|
To popular high school senior Ben Cronin (Jesse Bradford), life has never been kinder.
Being one of the top varsity swimmers, he will most likely get an athletic scholarship to Stanford University. Moreover, he has Amy Miller (Shiri Appleby), a most understanding girlfriend whom he loves dearly. But when a new girl Madison Bell (Erika Christensen) attends school, Ben undergoes a series of hellish experiences. Obsessed with having him for a boyfriend, Madison seduces him to have a one night sexual encounter with her. Regretful of this mistake, Ben tells Madison to stop pestering him. Enraged and vengeful, the psychologically disturbed Madison hunts him down, endangers his job, his scholarship and his life as well as the lives of his loved ones.
This movie is a pale reworking of Adrian Lyn's 1987 well-known thriller entitled Fatal
Attraction. Since then, movies have been made to copy its plot and approximate its powerful impact on the audience.
This present movie is one of these attempts as it closely follows the "formula": a man stalked by a mentally unbalanced woman he hardly knows who is obsessed with having him because of a "one night stand." There are variations in the details but the audience familiar with the storyline can easily predict the "denouement." Though this suspenseful film elicits some shocks, and the virtually unknown dramatis personae are effective they are no match for the likes of Glen Close remembered for her compelling performance in
Fatal Attraction.
Swimfan is a
graphic reminder of the frightening consequences that follow sexual flings.
In the movie, Ben finally succumbs to Madison's repeated attempts at seduction and then suffers immensely for that one indulgence. Perhaps, the movie can reawaken our realization that sex can never be taken lightly even for a single moment. It has a serious purpose in marriage and in life and should be treated with more reverence. We never know what evil its abuse can unleash. This picture also gives us an interesting study of how a "designing" woman catches her "prey" when she sets her mind to it. Perhaps, men should be on guard against such women. A single sexual mistake may spell a lifetime of pain and regret. There's a positive note in the movie. Ben used to be a drug addict and a habitual liar. With the love and trust of Amy, his girlfriend, he turns his life around and becomes the school's swimming champion. Drug addicts can take note of this: All is not lost. With will power, discipline and the support of loved ones, anyone can turn a new leaf and have a chance at success and happiness.
(Date reviewed: December 5, 2002)
|
