Familiar Waters
Oct. 19th, 2024 10:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
setsuledA young man's whole life spirals out of control when he provokes the ire of a pretty, psychotic dame in 2002's Swimfan. It is, as most reviews say, a pretty typical Fatal Attraction clone but it's directed with some surprising competence.
Ben (Jesse Bradford) is a swimmer for his high school team with dreams of a professional career as an athlete. His plans are derailed by Madison (Erika Christensen), a femme fatale who seduces Ben for casual sex one night and then never lets him forget it.
Among the other noir elements, Ben's level of responsibility for the ensuing shitstorm is complicated by his own complicity. He didn't really have to have sex with Madison. We also learn he has a criminal history of drug use and theft. Does he deserve what she's dishing out? Does a guy like him deserve to be able to turn his life around?
Sure, there are plenty of movies that have done it better with more stimulating ideas but director John Polson never does anything distractingly bad. The film's an acceptable diversion.
