This movie has its faults but you can sit back and have fun watching it. It's slow at first. It's not suspenseful but it efficiently uses the short time of action to punch you with thrills. My adrenaline was rushing when Amy got stung by wasps. The direction is so precise that a certain number of seconds can leave you hanging off the sofa. Be careful if you're eating popcorn(or potato chips). You might end up drooling your food on the floor. Nick isn't that smart but I like him because he's nobody's fool. Aside from Cary Elwes and Alicia Silverstone, Kurtwood Smith(That 70's Show) also plays his part very well. The reversal of traditional sexual harassment and discrimination was also interesting.
104 Reviews
Damn You're Dumb Dude
view_and_review16 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"The Crush" is a headbanger of a movie. I mean that you will be banging your head against a hard surface at the stupidity of Nicholas Eliot (Cary Elwes).
Nick got caught up in a real bad situation because of Adrian Forrester (Alicia Silverstone). Adrian was a brilliant yet precocious and flirtatious 14-year-old girl. She had a crush on the new tenant of her parents' guest house, Nick. Nick allowed himself to be entrapped by Adrian which got him in all kinds of hot water.
This movie only works if you have an Adrian-- brilliant, flirtatious, obsessive--and a Nick: stupid, obtuse, naïve. A smarter more perceptive guy would never have been in the situations Nick found himself in. Or should I say that a smarter more perceptive man with more self-control would not have been in the situations Nick found himself in. Because he either had to be incredibly naïve or incredibly turned on to risk his job, his dignity, and his freedom to do what he did with a 14-year-old.
Should have done:
1. When she invited herself into his room and sat down to chat he should've said, "No, this is not appropriate."
2. When she was in his house while he was showering he should've said, "Get out!"
3. When she wanted him to give her a ride in his car to the lighthouse he should've said, "No!"
4. When she leaned in to kiss him he should've given her a stiff arm (but if you refer to #3 he would never had been in that position).
Should NOT have done:
1. Said to her "You know if you were ten years older" as an indication that he would like to hook up with her.
2. Gone in her room.
3. Hid in her room closet while she was undressing
These were all common sense dos and don'ts. It doesn't take Dr. Ruth, Dr. Phil, or a rocket scientist to tell you that you had crossed the line one too many times. Where was Nick from anyway? Or maybe Nick liked the attention and was genuinely attracted to Adrian. After all, she did look and behave as though she were a lot older.
Whatever the reason, Nick was a mouth-breathing idiot, and he deserved every bit of shame, pain, and suffering he got. Sometimes you have to pay for your stupidity, it's called social Darwinism. Not that I'm absolving princess promiscuity of anything because she definitely needed some serious therapy and her parents needed a serious wake-up call. In short, there was plenty of blame to go around
Nick got caught up in a real bad situation because of Adrian Forrester (Alicia Silverstone). Adrian was a brilliant yet precocious and flirtatious 14-year-old girl. She had a crush on the new tenant of her parents' guest house, Nick. Nick allowed himself to be entrapped by Adrian which got him in all kinds of hot water.
This movie only works if you have an Adrian-- brilliant, flirtatious, obsessive--and a Nick: stupid, obtuse, naïve. A smarter more perceptive guy would never have been in the situations Nick found himself in. Or should I say that a smarter more perceptive man with more self-control would not have been in the situations Nick found himself in. Because he either had to be incredibly naïve or incredibly turned on to risk his job, his dignity, and his freedom to do what he did with a 14-year-old.
Should have done:
1. When she invited herself into his room and sat down to chat he should've said, "No, this is not appropriate."
2. When she was in his house while he was showering he should've said, "Get out!"
3. When she wanted him to give her a ride in his car to the lighthouse he should've said, "No!"
4. When she leaned in to kiss him he should've given her a stiff arm (but if you refer to #3 he would never had been in that position).
Should NOT have done:
1. Said to her "You know if you were ten years older" as an indication that he would like to hook up with her.
2. Gone in her room.
3. Hid in her room closet while she was undressing
These were all common sense dos and don'ts. It doesn't take Dr. Ruth, Dr. Phil, or a rocket scientist to tell you that you had crossed the line one too many times. Where was Nick from anyway? Or maybe Nick liked the attention and was genuinely attracted to Adrian. After all, she did look and behave as though she were a lot older.
