BAD INFLUENCE
US, 1990, 99 minutes, Colour.
Rob Lowe, James Spader, Lisa Zane, Katherine Wilhoite.
Directed by Curtis Hanson.
Bad Influence is a yuppy version of Faust and the Devil. James Spader is a young businessman (parallel to his roles in such films as Wall Street, White Palace) who becomes entangled with an attractive young man, Rob Lowe, who corrupts him. This involves business deals, thrill hold-ups of supermarkets, sexual licence, murder.
The film is alternately light and dark, showing the changes in the hero's experience. Finally, it becomes too much and he realises that he has been manipulated by his friend. There is a violent confrontation - and he is assisted by his drug addict older brother.
The film is a morality fable about good and evil, temptation and corruption - especially for audiences in their 20s and 30s.
Curtis Hanson went on to direct The Hand that Rocked the Cradle, LA Confidential and The Wonder Boys.
1.Interesting drama? Character study? Interaction? Good and evil? Corruption?
2.The urban setting: bars and streets, apartments, wealthy homes, modern offices? The atmospheric musical score?
3.The title, Alex's influence on Michael? The confrontation? The variation on the Faust and the Devil theme and selling one's soul?
4.Portrait of Michael: ordinary young man, yuppy background, his work in the office, the clashes with Paterson, double deals and threats? Ambition? His relationship with Howard, with the other offices? Confrontations in the office? His devoted secretary? His fitness, his clash with his older brother and the drug-taking, lending him money? Jogging, the encounter in the bar? His being saved by Alex, meeting him again? Wanting to say thanks? Having a drink, listening to Alex, finding him attractive and persuasive? The talk, the affirmation? Their shared experiences? Alex inviting himself? The art exhibition, the encounter with Clare, the sexuality - and the video? Alex playing it for Michael, inviting himself to his fiancee's family gathering, playing the sexuality video, saving Michael from this marriage? His relationship with his fiancee and her demands - marriage in November instead of October because of being busy? The drinking, the nightclubs, the thrill hold-ups? The bashing of Paterson? Michael waking up, not knowing what he had done? His risk in predicting gains and manipulating the computers - Alex's phone call, success? The news of Paterson being bashed, his secretary's reaction, his bewilderment? His bewilderment with his brother? Returning home, the video with Alex explaining Clare's death? His reaction, going to confront Alex? The knife, the chase, the gun and the threat? His brother taping what had happened? The fight and Alex's death? Michael's decision to tell the police what actually happened? Portrait of decline and fall?
5.The contrast with Alex and Rob Lowe's style? The initial appearance with the woman in bed? The wanderer? Helping Michael in the bar? Their next encounter - planned or not? His ingratiating himself into Michael's friendship, consciousness, conscience? Telling him to assert himself, asking him what he really wanted? Persuading him to confront Paterson? To anticipate the market? His checking on success? Clare, the sexual encounter, playing the video - and his malicious delight in disturbing Michael? Inviting himself to the party, the French accent, showing the sexual video? The thrill ride, his enjoyment of the hold-ups and threatening the attendants? The encounter with Clare, murdering her, his smiling explanation on the video? The clash with the brother? The pursuit in the house and his trying to kill the brother? Being with the women - and then the confrontation with Michael in the kitchen? His shrewd moving, the knife, the hold-up with the gun, his trying to cajole his way out of things? His being shot? A diabolical figure?
6.Michael's brother, older, irresponsible, the drug-taking, dependence on Michael for money, his playing with videos? The clashes with Alex? The chase and his almost being killed? His taking the video of Alex's confession?
7.Clare, the fashionable world of art and business? Sexual freedom? Her going with Michael, with Alex - and her death? The contrast with Michael's wealthy fiancee, arranging marriage, disgust at the tape? Her family's reaction? The contrast with the devotion of the secretary?
8.Paterson and Howard, the world of business, deals and reports, cutthroat games? Mutual threats? Violence?
9.A contemporary parable of the late '80s and early '90s - and the world of self, greed and finance, personal freedom? A growing awareness of conscience? The conflict of good and evil?
