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Bad Influence (film)
Encyclopedia
Bad Influence is a 1990 American
film starring Rob Lowe
and James Spader
. In this noirish
film, Spader plays a yuppie
who meets a mysterious stranger (Lowe) who encourages him to explore his darker side. Bad Influence was the first original screenplay for which David Koepp received a sole screenplay credit. The story is loosely based on a real character, a surfer living in his car at Topanga Beach, who became a friend of the executive producer Morrie Eisenman while David was working for Morrie during his final year at UCLA.
Michael's new-found sense of self-preservation helps him fight back with the help of his brother.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film starring Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe
Robert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor. Lowe came to prominence after appearing in films such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, and Wayne's World. On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and his role as Senator Robert...
and James Spader
James Spader
James Todd Spader is an American actor best known for his eccentric roles in movies such as Pretty in Pink, Less Than Zero, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Crash, Stargate, and Secretary...
. In this noirish
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
film, Spader plays a yuppie
Yuppie
Yuppie is a term that refers to a member of the upper middle class or upper class in their 20s or 30s. It first came into use in the early-1980s and largely faded from American popular culture in the late-1980s, due to the 1987 stock market crash and the early 1990s recession...
who meets a mysterious stranger (Lowe) who encourages him to explore his darker side. Bad Influence was the first original screenplay for which David Koepp received a sole screenplay credit. The story is loosely based on a real character, a surfer living in his car at Topanga Beach, who became a friend of the executive producer Morrie Eisenman while David was working for Morrie during his final year at UCLA.
Plot
Michael is a sheepish person who is pushed around by everyone. He meets Alex, who teaches him to be assertive and indulge in risky behaviors. Things go too far when they go on a drug-fueled robbery spree and assault Michael's work rival, and when Michael wants out, Alex becomes angry. He steals all of Michael's possessions and frames him by killing a woman in his apartment.Michael's new-found sense of self-preservation helps him fight back with the help of his brother.
Cast
- Rob LoweRob LoweRobert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor. Lowe came to prominence after appearing in films such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, and Wayne's World. On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and his role as Senator Robert...
as Alex - James SpaderJames SpaderJames Todd Spader is an American actor best known for his eccentric roles in movies such as Pretty in Pink, Less Than Zero, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Crash, Stargate, and Secretary...
as Michael Boll - Lisa ZaneLisa ZaneElizabeth Frances "Lisa" Zane is an American actress and singer who has starred on stage, in film and television.-Personal life:...
as Claire - Christian ClemensonChristian ClemensonChristian Clemenson is an American film and television actor. He is well known for his portrayal of Jerry "Hands" Espenson in the television series Boston Legal, for which he won the 2006 Emmy Award for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series.-Early life:Clemenson spent his childhood in Humboldt,...
as Pismo Boll - Marcia CrossMarcia CrossMarcia Anne Cross is an American actress. She is known for her television roles as Bree Van de Kamp on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and as Dr...
as Ruth Fielding - Grand Bush as Bartender
Crew
- Directed by Curtis HansonCurtis HansonCurtis Lee Hanson is an American film director, film producer and screenwriter. His directing work includes The Hand That Rocks the Cradle , L.A...
- Written by David KoeppDavid Koepp-Career:As a writer, Koepp has worked on such blockbuster Hollywood films as Jurassic Park, Mission Impossible, and Spider-Man. Koepp had a cameo as the "Unlucky Bastard" in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, in which he was serving as Writer and Second Unit Director.His work as a director has not had...
- Producer Steve TischSteve TischSteven "Steve" Tisch is an American businessman. He is the Chairman and Executive Vice President of the New York Giants, the NFL team co-owned by his family, as well as a film and television producer...
- Exec. Producer Morrie Eisenman
External links
- Bad Influence at the Disobiki
- Essays about the film at Film of the Month Club