Swimfan
Encyclopedia
Swimfan, also known as Fanatica, is a 2002 erotic thriller
film directed by John Polson
and written by Charles Bohl and Phillip Schneider. Considered a Fatal Attraction
for a teenage audience, the film stars Jesse Bradford
, Erika Christensen
, and Shiri Appleby
.
) is a a star swimmer of his high school's swim team. His coach pulls him aside before practice and informs him that Stanford University
scouts will appear at next week's swimming meet. He and his girlfriend Amy, discuss their future plans. Amy has her heart set on going to school in Rhode Island, but explains that she will go to school in California to stay close to Ben.
The next day, Ben nearly runs his car into Madison Bell (Erika Christensen
) and he gives her a ride home as an apology. Later, he realizes that Madison left her notebook in his car. The notebook is filled with music notes, and Ben spots his initials written inside a staff. When he brings the notebook to return it, he meets Madison's cousin, Christopher (James Debello
). Madison interrupts and thanks Ben for returning it. Madison appears stressed, and explains that she hasn't eaten all day, and so Ben offers to take her out to eat. At dinner, Ben tells Madison about his girlfriend Amy (Shiri Appleby
), but Madison doesn't appear too crushed that Ben is in a relationship. She explains that she has a boy waiting for her in New York City. Ben shares some of his past. He explains that he began doing drugs five years ago, which led to crime and six months in juvenile hall, which "saved him" because he ultimately realized his passion and talent for swimming. Although Ben tries to end the date, Madison convinces him to go to the pool. Madison's aggressive flirtation lures in Ben and despite his initial hesitancy, the two end up having sex. Ben drives Madison home and they both agree to remain friends. They also conclude that they will not discuss their steamy encounter with any of their friends.
The next night, Ben goes to a party at Amy's house. Amy introduces Ben to her new friend, who turns out to be Madison. The two pretend to have not met one another yet. Shortly after, Madison begins to obsess over Ben - she stops by his house to meet his mom and bombards Ben with e-mails and instant messages. Ben realizes her unhealthy behavior and furiously demands that she leave him alone. Ben's lying begins to eat at him, and so he decides he will confess his infidelity to Amy, but Madison tells Amy first. Madison begins dating Ben's rival teammate, Josh. Right before their biggest swim competition, Ben is disqualified for having steroid
s in his urine, prompting questions from those close to him about his drug habits. Ben is outraged and explains that there has been a mistake, and suspects that Madison had convinced Josh to set Ben up. Ben confronts Josh about the drug test, revealing his suspicion. Days later, Madison accidentally calls Josh by Ben's name while they are kissing in a car. Josh realizes that Madison's obsession with Ben is real, and tells her off.
Ben tries to tell Amy everything, but she does not believe him. The next day, Ben goes to the pool, where he finds Josh dead. The police suspect that Ben is to blame for Josh's murder. To prove his innocence, Ben breaks into Madison's room to find evidence against her. He discovers a bottle of steroids, and a creepy shrine of his personal belongings that she has been secretly stashing. Christopher warns Ben of a similar case regarding a man named Jake Donnelly. When Ben visits Jake Donnelly (Monroe Mann) in the hospital, a nurse (Patricia Rae) tells him that Jake's girlfriend Madison survived the crash.
Madison disguises herself as Ben and steals his car. She follows Amy home from school and runs Amy off the road, and again Ben is framed for the crime. That night at the hospital, Ben and a few friends record Madison confessing her crime and intentions. The police arrest Madison. She manages to escape custody and take Amy as a hostage to the school's swimming pool. As Ben watches, Madison throws a handcuffed and chairbound Amy into the pool. Ben saves Amy, and in a fit of insanity, Madison falls into the pool and drowns. Ben gives Amy mouth to mouth and she becomes conscious.
Some time later, at a swim meet, Ben is a spectator. He goes outside to his car, where he and Amy kiss and happily drive away.
Review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes
holds a 14% 'Rotten' rating, with the consensus, "A Fatal Attraction
rip-off, Swimfan is a predictable, mediocre thriller."
