The Popkorn Junkie

Let me begin with saying that I had low expectations for this film, as I usually do for all thrillers aimed at a pre-pubescent audience. Every now and again a winner like "O" or "Election" will emerge, but most of the time the outcome is always the same--zero plot, terrible acting, and unbelievably uninspired storytelling. That is what I was expecting from "Swimfan"--I mean, c'mon, the trailer for this flick was God awful to watch and twice as nauseating as the trailer for "Kazaam!".

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised by this film, a teen thriller that combines pretty decent suspense and timing with a couple of really entertaining performances from leads Bradford and Christensen. Sure, the plot is paper thin, but it really reminded me of the movie "The Crush", starring Cary Elwes and Alicia Silverstone, a film which I believe to be an exceptional motion picture, though it received very little critical attention (maybe it's just one of my guilty pleasures and I can't admit it...oh, wait, I just did).

Newcomer Erika Christensen does a fabulous job as obsessed stalker Madison Bell (what a perfect movie name), not quite matching up to psychos like Glenn Close or Sharon Stone, but still holding her own. And, Jesse Bradford (yes, the brat from "Clockstoppers") even does a decent job as stalkee Ben Cronin, though he still looks too young for the character he is playing--it's pretty bad when you're playing a high school student and still can't look the part.

The most glowing praise I have of this film is that director John Polson borrows heavily from Alfred Hitchcock, the greatest director the world has ever known. There are several scenes which are very similar to scenes you would expect from a Hitchcockian tale. The main problems I had with the film were that, as I stated before, the plot was paper thin, and that the film utterly boils down into one of those predictable scenarios. But, with a film like this, you have to just let your senses go and take it for what it is--an entertaining farce about a girl stalking a guy. It's as simple as that, and it is certainly worth checking out if you are inside of the targeted age group (and maybe some of you out there, like me, who just want to feel young at heart). Nothing warms my heart like the thought of a girl playing hammer and nails on my chest with an ice pick. Ahhh, memories.

-- Billy Ray ( 3 out of 4 pops )

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Other Junkie's opinions.....

Matt ( 3 out of 4 pops )

"Swimfan" is an intriguing, fast-paced, surprisingly well-made thriller. I thought I would be somewhat biased in viewing this movie, being that the other day I watched "One Hour Photo", which I consider to be one of the best thrillers I've ever seen. So I thought to myself, "How do you top that?" Well, "Swimfan" isn't a first-class thriller and has some goofy elements that you would expect in a film like this, but it never ceases to entertain and makes one hell of a popcorn movie! Jesse Bradford is a handsome, charming actor and I would go as far as saying he could be the next Tom Cruise. I enjoyed him in "Bring It On" and this time he proves to be leading man material. Erica Christiansen is an absolute knockout and blows me away with her winning smile. But as beautiful as she is, she does a great job at transforming herself into a total witch as the film goes on, to the point where you become terrified when her face pops up on screen. Don't expect any huge surprises. In fact, the plot is often predictable and contains some laughable clichés (For example: the creepy guy who knows all the answers). And I'm pretty damn sure they wouldn't keep a high school swimming pool open to the public 24/7, like it seems to be in this movie. And when it is open, they'd probably have either a lifeguard or surveillance cameras present. The ending could've been more exciting, but other than that I was quite satisfied. The premise of an evil, obsessive girl stalking a nice guy has been done before, but who cares? It's an intriguing premise and handled quite well in this film.