Posted on: Friday, September 6, 2002

MOVIE REVIEW
'Swimfan' is 'Fatal Attraction' for teens

By Sheila Norman-Culp
Associated Press

Running time: 85 minutes. Three stars out of four. "Swimfan," released by 20th Century Fox, is rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content, disturbing images and language. Associated Press

The harsh lessons of "Fatal Attraction" are remade anew for a teenage audience in director John Polson's creepy thriller "Swimfan."

True, it's a rather conventional plot. And "Swimfan" sometimes isn't submerged in reality. (A senior who's trying to get a swimming scholarship from Stanford would not have an outside job — swimming would be his job. Plus, don't they shave for big meets? And only the most super-confident teen would kiss his mom in public.)

Still, it's a morality play the younger generation will like.

The story focuses on Ben Cronin (Jesse Bradford), a high school senior with a sweet girlfriend and a chance at a swimming scholarship. He doesn't see trouble coming because it's hidden behind the cherubic smile of the new girl in town, Madison Bell (Erika Christensen).

But trouble comes when Ben has a one-night stand with the seductive Madison. She's not content to let it begin and end there. And since she's a psychotic force of nature, the question is whether Ben, his girlfriend, Amy (Shiri Appleby), or any of his buddies will still be alive after she realizes she's been scorned and turns into Tropical Storm Madison.

(No small animals were boiled in the making of this movie, however.)

Bradford is utterly believable as the young stud on the cusp of manhood who doesn't realize how good he's got it — and has no clue how Madison will blindside him next.

Christensen earned a place on every critic's "ones-to-watch" list with her performance as Michael Douglas' drug-addicted daughter in "Traffic" — and she is mesmerizing once again.

It would be so easy for an actress to overplay this role, to morph into high camp, but Christensen stays icy cool. Her Madison never loses composure — and never knows when to stop.

And Polson makes sure that the audience — just like Madison's victims — isn't ready for her next surprise attack, either.

A slightly gritty, middle-class setting gives "Swimfan" an authenticity missing in many teen films. There are no picture-perfect Californians romping in mansions here — just students who have sex, drink booze, work late and try as best as they can to cope with the pressures of getting into college.

Ben and his divorced mom live in a modest, creaky house in a crowded neighborhood. She works as a nurse. His girlfriend Amy works nights as a waitress. Their clothes are more Old Navy than Abercrombie, their high school hasn't seen new lockers in decades and the pool where Ben spends so many hours is dank and cramped.

Director of photography Giles Nuttgens conjures up visually arresting scenes, especially those in the water. The soft blues of the heavily chlorinated pool contrast with the swimmers' dark navy caps. White bubbles of oxygen curl up after they dive in.

In the locker room, Ben shivers, and as the light drains color from his face its clear to all that his nightmare is only getting started.