Monday, August 12, 2024

Swimfan (2002) * * 1/2

 


Directed by:  John Polson

Starring:  Jesse Bradford, Erika Christensen, Shiri Appleby, Dan Hedaya, Clayne Crawford, Jason Ritter, Kate Burton

Swimfan is a Fatal Attraction-esque story of a high school senior named Madison (Christensen) who obsessively pursues school swimming superstar Ben Cronin (Bradford) long after Ben called their relationship quits following a "wham, bam, thank you ma'am" in the school's pool.  Like Dan Gardner in Fatal Attraction, Ben makes the mistake of having sex with this alluring young woman and then trying to keep it secret from his perky girlfriend Amy (Appleby).   I don't think Madison kills any rabbits, but only because Ben didn't keep any as pets. 

Ben is near saintly and even works in a hospital part-time.  Madison takes a liking to Ben, flirts with him, and finds he is willing to be seduced.  Because Swimfan is not R-rated, Ben and Madison finally get it on in the swimming pool where all of the action occurs underwater below their necks.  Guilt-ridden Ben tries to cut off any future involvement with Madison, but by now, she is dug in like a tick and won't let go.  The parallels between Swimfan and Fatal Attraction are such that they can't be coincidences.  On that level, however, Swimfan still has suspenseful moments, mostly because Ben's situation (while self-inflicted) is a universal one.  The movie doesn't absolve Ben of cheating on his girlfriend, but we do sympathize as he desperately tries to prevent Amy from finding out, and then provide damage control when she does learn of the one-night stand.

Christensen, despite being the villain, is still interesting in the Glenn Close role.  It is understandable how Ben can fall under her spell, at least for one night.  When her eyes narrow, though, watch out.  Bradford is no young Michael Douglas, but he seems like a nice guy and we can root for him because Madison grows homicidal.  Swimfan then follows the playbook of slasher films to a tee, including Madison becoming an unstoppable force who can escape from any situation and resist being killed.  Alex Forrest could learn a thing or two from Madison.  



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