Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) and Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) strike up a brief but intense affair in New York City. It soon transpires that Alex is slightly mad, and rather than allowing herself to be merely being dismissed after their weekend fling instead wants more commitment than Dan is prepared to offer. Events escalate and soon become nasty, and Dan’s wife (Anne Archer) and daughter find themselves in serious danger.
Having heard lots about this film over the years I was surprised at how exciting it was. It’s excellently directed by Adrian Lyne, with perfect pacing, and the camera work makes it especially edgy. I like the fact that the story is so simple, without any distracting sub-plots or unnecessary back-stories. It’s a pure, fast-moving narrative that’s handled with great skill.
The two leads are both superb, and Close is all too convincing in her demented/obsessive role. Something about her smile and her eyes makes you believe she’s capable of anything. Douglas is also pretty good as the harassed lawyer trying to hold his life together but watching it slide out of control.
The film sidesteps ethical issues – presumably to focus on being a taut thriller. We’re left unsure how to feel about Dan’s actions. Should his wife forgive him? And didn’t Alex have a point when she accused him of using and discarding her? But the decision to keep strictly to the plot may have been a wise one as Fatal Attraction rattles along excitingly, without any misjudgements, and ends in a satisfying, conclusive manner.
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