Critic's Grade: A+

A high-school version of "Fatal Attraction" but like most films today every twists and turn that happens in the film is already exposed in the theatrical trailor.

Ben Cronin (Jesse Bradford- Bring it On, Clockstoppers) is a promising high-school senior who has everything going for him. Great friends, loving mother, a wonderful girlfriend named Amy (Shirri Appelby- TV's Roswell) and has an excellent chance for a swimming scholarship to Stanford. His life seems almost perfect until he meets her! Madison Bell (Erika Christensen- Traffic) the alluring new girl in town. When she develops a crush on Ben they decide just to be friends but after a passionate evening and Ben later regreting it, Madison soon obsesses and turns his life upside down. Now Ben must find a way to stop his biggest fan.

Co-starring Dan Hedaya (The Crew, Clueless) and Clayne Crawford (A Walk to Remember).

Like many teen thrillers today "Swimfan" is a big disappoinment and really should sink. In tradition of the 1987 thriller "Fatal Attraction" Erika Christensen tries to follow in the steps of Glenn Close as a psychotic serial killer and just so happens to pull it off. Bradford however who tries to fill the shoes of Michael Douglas doesn't really have the "wit" to please the audience. Teen girls flocked to the theater to see Jesse with no shirt on, but really where disappointed in the acting. Many teen films today which depend on music for their twists and turns really should have fired the composer for this film.

I was very excited and ancious to see "Swimfan" but I have to admit that all the twists and turns in the film are exposed in the trailor. Following "The Glass House", and "Enough" the film leaves little to the imagination and if you've seen the 2 minute trailor or read reviews about the film everything is exposed. From Madison getting Ben kicked off the team to hurting his girlfriend, everything is exposed.

Directed by John Poleson the film is edited for a PG-13 rating, but if it would have been rated R could have been a lot better. I also must admit that I was shocked when the film debuted at #1 at the box-office and went to gross over $30 million.

Erika Christesen who raised eyebrows and caught the eye of Hollywood really did an excellent job as Madison and really brought the character to life. Her performance as grade A and followed the foot steps of other female serial kills Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction" and Rebecca Gayheart in "Urban Legend". Christensen delivers the best performance of the film and really does shine.

Getting mostely negative reviews the film's title should be called "Sinker" or something else because people really shouldn't be fans of the film. The movie which is targeted towards a teen audience has many predictable moments and scenes included in the film that aren't necessary to the plot, but are just there for a waste of time and money.

So if your looking to see a washed up teen thriller that has three good looking young actors then this is your movie but if your looking to see a good suspense film then look otherwise.

Out of a possible 4 stars, the film deserves 1 1/2 stars.

All Reviews by James Edwards
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