Whatever the reason, Nick was a mouth-breathing idiot, and he deserved every bit of shame, pain, and suffering he got. Sometimes you have to pay for your stupidity, it's called social Darwinism. Not that I'm absolving princess promiscuity of anything because she definitely needed some serious therapy and her parents needed a serious wake-up call. In short, there was plenty of blame to go around
Hilarious.
Hey_Sweden4 August 2013
This sexy thriller is very much entertaining for the *wrong* reasons. It's absurd, trashy, and utterly laughable. It does have a memorable antagonist in the form of young Alicia Silverstone, who plays Adrian Forrester, a Lolita-ish 14-year-old who develops a serious crush on Nick Eliot (Cary Elwes), the 20-something journalist renting a guest house from her parents (Kurtwood Smith, Gwynyth Walsh). Of course, nobody believes the older man when he protests that the crazed girl is the wrongdoer, and Nick finds his life continuously going awry as she creates one problem after another.
Written and directed by Alan Shapiro, this film doesn't exactly have the brightest characters. As a result, you never really root for Nick. Fortunately Silverstone, who'd previously made her name in Aerosmith rock videos, is a total hoot as this deranged gal who does some pretty nasty things to make her crush look bad. And things do indeed look very bad for Nick when she frames him for sexual assault. Elwes does what he can with his obtuse role, while Smith has some choice moments as the dad. Jennifer Rubin looks quite lovely as the photographer whom we know is more appropriate for Nick. And Amber Benson lends some solid support as Adrians' "friend" who tries to warn Nick about what she knows.
The movie *is* well paced and climaxes in one of the more priceless confrontation scenes that you're likely to see in this sort of thing. The ending is actually rather effective in its payoff of the Adrian character.
Silverstone may well have had a body double for the nude scenes, but it's still quite uncomfortable when remembering that the character being watched is a mere 14 years old.
All in all, "The Crush" is entertaining if exploitative trash, and should never ever be taken too seriously.
Seven out of 10.
Written and directed by Alan Shapiro, this film doesn't exactly have the brightest characters. As a result, you never really root for Nick. Fortunately Silverstone, who'd previously made her name in Aerosmith rock videos, is a total hoot as this deranged gal who does some pretty nasty things to make her crush look bad. And things do indeed look very bad for Nick when she frames him for sexual assault. Elwes does what he can with his obtuse role, while Smith has some choice moments as the dad. Jennifer Rubin looks quite lovely as the photographer whom we know is more appropriate for Nick. And Amber Benson lends some solid support as Adrians' "friend" who tries to warn Nick about what she knows.
The movie *is* well paced and climaxes in one of the more priceless confrontation scenes that you're likely to see in this sort of thing. The ending is actually rather effective in its payoff of the Adrian character.
Silverstone may well have had a body double for the nude scenes, but it's still quite uncomfortable when remembering that the character being watched is a mere 14 years old.
All in all, "The Crush" is entertaining if exploitative trash, and should never ever be taken too seriously.
Seven out of 10.
The original and still the best
Criz23 February 1999
Alicia's first big film is by far her best. She's gripping, believable and absolutely devilish in the role of little rich witch. Cary Elwes is completely at home in the role of victim as this vortex of terror swirls around him. It's impossible to watch this film without a chill running down your spine. Oh, if only the rest of us could inspire that kind of devotion from our admirers!
Sexy And Thrilling
Darkest_Rose27 December 2002
The Crush is about a 28 year old journalist named Nick Elliot. He rents a guesthouse and befriends the landlady's beautiful 14 year old daughter Adrian (Alicia Silverstone). Adrian seems lonely, so Nick starts spending a little time with her and he gets to know her better. Nick just sees Adrian as a friend, but Adrian starts obsessing over him and she wants to be more then just friends, much more. And if Adrian can't have Nick, then no one can.. I enjoyed this movie, all the actors did a fine job. I would give The Crush 8/10
Worth a watch.
nch-357709 April 2020
Good acting from Alicia silverstone at such a young age & Cary Elwes. Both showing off their good looks in an interesting 90s film.
