Fatal Attraction – Blu-ray Review

 

The Flick

 

Fatal Attraction is a film that became a cultural phenomenon.  It was THE film to see in 1987 and was nominated for 6 Oscars.  Director Adrian Lyne’s disturbing tale of bourgeoisie socialites wrapped up in a web of deception and uncontrollable desire became the benchmark for films with a female antagonist, and even today reigns supreme within this genre.  

The film’s plot is centered around up and coming lawyer Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) and his affair with co-worker Alex Forrest (Glenn Close), who refuses to believe that their time together has ended.  Alex’s obsession for Dan grows to unhealthy heights after she announces that she’s carrying his baby, so much so that she ruins his car, assaults him with phone calls, even shows up at his home after he puts it up for sale, pretending to be interested buying it.  She crosses the line time and time again, but only after Dan crossed the line by accepting her invitation for a one night stand even though he’s a married man.  I’m sure things would have worked out in a similar manner even if the screenwriter would have written Dan’s character as a single man, but it wouldn’t have brought up the same moral issues.  The story reads like a misogynistic playbook, a sort of cautionary tale for the cheating husband and this is what makes it so memorable.  

I didn’t love this movie.  I didn’t hate it either.  In fact I think it’s an extremely well written, acted, directed film, but in the end it didn’t leave me wanting more.  On one hand, I really like the film’s protagonist, but on the other hand, I feel like at times Dan is more of an antagonistic character than Alex.  After all his wife is the one that finally settles his score with Alex, absolving his crimes and in the process getting blood on her hands.  

Fatal Attraction is positively a killer film, and the transfer onto Blu-ray looks great.  I’d recommend it for any fan of the movie along with anyone interested in a top notch thriller.  

The Blu-ray

Commentary -  The commentary track by director Adrian Lyne is interesting and insightful, definitely worth listening to.

Forever Fatal: Remembering Fatal Attraction – A short featurette including interviews with cast and crew.  I enjoyed this one quite a bit and found it interesting that the script was one of the main focuses.  

Social Attraction: The Cultural Phenomenon of Fatal Attraction – Focuses on the film’s cultural relevance and its popularity.  This one could have been longer (it’s only about 10 minutes) because I found it interesting.  

Visual Attraction – A short featurette that focuses on the film’s production and look.  

Rehersal Footage – This was my least favorite of the features on this disc.  It isn’t terrible, but it’s extremely short and feels like filler.  

Alternate Ending – An ending introduced by Adrian Lyne and in pristine HD, doesn’t fare as well for Dan as the one that made it into the film.  Great feature, even though I favor that theatrical one.  

Original Theatrical Trailer – The prerequisite theatrical trailer is on her and in HD.  

Rating: