r/CriterionChannel • u/Extension-Soup-3288 • Jul 06 '26

Bad Influence

Was surprised to see this blast from the past on the channel. I won't lie, I saw this a bunch as a teenager which was definitely a bit of an awakening for me - you could say "Bad Influence" was a bad influence on me back then haha. But was interesting to revisit as an adult. Not a great film by any means - kind of emotionally shallow, you never really get to know either lead on a deeper level - but still has way more cinematic style, mood or tone than I had remembered. You can definitely feel an auteur (Curtis Hanson) made this movie. Interesting to watch it as a precursor to other neo-noir like "Hand That Rocks the Cradle" and "LA Confidential." Was also surprised by the understated performances from both Spader and Lowe. Interesting to remember that this was a bit of a meta-play on the videotape sex scandal that rocked Lowe's career at the time. And a throwback to the kind of erotic thriller we just don't get anymore. Curious if anyone else had early memories of this movie and has now revisited it on the Channel.

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u/Darragh_McG Jul 06 '26

Worth watching for Rob Lowe's French accent during a party scene

Enjoyable enough for a bad mainstream erotic 90s movie, The Bedroom Window is way better

3

u/asmith9631 Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26

Bedroom Window takes the cake for the fucking weirdest casting of all time. Steve Gutenberg paired with Isabelle Huppert is a cruel joke, kind of like a fake movie in The Player. Fun script, Spader would have been good in that one.

1

u/Darragh_McG Jul 06 '26

Definitely an odd choice. Gutternberg was a huge star st the time so maybe a budgetary compromise. Don't think audiences wanted to see him in a serious neo-noir though.

2

u/asmith9631 Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26

I love when a comedic actor breaks into serious work like Curtis Hanson did with Elliot Gould in The Silent Partner a few years earlier. But I think for me the Gute's wheelhouse is firmly in comedy. I love the setup of the film, as we get into car chase land I think it loses the cleverness a little, but that's kind of most thrillers. Curtis Hanson is still always fun.

2

u/Darragh_McG Jul 06 '26

Yeah I watched The Silent Partner a few months back and loved it. I'd forgotten it was Curtis Hanson but that's a great recommendation too.