I liked that they played on a woman being the seductress and villain as i feel like in this modern day and age women are never set as the villain.
If anything i'd have liked the film / ending to be more sinister, happy endings do tend to be forgettable.
Decent enough, but very predictable
Smells_Like_Cheese3 February 2004
Warning: Spoilers
The Crush was one of those movies that I absolutely admired as a kid, I thought this movie was so awesome and intense
well, I was a kid, give me a little credit. Re-watching this movie, I didn't realize that maybe it wasn't that great of a movie like I had remembered. It was a pretty unoriginal plot, didn't add much of it's own taste or style and was pretty silly over the top. But still I'm not going to diss the film entirely, this was the beginning of Alicia Silverstone's career and she pulls in a strong performance and was very chilling on screen with Cary Elwes. The story may not be original but Alicia and Cary made the story work.
Arriving in a new city, writer Nick Eliot secures a job at Pique magazine and lodgings in a guest house belonging to Cliff and Liv Forrester. Nick soon makes the acquaintance of the Forrester's 14-year-old daughter Adrian, a precocious gifted girl who develops an intense attraction to him. She secretly helps Nick by sneaking into his room and rewriting one of his Pique stories, which subsequently wins a rave from his editor/boss Michael. At a party thrown by the Forresters, Nick agrees to accompany the lonely girl on a nightly drive to a romantic spot, where she kisses him. This intensifies Adrian's crush on Nick, but he quickly wises up and attempts to put her off, having begun a budding romance with co-worker Amy. Adrian continues to boldly pursue him, even going so far as to undress in his view. Nick, however, continues to rebuff her advances, and Adrian's actions become destructive, she smashes a car he's restored and erases his computer discs with his work on it. Then, after Adrian spies on Amy in bed with Nick, you thought Adrian was crazy before, just wait to see what happens next.
Over all The Crush is a decent enough movie to watch, I wouldn't dismiss it completely, just if you catch it on TV, check it out. I thought that the scene where Cary is hiding in Alicia's closet to find out what she's really been up too and she knows that he is there, so instead of freaking out, she just undresses in front of him with a seductive look. Also where you see that she has beaten herself up just to get back at Cary's character was very chilling. The Crush has good moments, but it is flawed and in my opinion there are some scenes that could have had a little more, like the hornets that Alicia uses to attack Cary's girlfriend with, afterwards in the hospital, she really doesn't look that injured. But it's mindless entertainment, the new twist on Fatal Attraction, so if you dig these thrillers then The Crush is right up your alley.
5/10
Arriving in a new city, writer Nick Eliot secures a job at Pique magazine and lodgings in a guest house belonging to Cliff and Liv Forrester. Nick soon makes the acquaintance of the Forrester's 14-year-old daughter Adrian, a precocious gifted girl who develops an intense attraction to him. She secretly helps Nick by sneaking into his room and rewriting one of his Pique stories, which subsequently wins a rave from his editor/boss Michael. At a party thrown by the Forresters, Nick agrees to accompany the lonely girl on a nightly drive to a romantic spot, where she kisses him. This intensifies Adrian's crush on Nick, but he quickly wises up and attempts to put her off, having begun a budding romance with co-worker Amy. Adrian continues to boldly pursue him, even going so far as to undress in his view. Nick, however, continues to rebuff her advances, and Adrian's actions become destructive, she smashes a car he's restored and erases his computer discs with his work on it. Then, after Adrian spies on Amy in bed with Nick, you thought Adrian was crazy before, just wait to see what happens next.
Over all The Crush is a decent enough movie to watch, I wouldn't dismiss it completely, just if you catch it on TV, check it out. I thought that the scene where Cary is hiding in Alicia's closet to find out what she's really been up too and she knows that he is there, so instead of freaking out, she just undresses in front of him with a seductive look. Also where you see that she has beaten herself up just to get back at Cary's character was very chilling. The Crush has good moments, but it is flawed and in my opinion there are some scenes that could have had a little more, like the hornets that Alicia uses to attack Cary's girlfriend with, afterwards in the hospital, she really doesn't look that injured. But it's mindless entertainment, the new twist on Fatal Attraction, so if you dig these thrillers then The Crush is right up your alley.
