Bad Influence

Those two 80s studs Rob Lowe and James Spader starred in a 1990 potboiler that should get reexamined, thanks to a brand new Blu-ray release from Shout Factory. "Bad Influence" takes a few Hitchcock films, most notably "Strangers on a Train," and updates the plot for modern audiences.

Lowe and Spader, young bucks at the time, get cast against type. Spader usually plays the bad boy and bully roles, but here in "Bad Influence" he plays Michael, a repressed Wall Street financial analyst whose main goal in life is to get married to his fianc�e (Marcia Cross) and get promoted at his company. Enter Lowe as Alex, who saves Michael as he's about to get into a bar-room brawl.

The two form an odd and uneven friendship, which immediately starts on a bad note as Alex films Michael while having sex with Claire (Lisa Zane). How ironic that upon the film's release, Lowe becomes embroiled in a sex tape scandal that tainted his career for a while.

A cat and mouse game ensues, where Alex taunts Michael to live his life on the edge and take risk after risk with deadly consequences. The intricate screenplay was written by David Koepp ("Death Becomes Her") and he appears in the half hour featurette "Under the Influence." If ever you wanted a lesson on the writing and screenplay process, Koepp offers it all. He also talks about his storied career in the stressful movie business.

"Bad Influence's" trailer is also part of the extras department on the Blu-ray from the ever reliable Shout Factory folks.

"Bad Influence"
Blu-ray
$27.99
www.shoutfactory.com