Sooner or later, a man who wears two faces forgets which one is real.
Defense attorney Martin Vail takes on jobs for money and prestige rather than any sense of the greater good. His latest case involves an altar boy, accused of brutally murdering the archbishop of Chicago. Vail finds himself up against his ex-pupil and ex-lover, but as the case progresses and the Church's dark secrets are revealed, Vail finds that what appeared a simple case takes on a darker, more dangerous aspect.
- 7.7
- 1996
- Released
- 2h 11m
Richard Gere
Martin Vail
Laura Linney
Janet Venable
Edward Norton
Aaron/Roy Stampler
John Mahoney
Shaughnessy
Alfre Woodard
Shoat
Frances McDormand
Molly
Terry O'Quinn
Yancy
Andre Braugher
Goodman
Steven Bauer
Pinero
Joe Spano
Stenner
Tony Plana
Martinez
Stanley Anderson
Rushman
Maura Tierney
Naomi
Jon Seda
Alex
Reg Rogers
Connerman
Kenneth Tigar
Weil
Brian Reddy
Woodside
Christopher Carroll
M.C.
Wendy Cutler
Lou
Ron O.J. Parson
Turner
Sigrid K. Zahner
Vail's Secretary
Diann Burns
WLS Anchor
Linda Yu
WLS Anchor
Andy Shaw
WLS Location Reporter
Mary Ann Childers
WBBM Anchor
Lester Holt
WBBM Anchor
Sylvia Gomez
WBBM Location Reporter
Jon Duncanson
WBBN Location Reporter
David Eckert
WGN Anchor
Robert Jordan
WGN AnchorJoanie Lum
WGN Location ReporterRandy Salerno
WGN Location Reporter
Kyle Colerider-Krugh
Postman
Joseph Luis Caballero
Joe
Randall Slavin
Young Boy
Mike Bacarella
Sergeant
Turk Muller
Precinct Jailer
Joseph F. Kosala
CopLenny Wilson
BartenderPeter Schreiner
BailiffJoseph R. Ryan
Old Man
Azalea Davila
LindaWayne Wright
Court ClerkTony Fitzpatrick
Duty OfficerClarence Williams, Jr.
Arresting CopRosalie V. Lewis
StenographerDwight Brad Dyer
Prison Guard
Greg Bronson
Banquet Patron (uncredited)![Primal Fear (1996) Original Trailer [FHD]](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dUzCu3LntU8/hqdefault.jpg)
Released
en
$30,000,000.00
$102,616,183.00
- #chicago, illinois
- #death penalty
- #child abuse
- #corruption
- #based on novel or book
- #court case
- #court
- #psychopath
- #bishop
- #manipulation
- #pornographic video
- #lawyer
- #capital punishment
- #whodunit
- #psychiatrist
- #mental illness
- #taunting
- #murder trial
- #altar boy
- #courtroom drama
- #legal drama
- #legal thriller
- #suspenseful
- #harsh
Reviews
Solid enough court room crime drama featuring good performances all around but especially Edward Norton in his breakout role. Loved the music and score and found myself entertained by the twisted murder. I think it could've been better but still a good film. **3.5/5**
Solid enough court room crime drama featuring good performances all around but especially Edward Norton in his breakout role. Loved the music and score and found myself entertained by the twisted murder. I think it could've been better but still a good film. **3.5/5**
Solid enough court room crime drama featuring good performances all around but especially Edward Norton in his breakout role. Loved the music and score and found myself entertained by the twisted murder. I think it could've been better but still a good film. **3.5/5**
Solid enough court room crime drama featuring good performances all around but especially Edward Norton in his breakout role. Loved the music and score and found myself entertained by the twisted murder. I think it could've been better but still a good film. **3.5/5**
Solid enough court room crime drama featuring good performances all around but especially Edward Norton in his breakout role. Loved the music and score and found myself entertained by the twisted murder. I think it could've been better but still a good film. **3.5/5**
Solid enough court room crime drama featuring good performances all around but especially Edward Norton in his breakout role. Loved the music and score and found myself entertained by the twisted murder. I think it could've been better but still a good film. **3.5/5**
Solid enough court room crime drama featuring good performances all around but especially Edward Norton in his breakout role. Loved the music and score and found myself entertained by the twisted murder. I think it could've been better but still a good film. **3.5/5**
Solid enough court room crime drama featuring good performances all around but especially Edward Norton in his breakout role. Loved the music and score and found myself entertained by the twisted murder. I think it could've been better but still a good film. **3.5/5**
Primal Fear is a masterclass in tension, turning a courtroom drama into a high-stakes thriller under Gregory Hoblit’s sharp direction. Then there’s Edward Norton, in his very first role, who makes such an impression it’s no surprise he went on to win over 15 awards including a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. Playing Aaron, a timid altar boy with hidden depths. Richard Gere holds his own
I was never the greatest fan of Richard Gere, but this is certainly one of his better performances. He is cocky lawyer "Vail", adept at ensuring his criminal fraternity clients evade justice. When the shocking news that an archbishop has been savagely murdered is announced, he decides on a bit of pro-bono work to defend the young "Aaron" (Ed Norton) against the prosecuting skills of his ex-girlfri