5/10
I actually quite enjoyed this
derangedfangirl-114 October 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I really enjoyed this movie, especially the DVD version. I'm currently watching it for the second time, and, the nuances of Nick's character are very very interesting. Nick is not, contrary to how his actions could be construed, an absolute idiot... In many ways, particularly in the beginning, Nick seems to allow himself to be manipulated by Adrian, and on some level, he IS physically attracted to her. His character is not quite as obvious as I thought originally. Also, I (unlike some other viewers) didn't find Adrian's character to be completely unbelievable (perhaps because I'm a teenage girl, and I know how evil we can be. *snickers* There's not an age requirement to be a sociopath.) Secondly, Cary Elwes. Admittedly, this character as written, has little depth beyond that of the victim, and although he played the role very well ,(his delivery was what kept the character from being TOTALLY boring)the plot line was simply too obvious... There weren't any plot twists, which kept the film from being truly suspenseful beyond the whole "WTF??? You IDIOT!!! Can't you see she's EVIL?!? Alicia Silverstone's performance was pretty good... but not incredible. I feel that she could have done much more with the role and keeping her character a little more mysterious... As played, it doesn't make much sense that Nick wouldn't have known what was going on earlier.
Yeah. Honestly, this plot would have been much more interesting if Nick's character had been less predictable and more flawed, and Adrian had been less obvious. Nonetheless, this is quite an enjoyable flick if for no other reason than to analyze Nick's character and watch Cary Elwes' interesting delivery....
Just a small question; Does anyone else think that this is part of what made him decide to start playing the "evil" roles?
Yeah. Honestly, this plot would have been much more interesting if Nick's character had been less predictable and more flawed, and Adrian had been less obvious. Nonetheless, this is quite an enjoyable flick if for no other reason than to analyze Nick's character and watch Cary Elwes' interesting delivery....
Just a small question; Does anyone else think that this is part of what made him decide to start playing the "evil" roles?
A Lolita from hell
DennisLittrell28 March 2007
This was Alicia Silverstone's debut film after which she went on to star in some Aerosmith videos (what red-blooded American male can ever forget seeing her and Liv Tyler in "Crazy"?) after which she got the lead in Clueless (1995) and the rest is cinematic history.
In Clueless of course she was a sweet, adorable and slightly empty-headed Valley Girl. Here she is what might be called a Lolita from hell. Director Alan Shapiro even has her do a Sue Lyon (from Kubrick's 1964 Lolita) looking-over-her-sunglasses imitation to start the film. We soon learn that she is 14 "almost 15." (Silverstone was actually 15-years-old during the filming.) She is also rich and very talented, plays a classical piano, knows the scientific names of beetles and wasps, has skipped two grades, etc. The film itself might be dubbed a kind of "Fatal Attraction" for teeny-boppers.
Cary Elwes plays Nick Eliot who is looking for some digs as the film begins. He is a writer who just got a gig with an important, trendy magazine. After nearly bumping into Adrian (Silverstone) with his car, he looks askance and sees a sign advertising a cottage for rent in back of a large house with estate. Turns out this is where Adrian lives with her parents.
Somehow this reminds me of William Holden as the writer Joe Gillis pulling into that driveway on Sunset Boulevard (1950). He should have looked in the other direction! He should have run the other way! When Little Miss Crazy gets a crush, it is a hum-dinger. Maybe Nick should have just surrendered at the start and she would have been bored with him in a couple of months at most. But unfortunately, Nick Eliot is the epitome of the clueless male. He doesn't see the danger until it is too late. He is slightly compromised because he has kissed her, he has wandered about her house when her parents haven't been at home, and worse yet he doesn't have an inkling of the strength of her passion. To be honest I felt a little sorry for her having to deal with all that rejection! I think this would have played more realistically had Adrian's part been given to an ugly little shrew in the making. But then of course the film would not have found any kind of audience.