Peter Bradshaw
gave the film (two stars out of five), calling it a "teen Fatal Attraction with an unappetising extra helping of Scream
" and saying it lacks "the sardonic wit that parts of the script had seemed initially to promise." Variety
described it as a "chiller resolutely without chills, in which even the pool water always seems heated. And inasmuch as the pic never owns up to its own trashiness, it's not even enjoyable camp
—like Mary Lambert's recent The In-Crowd
—even though there's about as much underage drinking, heavy petting and full-on sex as you can imagine this side of a very surprising PG-13 rating."
, Pacifier, Pay the Girl
, and Sevendust
, among others.
Erotic thriller
The erotic thriller is a film and literary sub-genre which consists of a mixture between erotica and thriller. The genre increased in North American popularity from the mid-1980s through the early 1990s, before declining in marketability.-1980s:...
film directed by John Polson
John Polson
John Polson is an Australian actor, director and founder of Tropfest. In February 2001, Polson attended the 12th Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in Hokkaidō, Japan where his film Siam Sunset won the Minami Toshiko Award...
and written by Charles Bohl and Phillip Schneider. Considered a Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction is a 1987 American thriller blended with horror, directed by Adrian Lyne and stars Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer. The film centers around a married man who has a weekend affair with a woman who refuses to allow it to end, resulting in emotional blackmail, stalking...
for a teenage audience, the film stars Jesse Bradford
Jesse Bradford
- Early life :Bradford was born Jesse Bradford Watrouse in Norwalk, Connecticut, the only child of actors Terry Porter and Curtis Watrouse, who appeared in commercials, soap operas, and industrial films. His mother also played his character's mother in Hackers...
, Erika Christensen
Erika Christensen
Erika Jane Christensen is an American actress whose film appearances include Traffic , Swimfan , How to Rob a Bank , and The Perfect Score , among others. She also co-starred in the short-lived drama Six Degrees on ABC...
, and Shiri Appleby
Shiri Appleby
Shiri Freda Appleby is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her leading role as Liz Parker in the television series Roswell...
.
Plot
Ben Cronin (Jesse BradfordJesse Bradford
- Early life :Bradford was born Jesse Bradford Watrouse in Norwalk, Connecticut, the only child of actors Terry Porter and Curtis Watrouse, who appeared in commercials, soap operas, and industrial films. His mother also played his character's mother in Hackers...
) is a a star swimmer of his high school's swim team. His coach pulls him aside before practice and informs him that Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
scouts will appear at next week's swimming meet. He and his girlfriend Amy, discuss their future plans. Amy has her heart set on going to school in Rhode Island, but explains that she will go to school in California to stay close to Ben.
The next day, Ben nearly runs his car into Madison Bell (Erika Christensen
Erika Christensen
Erika Jane Christensen is an American actress whose film appearances include Traffic , Swimfan , How to Rob a Bank , and The Perfect Score , among others. She also co-starred in the short-lived drama Six Degrees on ABC...
) and he gives her a ride home as an apology. Later, he realizes that Madison left her notebook in his car. The notebook is filled with music notes, and Ben spots his initials written inside a staff. When he brings the notebook to return it, he meets Madison's cousin, Christopher (James Debello
James DeBello
-Filmography:*Transylmania *Ghouls *After Sex *National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2 *Steel City *National Lampoon's Adam & Eve *The Hillz *National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze...
). Madison interrupts and thanks Ben for returning it. Madison appears stressed, and explains that she hasn't eaten all day, and so Ben offers to take her out to eat. At dinner, Ben tells Madison about his girlfriend Amy (Shiri Appleby
Shiri Appleby
Shiri Freda Appleby is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her leading role as Liz Parker in the television series Roswell...
), but Madison doesn't appear too crushed that Ben is in a relationship. She explains that she has a boy waiting for her in New York City. Ben shares some of his past. He explains that he began doing drugs five years ago, which led to crime and six months in juvenile hall, which "saved him" because he ultimately realized his passion and talent for swimming. Although Ben tries to end the date, Madison convinces him to go to the pool. Madison's aggressive flirtation lures in Ben and despite his initial hesitancy, the two end up having sex. Ben drives Madison home and they both agree to remain friends. They also conclude that they will not discuss their steamy encounter with any of their friends.
