Review of Bad Influence

Introduction

Long before carving out a place for himself in the successful series, The West Wing, Rob Lowe hadn`t done a lot to shake off the "Brat Pack" image he`d been lumbered with. His private life excesses hadn`t helped either and quality film roles were thin on the ground. Directed by Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential, 8 Mile) and written by the capable David Koepp (Mission: Impossible, Stir of Echoes, Spider-Man), Bad Influence was the tail end of the decadent 80s and the rest of the "Greed is good" milieu; yuppies and excess with a seedy underbelly.

Nice guy James Spader`s conservative yuppie success is seduced by Rob Lowe`s sense of living life beyond moral boundaries. Earn more money and status and get even with those that tread on you. Things invariably come with a price attached and Spader`s life is on the line.

Video

Bad Influence comes with a 1.85:1 widescreen enhanced video transfer which, like a lot of MGM library titles, is okay. Colours and shoulder pads are in keeping with the 80s look and feel and so is the accompanying soundtrack. Detail looks all right and dirt doesn`t get in the way of the film.

Audio

The English DD2.0 soundtrack does its job with clear dialogue and sound from the front. The music is 80s synth sounding with saxophones in the more sensual parts but it sounds restrained. I noticed some odd dubbing going on in a couple of places and it`s hard to say what the words should be; the lips just don`t match up. It could be a throwback to an old film master.

Features

Easy to navigate static menus with a sole extra:

• Original Theatrical Trailer (1:52) - No comment.

Rounding off the extra we get English subtitles.

Conclusion

James Spader plays the uptight put upon stockbroker/analyst well enough and good-looking Rob Lowe seems to relish his charming nihilistic role. The film however doesn`t explore the motives for Lowe`s immoral behaviour. We accept Spader, but it takes more effort to take on Lowe as well. Trading your soul with the devil in return for riches and power leads to a moral struggle, which is what happens as Spader comes level with Lowe and has to play him at his own game in order to get back to some semblance of normality.

The writing, like the period it depicts, appears a little excessive but it`s deliciously trashy in that respect. If you haven`t seen this film before then it`s worth a rental to see the duo of Lowe and Spader holding up liquor stores and getting a bit violent. Bad Influence has received 28-seconds of BBFC cuts due to imitable violent technique but this doesn`t affect the film.