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Primal Fear

    Crime
    Drama
    Mystery
    Thriller
77%tmdb logo
•
Mar 6, 1996
Rated R

An arrogant, high-powered attorney takes on the case of a poor altar boy found running away from the scene of the grisly murder of the bishop who has taken him in. The case gets a lot more complex when the accused reveals that there may or may not have been a third person in the room.

Details

  • Directors
  • Revenue$102,600,000
  • Budget
    $30,000,000
  • Vote Average
    7.7
  • Vote Count
    3353
  • Popularity
    37
  • Language
    English
  • Origin Country
    US

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    • Cast

    Background image 1
    Richard Gere
    Martin Vail
    Background image 2
    Laura Linney
    Janet Venable
    Background image 3
    Edward Norton
    Aaron
    Background image 4
    John Mahoney
    Shaughnessy
    Background image 5
    Alfre Woodard
    Shoat
    Background image 6
    Frances McDormand
    Molly
    Background image 7
    Terry O'Quinn
    Yancy
    Background image 8
    Andre Braugher
    Goodman
    Background image 9
    Steven Bauer
    Pinero
    Background image 10
    Joe Spano
    Stenner
    Background image 11
    Tony Plana
    Martinez
    Background image 12
    Stanley Anderson
    Rushman
    Background image 13
    Maura Tierney
    Naomi
    Background image 14
    Jon Seda
    Alex
    Background image 15
    Reg Rogers
    Connerman
    Background image 16
    Kenneth Tigar
    Weil
    Background image 17
    Brian Reddy
    Woodside
    Background image 18
    Christopher Carroll
    M.C.
    Background image 19
    Wendy Cutler
    Lou
    Background image 20
    Ron O.J. Parson
    Turner
    Background image 21
    Sigrid K. Zahner
    Vail's Secretary
    Background image 22
    Dianne Burns
    WLS Anchor
    Background image 23
    Linda Yu
    WLS Anchor
    Background image 24
    Andy Shaw
    WLS Location Reporter
    Background image 25
    Mary Ann Childers
    WBBM Anchor
    Background image 26
    Lester Holt
    WBBM Anchor
    Background image 27
    Sylvia Gomez
    WBBM Location Reporter
    Background image 28
    Jon Duncanson
    WBBN Location Reporter
    Background image 29
    Greg Bronson
    Banquet Patron (uncredited)
    Background image 30
    David Eckert
    WGN Anchor
    Background image 31
    Robert Jordan
    WGN Anchor
    Background image 32
    Joanie Lum
    WGN Location Reporter
    Background image 33
    Randy Salerno
    WGN Location Reporter
    Background image 34
    Kyle Colerider-Krugh
    Postman
    Background image 35
    Joseph Luis Caballero
    Joe
    Background image 36
    Randall Slavin
    Young Boy
    Background image 37
    Mike Bacarella
    Sergeant
    Background image 38
    Turk Muller
    Precinct Jailer
    Background image 39
    Joseph F. Kosala
    Cop
    Background image 40
    Lenny Wilson
    Bartender
    Background image 41
    Peter Schreiner
    Bailiff
    Background image 42
    Joseph R. Ryan
    Old Man
    Background image 43
    Azalea Davila
    Linda
    Background image 44
    Wayne Wright
    Court Clerk
    Background image 45
    Tony Fitzpatrick
    Duty Officer
    Background image 46
    Clarence Williams, Jr.
    Arresting Cop
    Background image 47
    Rosalie V. Lewis
    Stenographer
    Background image 48
    Dwight Brad Dyer
    Prison Guard
    Background image 49
    Larry Cook
    Pilot
    Background image 50
    Bob Kenney
    Pilot

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    Reviews

    (1)
    CinemaSerf
    70%
    I was never the greatest fan of Richard Gere, but this is certainly one of his better performances. He is cocky lawyer "Vail", adept at ensuring his criminal fraternity clients evade justice. When the shocking news that an archbishop has been savagely murdered is announced, he decides on a bit of pro-bono work to defend the young "Aaron" (Ed Norton) against the prosecuting skills of his ex-girlfriend "Janet" (Laura Linney). As the courtroom drama unfolds, though, we soon establish that there are undertones that call into question not just who did what to whom, but also the integrity of the victim and of many of his well-connected associates. The film belongs to Norton, though. As his character develops, with the assistance of probing psychologist "Molly" (Frances McDormand), we discover that there are quirks to his character that this actor delivers superbly. So much falls into place in the last ten minutes, or so, before a denouement that is both unexpected and perversely quite fitting. It is a bit too long, and takes maybe half an hour before it starts to simmer; but once the plot starts to advance in earnest, this becomes a superior crime thriller with twists, turns and strong performances throughout.