Swimfan

Review by Clint Morris

Ben Cronin (Jesse Bradford) is a high school senior with a saccharine-sweet girlfriend and a chance at a swimming scholarship.

He doesn't see trouble coming because it's hidden behind the saintly smile of the new girl in town, Madison Bell (Erika Christensen).

As the film's theme suggests, Ben ends up having a one-night stand with the seductive Madison - and everything after turns luckless.

Like Alex of Fatal Attraction (1987), she's not content to let it begin and end there. And, since she's a satay skewer short of peanuts, the question is whether Ben, his girlfriend Amy (Shiri Appleby), or any of his buddies will still be alive after she realises she's been scorned, transforming into the most fanatic sports fan you've ever seen.

To compare Swimfan to it's titular training ground - pools - one would have to say it's swimming safely in the shallow end.

We have all seen this story before - fatal attraction, the crush, half-a-dozen B-video classics, and most of the plot twists you can see a mile off.

But, part way through, the film waddles into the deep end, harbouring an onslaught of exceptionally impressive visuals; a striking music score and some relatively tense moments.

Why anyone would be tempted by Erika Christensen, when you have the beautiful Shiri Appleby at home, is anyone's guess - but that's not the point at hand, the point is Aussie director John Polson has crafted a slick, fun, vivacious thriller for his Hollywood entrée that, for the most part, is swimming in sensationalism.

3 out of 5

Swimfan
Australian release: Thursday October 10
Cast: Jesse Bradford, Erika Christensen, Shiri Appleby, Dan Hedaya, Clayne Crawford.
Director: John Polson.
Website: Click here

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