The next night, Ben goes to a party at Amy's house. Amy introduces Ben to her new friend, who turns out to be Madison. The two pretend to have not met one another yet. Shortly after, Madison begins to obsess over Ben - she stops by his house to meet his mom and bombards Ben with e-mails and instant messages. Ben realizes her unhealthy behavior and furiously demands that she leave him alone. Ben's lying begins to eat at him, and so he decides he will confess his infidelity to Amy, but Madison tells Amy first. Madison begins dating Ben's rival teammate, Josh. Right before their biggest swim competition, Ben is disqualified for having steroid
Steroid
A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
s in his urine, prompting questions from those close to him about his drug habits. Ben is outraged and explains that there has been a mistake, and suspects that Madison had convinced Josh to set Ben up. Ben confronts Josh about the drug test, revealing his suspicion. Days later, Madison accidentally calls Josh by Ben's name while they are kissing in a car. Josh realizes that Madison's obsession with Ben is real, and tells her off.
Ben tries to tell Amy everything, but she does not believe him. The next day, Ben goes to the pool, where he finds Josh dead. The police suspect that Ben is to blame for Josh's murder. To prove his innocence, Ben breaks into Madison's room to find evidence against her. He discovers a bottle of steroids, and a creepy shrine of his personal belongings that she has been secretly stashing. Christopher warns Ben of a similar case regarding a man named Jake Donnelly. When Ben visits Jake Donnelly (Monroe Mann) in the hospital, a nurse (Patricia Rae) tells him that Jake's girlfriend Madison survived the crash.
Madison disguises herself as Ben and steals his car. She follows Amy home from school and runs Amy off the road, and again Ben is framed for the crime. That night at the hospital, Ben and a few friends record Madison confessing her crime and intentions. The police arrest Madison. She manages to escape custody and take Amy as a hostage to the school's swimming pool. As Ben watches, Madison throws a handcuffed and chairbound Amy into the pool. Ben saves Amy, and in a fit of insanity, Madison falls into the pool and drowns. Ben gives Amy mouth to mouth and she becomes conscious.
Some time later, at a swim meet, Ben is a spectator. He goes outside to his car, where he and Amy kiss and happily drive away.
Cast
- Jesse BradfordJesse Bradford- Early life :Bradford was born Jesse Bradford Watrouse in Norwalk, Connecticut, the only child of actors Terry Porter and Curtis Watrouse, who appeared in commercials, soap operas, and industrial films. His mother also played his character's mother in Hackers...
as Ben Cronin - Erika ChristensenErika ChristensenErika Jane Christensen is an American actress whose film appearances include Traffic , Swimfan , How to Rob a Bank , and The Perfect Score , among others. She also co-starred in the short-lived drama Six Degrees on ABC...
as Madison Bell - Shiri ApplebyShiri ApplebyShiri Freda Appleby is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her leading role as Liz Parker in the television series Roswell...
as Amy Miller - Kate BurtonKate Burton (actress)-Personal life:Burton was born in Geneva, Switzerland, the daughter of producer Sybil Burton and actor Richard Burton . She was thus the stepdaughter of actress Elizabeth Taylor and of Sybil's second husband Jordan Christopher. In 1979, Burton earned a bachelor's degree in Russian studies and...
as Carla Cronin - Clayne CrawfordClayne CrawfordClayne Crawford is an American film actor with a few episodic television appearances. Crawford has appeared in such films as A Walk to Remember , Swimfan , A Love Song for Bobby Long and The Great Raid . He had a recurring role in the first season of Jericho as Mitchell "Mitch" Cafferty...
as Josh - Jason RitterJason RitterJason Morgan Ritter is an American actor, son of the late actor John Ritter and actress Nancy Morgan. Ritter is probably best known for his role as Kevin Girardi in the television series Joan of Arcadia and as Sean Walker in the NBC series The Event.-Early life:Ritter was born in Los Angeles,...