Well, this is a familiar premise and the kind I like to see worked out and resolved--well, I like to look at Alicia, anyway. Unfortunately Alan Shapiro, who also wrote the script, has the originality of a photocopy machine and just milks the premise while mindlessly escalating the bizarro. Suffice it to say that Little Miss Crazy doesn't take no for an answer and that Nick stupidly behaves in a way that just makes his situation worse. The ending does have the virtue of being nicely ironic while suggesting the hoped-for sequel.
(Note: Over 500 of my movie reviews are now available in my book "Cut to the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote!" Get it at Amazon!)
In Clueless of course she was a sweet, adorable and slightly empty-headed Valley Girl. Here she is what might be called a Lolita from hell. Director Alan Shapiro even has her do a Sue Lyon (from Kubrick's 1964 Lolita) looking-over-her-sunglasses imitation to start the film. We soon learn that she is 14 "almost 15." (Silverstone was actually 15-years-old during the filming.) She is also rich and very talented, plays a classical piano, knows the scientific names of beetles and wasps, has skipped two grades, etc. The film itself might be dubbed a kind of "Fatal Attraction" for teeny-boppers.
Cary Elwes plays Nick Eliot who is looking for some digs as the film begins. He is a writer who just got a gig with an important, trendy magazine. After nearly bumping into Adrian (Silverstone) with his car, he looks askance and sees a sign advertising a cottage for rent in back of a large house with estate. Turns out this is where Adrian lives with her parents.
Somehow this reminds me of William Holden as the writer Joe Gillis pulling into that driveway on Sunset Boulevard (1950). He should have looked in the other direction! He should have run the other way! When Little Miss Crazy gets a crush, it is a hum-dinger. Maybe Nick should have just surrendered at the start and she would have been bored with him in a couple of months at most. But unfortunately, Nick Eliot is the epitome of the clueless male. He doesn't see the danger until it is too late. He is slightly compromised because he has kissed her, he has wandered about her house when her parents haven't been at home, and worse yet he doesn't have an inkling of the strength of her passion. To be honest I felt a little sorry for her having to deal with all that rejection! I think this would have played more realistically had Adrian's part been given to an ugly little shrew in the making. But then of course the film would not have found any kind of audience.
Well, this is a familiar premise and the kind I like to see worked out and resolved--well, I like to look at Alicia, anyway. Unfortunately Alan Shapiro, who also wrote the script, has the originality of a photocopy machine and just milks the premise while mindlessly escalating the bizarro. Suffice it to say that Little Miss Crazy doesn't take no for an answer and that Nick stupidly behaves in a way that just makes his situation worse. The ending does have the virtue of being nicely ironic while suggesting the hoped-for sequel.
(Note: Over 500 of my movie reviews are now available in my book "Cut to the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote!" Get it at Amazon!)
Follows the Standard Format
Uriah4325 June 2015
"Nick Eliot" (Cary Elwes) has just moved to Seattle and needs a place to stay prior to working as an investigative journalist for a magazine there. He settles on a semi-furnished guest house belonging to a married couple by the name of Cliff Forrester (Kurtwood Smith) and his wife "Liv" (Gwynyth Walsh). Also there is their 14-year-old daughter "Adrian" (Alicia Silverstone) who immediately develops a crush on Nick. Since he is twice her age he figures that her attraction to him is nothing serious. Big mistake. Anyway, as far as this film is concerned it pretty much follows the standard format of any number of similar movies made both before and after. However, what distinguishes this one is the performance of Alicia Silverstone in her very first film debut. Likewise, both Jennifer Rubin (as "Amy") and the aforementioned Cary Elwes also performed quite well too. Again, the story is pretty formulaic but even so I thought it was still enjoyable. Accordingly, I rate this movie as slightly above average.
