This was really the introduction to Glenn Close and her rather unparalleled ability to effectively play crazy and bitchy. Her Alex Forrest led to Marquise de Merteuil then to Sunny von Bulow to Cruella DeVil and on and on. All are a little different yet the same. What is the same is that she is able to do it so believably while making them incredibly scary women. The origin story for Glenn Close is Alex Forrest.
The Adrian Lyne directed film made its mark on film watchers way back in 1987 when it exploded onto the scene. I am sure there was many a married guy who thought twice about having an affair after seeing this film. The married guy here is Michael Douglas. Who sleeps with a woman named Alex and then cannot get rid of her. Literally. Alex is most certainly unhinged becoming more and more dangerous the more she feels that Dan is ignoring her. The way she tries to get him to acknowledge her becomes crazier with each attempt.
Despite all the notoriety about this film and the fact that it was a smash at the box office, it is merely a decent one. Don’t be distracted by the money brought in or the fact that it earned six Oscar nominations. As a film it really is just so so. I think the stylish way it looks and the sexy nature of the story glossed over all the flaws.
The erotic thriller features plenty of chemistry between the two leads. The sex scenes between Close and Douglas absolutely sizzle. What is a little thin is the story. So simple that you can see most of it coming from a mile away. Even the “twist” at the very end. Simply put, if not for the excellent on the edge performance by Glenn Close this would not be a film I could recommend to people to watch. But watch it for her Alex.
Despite all its flaws, you won’t be able to forget this film once you have seen it. Plus there are a couple of excellent lines like “I won’t be ignored, Dan!” that will have you saying them at the drop of a hat.
Special Features:
-Digital Copy
COMMENTARY BY DIRECTOR ADRIAN LYNE
-FILMMAKER FOCUS: Adrian Lyne discusses FATAL ATTRACTION
-REHEARSAL FOOTAGE
-ALTERNATE ENDING WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ADRIAN LYNE
-ORIGINAL THEATRICAL TRAILER
