Sooner or later, a man who wears two faces forgets which one is real.|Mar. 06, 1996|United States|129 Min.|R
Genre: Crime;Drama;Mystery;Thriller
Description: Primal Fear, released in 1996, is a gripping legal thriller. The story follows Martin Vail, a high-profile defense attorney in Chicago known for securing acquittals for his clients through legal technicalities. When Aaron Stampler, a 19-year-old stuttering altar boy from Kentucky, is accused of brutally murdering Archbishop Rushman, Vail eagerly takes on the case pro bono. Convinced of Stampler’s innocence, Vail clashes with his former lover, prosecutor Janet Venable, during the trial.
As the case unfolds, Vail uncovers a web of corruption involving powerful civic leaders, including state attorney John Shaughnessy, who suffered financial losses due to the Archbishop’s decisions. Vail discovers a videotape revealing Stampler’s abuse by Rushman, creating a moral dilemma: presenting the evidence would evoke jury sympathy but also establish a motive for the murder.
A shocking twist occurs when Stampler exhibits a sudden personality shift, revealing an aggressive alter ego named “Roy,” who confesses to the crime. Neuropsychologist Molly Arrington diagnoses Stampler with dissociative identity disorder, stemming from years of abuse. Despite this, Vail cannot pursue an insanity defense mid-trial, leaving him in a complex and challenging position.
Cast director: Gregory Hoblit
Cast actor: Richard Gere, Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton, Terry O’Quinn, Andre Braugher, Steven Bauer, Joe Spano
Original name: Primal Fear