'Clueless' thriller
Coventry22 August 2005
Alan Shapiro's first film intended for cinema distribution was (and still is) immensely popular even though it's a bunch of unoriginal nonsense. "The Crush" all the more proves that you don't really need an intelligent idea or a well-plotted story as long as you've got an attractive actress to play the lead-role
Especially not when you manage to convince the audience that she's only 14 years old, but with the curves of an irresistible bikini-model. This is yet another fancy-looking thriller that combines the success of Stanley Kubrick's "Lolita" with the typical 'lethal-beauty' premise of "Fatal Attraction", and the result is a very routine and forgettable chiller with depthless characters and predictable situations. The only trump here is a gorgeous Alicia Silverstone in her debut as the obsessive stalker-girl Darian, who takes an unhealthy interest in the new tenant of her parents' studio. He an untalented writer politely turns down her approaches, but this only makes her more aggressive and determined. It doesn't take long before unpleasant things start to happen to the writer and his girlfriend but, of course, nobody suspects the cherubic Darian of being responsible. Cary Elwes' acting is downright awful and he makes Silverstone look like she's Oscar material, even though her performance is mediocre at best. The story moves very slow and doesn't dare to go controversial. Shapiro has the opportunity to insert the taboo-topic of sex with minors but he reluctantly avoids it, like he was already afraid of receiving negative remarks before his film is even released. All the talking about "Wuthering Heights" is really boring and the only few action sequences are very tame. The ending of this film is overly weird and misfit and involves a wild carrousel-ride in the attic
or something like that. The supportive roles are decent, with Kurtwood Smith ("Robocop") as Silverstone's unaware dad and Jennifer Rubin ("Bad Dreams") as the writer's girlfriend.
Alicia Silverstone shines in this teenage drama
http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/MoneyNow7 April 2000
It's very hard to understand why this movie is rated so low. I really enjoyed watching this film, which was Silverstone's first major role. She plays a crazy teenager who has a crush on a guy who lives in a guesthouse. In her selfish pursuit of the object of her affection, she makes the guy's life a living hell. She also makes the life miserable for anyone who tries to "steal" the guy from her. I think Silverstone fit her role perfectly. The plot was very good as well, and I was always wondering what Silversone's character (Alicia) would do next. This movie gets a solid 8 from me.
People who aren't Alicia fans may slag this. Fatal Attraction with a fourteen year old.
nkfilms11 July 2006
I bought this today in a previously enjoyed bin at Blockbuster. It set me back five bucks, so I figured since I like Alicia, this would be worthwhile for my guilty pleasure collection I've been building up over the years (Included in that collection is Excess Baggage, the film that made me get a huge crush on Alicia). Considering the money spent, this is great popcorn. When buying this I expected a pseudo update of Fatal Attraction, which in so many words, was. (spare me if I offend some for making that comparison) The Crush is a campy, but dark story. Alicia plays a very convincing 14 year old obsessive compulsive psychopathic teenager who is experiencing love. I really thought she did well, I know she has limitations - but it's a totally unbiased opinion. You'd never expect the girl from Clueless to say such lines like "Hey Nick, ever do a virgin?" - She portrays this very sexual presence, which works.
My problem with the film is I guess I've sort of marked myself as a fan of the Alicia who plays sweet characters, so it's kind of a knock back. Other than that - If not taken seriously it would make a good film to throw on if you like Alicia, if not, could still be a decent thriller movie to watch with a couple beers or if you just want to throw on a guilty pleasure. It's campy, it's got some corn, but you gotta love it sometimes.
My problem with the film is I guess I've sort of marked myself as a fan of the Alicia who plays sweet characters, so it's kind of a knock back. Other than that - If not taken seriously it would make a good film to throw on if you like Alicia, if not, could still be a decent thriller movie to watch with a couple beers or if you just want to throw on a guilty pleasure. It's campy, it's got some corn, but you gotta love it sometimes.
Entertaining in a bad way.
MovieAddict20164 September 2005
Warning: Spoilers
"The Crush" is about a fourteen-year-old girl (Alicia Silverstone) who falls in love with a journalist neighbor, played by Cary Elwes (of "Saw" infamy).
Elwes rejects her come-ons and after she tries to kiss him gives her a slight warning. However her advances are so strong that after a while he is left dazed, as she accuses him of sexual abuse and has the police arrest him.
