PRIMAL FEAR @ Wahnfried

At Wahnfried, McGregor

On Friday 29th at 5pm we have the legal psychological thriller film PRIMAL FEAR (2h10mins) starring Richard Gere but also the film debut of Edward Norton.

The film was a box office success and received positive reviews, with Norton's breakthrough performance earning critical praise. Norton was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.

When a young man, Aaron, is charged with the horrific murder of Archbishop Rushman, hot-shot Chicago lawyer Martin Vail takes on his defence at no charge. Aaron was a homeless street kid before he was taken in by the archbishop. He's shy and speaks with a stammer. Vail is convinced that Aaron is innocent but after discovering a video that shows Aaron may have had good reason to want the archbishop dead, he begins to question that conclusion. When Aaron lashes out at the psychologist examining him another personality, Roy, is revealed. With the trial already underway, Vail cannot change Aaron plea and so has to find a way to introduce his client's condition. Aaron has something of a surprise for him as well.

‘’This is one of the best murder mystery, psychological suspense films i have ever seen. This thing will keep you riveted and guessing right down to the end. This movie belongs to Edward Norton, who plays an altar boy accused of murdering a priest. This is an early film with Norton, in fact his first feature film. His talent is undeniable even back then (1996). There are a lot of layers to this movie and a lot going on. There are also a lot of plot twists and some red herrings (false clues) to help lead you to the wrong conclusions. Richard Gere is also in the film and he does good in his role, as does Laura Linney in her role, but like I said, this is an Edward Norton film. The success of the movie hinges on his performance. He delivers in a big way, so the film succeeds. I don't think you can go wrong with this film. I urge you to check it out. For me Primal Fear is a 9/10.’’ IMDb reviewer