott LeBrun 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.

shemark I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed the similarities between this movie and "Single White Female." However, SWF was made in 1992; so if there has been any copy-catting going on, it's on Schroeder's part, not Hanson's.I also agree that there is a STRONG sexual element between the two men. The scene where Michael talks to Alex to thank him for stepping in with the menacing bar patron looked, to me, like a gay pick-up scene. There was all this weird awkwardness between the two. Michael seems like he's inviting Alex for way more than a drink. And the way Alex changes his mind when Spader turns around and walks away? It looked like Alex saw his butt and decided to give this guy a chance.Even the "sharing" of Claire, the videotaping of Michael and Claire's sex, the "You make a funny face when you come" - I'm a woman, but I honestly cannot imagine any two straight men having an exchange like that. Alex fools around with Claire before Michael does, although Alex had previously "given" him Claire. To fool around with her and then have her have sex with Michael - it's one degree of separation from Alex having sex with Michael. And then Alex videotaping it and watching it openly on Michael's TV - he did everything but give Michael a golden invitation with a butt plug inside!Just think this through - do you know any straight male who would like to watch his friend's sex act on tape? And worse, having done so, would comment on said friend's "cum face"? I may be naive, but I think this answers the question of what Alex wants. Alex wants Michael for a lover, and when he spurns him, like some jilted lovers, he exacts his for revenge. He even keeps Michael's own brother away from him - clearly, Alex doesn't want Michael's attention to be on anyone but him.So for me, this clears up that question - it is undoubtedly a twisted kind of sexual relationship that Alex desires. And Michael had to have seen it and known it and even encouraged it. Remember that Alex's whole spiel to Michael was that Michael was too afraid to stand up for himself and be a man. And Michael didn't seem too upset when Alex showed the sex tape at the party. He seemed relieved, and in fact, went out drinking and celebrating with Alex. Alex uses this as an excuse to see how far Michael would stray from what he thinks are his values out of gratitude to Alex. Would you rob a convenience store? Hell yeah. In fact, let's do a 7-11 next!And then, who does Alex choose to kill? Claire - Michael's new fling. Perhaps Alex was trying to drag Michael out of the closet, and he felt that by destroying all his other relationships, Michael would be more likely to stay close to Alex and do what Alex wanted. I think the "Navy" mention was consciously done to point out Alex's intentions That and Alex walking out of a bed that had TWO women in it to go concentrate on the next step of his plan. Again, I ask - is there any straight man on earth who would leave a bed with two beautiful women in it, both of whom want to have lots of sex with him?As for the acting, I agree with those who said it might have been better if they reversed the acting. Seeing Rob Lowe, the California pretty boy as an insecure, wimpy loser would have been interesting. And Spader playing Alex? I know he's done those kinds of roles before, but damn, he always does it so well!Rob Lowe had the worst haircut I have ever seen on a man, and I lived through mullets AND the '80s. Honestly, I thought he was really bad in this thing, and not just because of his hair. Especially when he had to recite lines like his closing "People are such hypocrites" speech. His face contorted in a totally inorganic way. It seemed like he himself was embarrassed.Maybe that's why people are unclear as to his motivation. Not wanting to commit all the way to who the character was, he chose instead to indicate a stereotypical villain to us. Instead of committing to the gay thing which the role so clearly requires, he goes neither here nor there. Perhaps he was afraid that "playing gay" would hurt his career. I'm so glad he's become a much better actor now

hnt_dnl BAD INFLUENCE (1990) is an original, dark, disturbing tale starring of couple of very good actors, Rob Lowe and James Spader. Lowe and Spader, although both had ties or were directly affiliated (in Lowe's case) with the "Brat Pack" gang, had not done a film together before this one. And this one's a keeper! I think this is the best work that either actor had done up to this point. For me, this is the performance that showed that Rob Lowe could act. It really is his first challenging role. He does a good job of balancing charm, sex appeal, and menace throughout. Lowe's first "bad guy" role. I also think this is a groundbreaking film for Spader as well. Even though he had tackled more challenging roles than Lowe in the 80s, this is really the first "good guy" role that Spader had played. The against-type casting works to great effect as I don't think the film would have been as nearly effective had their roles been reversed.Spader is a nerdy, shy, underconfident stock broker named Michael, who is engaged to an upper class girl (Marcia Cross of "Desperate Housewives" fame). Life is good, simple, but very mundane and boring for Michael. In comes Alex (Lowe's character) who instills Michael with self-confidence, courage, and even sex appeal, molding him into his own image to a degree.The two men's "accidental" meeting early in the film at a seaside bar is a great setup for the rest of the film as it underscores the essence of each character. I also felt this scene was very realistic in the dialogue, character reactions, and outcome.Alex seems to be a drifter who doesn't stay in one place very long. In return for Michael putting him up for a while, Alex "mentors" Michael on being more assertive, confident, and uninhibited. First, Alex sets Michael up so that his fiancée dumps him. They end up hanging out at bars and ecstasy parties, then during one night, they meet Claire (played by the alluring Lisa Zane). A triangle forms as Alex compels Claire to sleep with Michael while he himself has designs on her and she seems to prefer his dangerous sex appeal, but still is drawn to Michael's underlying sweet innocence. But one night things go a bit too far as Alex takes Michael along with him goes on a mini crime spree, robbing a liquor store, and beating up Michael's jerkish colleague (but Michael doesn't remember). This is when Michael dumps Alex and tells him to get out of his life. Then things get deadly! BAD INFLUENCE was directed by Curtis Hanson (who gained international fame years later with LA CONFIDENTIAL) and his stylish touches and film noir mood and tone are evident throughout. This film was a sign that Hanson was going to become a major player in Hollywood. Lowe is very good at abandoning his "Brat Pack" persona and giving a real performance. He instills Alex with charm, sex appeal, and a sense of danger. Spader is equally excellent playing a genuine nice guy and conveys real vulnerability that he had never really displayed before this film. Highly recommended!

ccthemovieman-1 "Bad Influeince:" Yup, that's a good title for one of the main characters in this movie: "Alex," played by Rob Lowe. His grin alone is pure evil! In fact, Lowe's character is one of the lowest I've encountered in these modern-day thrillers. This also could be called a modern "noir," because it has a lot of that genre's qualities. This also is different from the normal cops-vs.- crooks film.As bad as "Alex" was, I couldn't root for the other main character, either: "Michael Boll" (James Spader). Spader is one of these actors that seems to play very snotty, unlikeable people. Maybe he's just good at play annoying characters.An odd character, and one that added to this film, was the guy (Christian Clemenson) who played Spader's older, stoned-out brother "Pismo." What a loser.....but an interesting person.I really was intrigued by this film the first time I saw it but less so in the next two viewings, finally trading this in for something else. But for one viewing, it's recommended for crime fans, or people who just plain like evil characters.