Destined to clear his name for good, he embarks on a mission to expose her "crush" - and prove to everyone once and for all that she's a psychopath.
A lot of movies like this were made back in the '80s and '90s starting with "Fatal Attraction," although this is one of the more entertaining ones. As far as the acting goes, Silverstone is very sexy (she was older than 14 during filming so I can say this without coming across as a perv) - she's good at playing a devious flirt.
Elwes experiments with his off-again-on-again American accent and the good news is that it's more convincing here than in "Saw" (2004). Except for a few scenes, he pretty much sounds convincing. His acting is up to par as well.
It's not a great movie but it's entertaining, which is exactly what it should be.
Elwes rejects her come-ons and after she tries to kiss him gives her a slight warning. However her advances are so strong that after a while he is left dazed, as she accuses him of sexual abuse and has the police arrest him.
Destined to clear his name for good, he embarks on a mission to expose her "crush" - and prove to everyone once and for all that she's a psychopath.
A lot of movies like this were made back in the '80s and '90s starting with "Fatal Attraction," although this is one of the more entertaining ones. As far as the acting goes, Silverstone is very sexy (she was older than 14 during filming so I can say this without coming across as a perv) - she's good at playing a devious flirt.
Elwes experiments with his off-again-on-again American accent and the good news is that it's more convincing here than in "Saw" (2004). Except for a few scenes, he pretty much sounds convincing. His acting is up to par as well.
It's not a great movie but it's entertaining, which is exactly what it should be.
I Liked It!
ehlenahunter6 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
After all these years, who doesn't know the premise of this movie? It's about a mentally unstable 14-year-old who becomes obsessed with a grown man renting a room on her parents property. She even goes so far as to try to ruin his career, life, and freedom when he doesn't return her advances.
I saw this movie many years ago and I liked it. In fact, all these years later I can see where this movie set a precedence for other teenage "obsession" movies within this genre. But, oh yes, there is a BUT. After viewing it all these years later, I can safely say that Nick (Cary Elwes) did indeed lead Adrian on. As a grown man, he did some inappropriate things that put him in this position with Adrian. That's not to say that she still wouldn't have become mentally unhinged, but his relationship with her was far from amicable from the beginning. The constant leering at her in her bikini, following her on the balcony and flirting with her, taking her on moonlit drives at night, kissing her under the lighthouse, and sneaking into her parents house without making his presence known and peeping at her through her closet door. Granted, I know he was looking for some items he thought she stole, but still. None of that makes Nick come out of this clean, in my opinion.
Did he deserve what he got? I think so! All besides the rape allegations. I saw that coming a mile away, and he should have too, which is why he should have known that all personal contact with a female minor should have been kept to a minimum.
All in all, I did like this movie, and I did like Alicia Silverstone in it. It's just too bad she didn't get a chance to take her career further. What ever happened to her anyway?
I saw this movie many years ago and I liked it. In fact, all these years later I can see where this movie set a precedence for other teenage "obsession" movies within this genre. But, oh yes, there is a BUT. After viewing it all these years later, I can safely say that Nick (Cary Elwes) did indeed lead Adrian on. As a grown man, he did some inappropriate things that put him in this position with Adrian. That's not to say that she still wouldn't have become mentally unhinged, but his relationship with her was far from amicable from the beginning. The constant leering at her in her bikini, following her on the balcony and flirting with her, taking her on moonlit drives at night, kissing her under the lighthouse, and sneaking into her parents house without making his presence known and peeping at her through her closet door. Granted, I know he was looking for some items he thought she stole, but still. None of that makes Nick come out of this clean, in my opinion.
Did he deserve what he got? I think so! All besides the rape allegations. I saw that coming a mile away, and he should have too, which is why he should have known that all personal contact with a female minor should have been kept to a minimum.
All in all, I did like this movie, and I did like Alicia Silverstone in it. It's just too bad she didn't get a chance to take her career further. What ever happened to her anyway?
Alicia Silverstone's first movie, plays a psycho 14-yr-old.
