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Bad Influence

Bad Influence

Thriller · Crime · 1990

Wimpy young executive Michael is about to get pulverized by a jealous boyfriend in a bar when a handsome, mysterious stranger steps in—and then disappears. Later that night, Michael runs into a stranger on a pier, who wheedles his way into Michael's life and turns it upside down.

Movie details

Bad Influence

“When fantasy becomes a fatal distraction.”

1990 Thriller · Crime 1h 39m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.0 / 10

Community rating

Wimpy young executive Michael is about to get pulverized by a jealous boyfriend in a bar when a handsome, mysterious stranger steps in—and then disappears. Later that night, Michael runs into a stranger on a pier, who wheedles his way into Michael's life and turns it upside down.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Bad Influence?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Curtis Hanson

Written by

David Koepp

James Spader

James Spader

Michael Boll

Rob Lowe

Rob Lowe

Alex

Lisa Zane

Lisa Zane

Claire

Marcia Cross

Marcia Cross

Ruth Fielding

Rosalyn Landor

Rosalyn Landor

Britt

Kathleen Wilhoite

Kathleen Wilhoite

Leslie

T

Tony Maggio

Patterson

Court is in session

Put Bad Influence on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Restraint trusts the audience.”

It leaves emotional space unlabelled, trusting viewers to notice what the characters cannot say aloud.

The prosecution The Sentimental Softie

“Distance mistaken for discipline.”

The chill may look elegant, but withholding a heartbeat is not the same as having complicated feelings.