as Randy - Kia Joy GoodwinKia Goodwin-Career:Goodwin made her first television appearance commercially in 1976 for such products as M&M's, Jello Pudding and AT&T. In 1981, she joined the First National Touring Company of Annie, where she played the role of Duffy. After the tour closed in 1982, she went on to join the final Broadway...
as Rene - James DebelloJames DeBello-Filmography:*Transylmania *Ghouls *After Sex *National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2 *Steel City *National Lampoon's Adam & Eve *The Hillz *National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze...
as Christopher Dante - Dan HedayaDan HedayaDaniel G. “Dan” Hedaya is an American character actor. He often plays sleazy villains or uptight, wisecracking individuals; three of his best-known roles are as Italian Mafia boss Tony Costello in Wise Guys, a cuckolded husband in the Coen brothers' crime thriller Blood Simple, and the scheming...
as Coach Simkins - Michael HigginsMichael Higgins (actor)Michael Patrick Higgins was an American actor who appeared in film and on stage, and was best known for his role in the original Broadway production of Equus.-Early life:...
as Mr. Tillman - Nick Sandow as Detective John Zabel
- Pamela IsaacsPamela Isaacs-Theatre:In 1987 Isaacs appeared in Conrack, a musical based on Pat Conroy's novel The River Is Wide, at AMAS Repertory Theater. The show is set in 1969 and recounts the adventures of Pat Conroy, a young white teacher who teaches black children on the remote South Carolina island of Yamacraw....
as Mrs. Egan - Phyllis SomervillePhyllis SomervillePhyllis Somerville, born 1944, is an American stage, screen, and television actress. Her most prominent role to date was in 2006 as the mother of the sexual predator played by Jackie Earle Haley in Todd Field's Little Children....
as Aunt Gretchen Christopher - Monroe Mann as Jake Donnelly
- Patricia Rae as Jake's nurse
Reception
The worldwide box office gross was $34,411,240, with nearly a third of that earned during its domestic first-place showing for its opening weekend.Review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
holds a 14% 'Rotten' rating, with the consensus, "A Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction is a 1987 American thriller blended with horror, directed by Adrian Lyne and stars Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer. The film centers around a married man who has a weekend affair with a woman who refuses to allow it to end, resulting in emotional blackmail, stalking...
rip-off, Swimfan is a predictable, mediocre thriller."
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw is a British writer and film critic. He was educated at Cambridge University, where he was President of Footlights.Bradshaw is a film critic for The Guardian...
gave the film (two stars out of five), calling it a "teen Fatal Attraction with an unappetising extra helping of Scream
Scream (film)
Scream is a 1996 American slasher film written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven. The film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Drew Barrymore, and David Arquette...
" and saying it lacks "the sardonic wit that parts of the script had seemed initially to promise." Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
described it as a "chiller resolutely without chills, in which even the pool water always seems heated. And inasmuch as the pic never owns up to its own trashiness, it's not even enjoyable camp
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
—like Mary Lambert's recent The In-Crowd
The In Crowd (film)
The In Crowd is a 2000 teen thriller directed by Mary Lambert. It stars Susan Ward and Lori Heuring.-Synopsis:When Adrien is released from an asylum, her former doctor, Henry Thompson immediately tries to get her back on her feet by getting her a job a country club on the East Coast, where she is...
—even though there's about as much underage drinking, heavy petting and full-on sex as you can imagine this side of a very surprising PG-13 rating."
Soundtrack
The soundtrack album includes songs by AshAsh (band)
Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...
, Pacifier, Pay the Girl
Pay the Girl
-History:Lead singer Jason Allen Phelps first started performing in local venues in the Cincinnati area in the late 1990s, and decided to form a band in 2001. The group put out a demo EP soon after, which resulted in their signing with TVT Records in 2002, who landed a song of theirs, "Clueless",...
, and Sevendust
Sevendust
Sevendust is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1994 by bassist Vince Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose and guitarist John Connolly. After their first demo, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and guitarist Clint Lowery joined the group...
, among others.