TxMike10 July 2001
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILERS:: Although she was 16 when it was filmed, Alicia Silverstone plays a well-developed 14-yr-old who falls in love with the 28-yr-old man who is renting her parents' guest house. She is ruthless and goes to great lengths to "damage" anyone who she thinks of intruding on her turf. The bees in the darkroom. Causing her friend to fall off the horse. In a strange scene near the end, she has tied up and taped her friend to the merry-go-round ride her dad built in the attic. She ends up in an institution, after some time is apparently "well", but the look in her eye as the movie closes tells us different, very possibly stolen from the ending of Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange."
Not a particularly good film, but Silverstone performs like an old pro.
Not a particularly good film, but Silverstone performs like an old pro.
A decent film about obsession featuring a young gorgeous Alicia Silverstone.
nathanburke-8878019 June 2018
The film that probably got Alicia Silverstone noticed by Hollywood The Crush is a new take on the young teenage being obsessed with an older man. Cary Elwes is alright though he doesn't have much to do but Silverstone is pretty good- It is strange to see her absent lately as she clearly has that star factor going for her. Go see it for her.
Good thriller but not original AT ALL
vocklabruck23 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
The idea was good, the problem is that this idea was taken from other movies. This movie was a mix between Fatal Attraction (1987) and Poison Ivy (1992).
I liked the acting very much. I don't like Alicia Silverstone but she was outstanding, especially if you have in count this was her first movie. Maybe a little over the top at times.
The plot had some problems but I will not list all that here. I will just mention one thing: if the guy was so uncomfortable being stalked by that girl why didn't he leave? This guy was goddamn stupid!
It is a good thriller and it gives you the chills a couple times. Probably I have a negative feeling because the day before I watched Poison Ivy with a quite similar story (a developed evil teenager getting a crush on an older man). I don't think Poison Ivy was too original anyway.
I liked the acting very much. I don't like Alicia Silverstone but she was outstanding, especially if you have in count this was her first movie. Maybe a little over the top at times.
The plot had some problems but I will not list all that here. I will just mention one thing: if the guy was so uncomfortable being stalked by that girl why didn't he leave? This guy was goddamn stupid!
It is a good thriller and it gives you the chills a couple times. Probably I have a negative feeling because the day before I watched Poison Ivy with a quite similar story (a developed evil teenager getting a crush on an older man). I don't think Poison Ivy was too original anyway.
It fills a void...
MarieGabrielle1 May 2007
In the early 90's there was a marked scarcity of movie material for drama suspense. It seems the industry was experimenting. This was after "Fatal Attraction", "Silence of the Lambs" was a blockbuster, so apparently producers were trying similar genres. Now we have "Swimfan" and a new supply of similar themes for the newer viewers.
Alicia Silverstone is believable, she attempts to add some character to the film. Elwes, while acceptable, is scarcely superior, as the befuddled and harassed tenant. Amy (Silverstone) lives in a Tudor mansion, keys Nicks car, gets him to take her on a drive, etc. She is 14 he is 28. Hardly an earth-shattering premise for two hours of film to be created.
The carousel project her father has in the attic is a metaphor. We have seen it before. Her father and mother seem to be cardboard figures, representative of some establishment; this is never clearly manifested in the film. There are worse movies about obsession and psychosis. An old Hollywood standby. 7/10.
Alicia Silverstone is believable, she attempts to add some character to the film. Elwes, while acceptable, is scarcely superior, as the befuddled and harassed tenant. Amy (Silverstone) lives in a Tudor mansion, keys Nicks car, gets him to take her on a drive, etc. She is 14 he is 28. Hardly an earth-shattering premise for two hours of film to be created.
The carousel project her father has in the attic is a metaphor. We have seen it before. Her father and mother seem to be cardboard figures, representative of some establishment; this is never clearly manifested in the film. There are worse movies about obsession and psychosis. An old Hollywood standby. 7/10.
Hilarious
Ogdred_Weary20 September 2003
I love bad movies on tv. Currently playing on my TV is "The Crush" starring Cary Elwes and Alicia Silverstone. She's a psychotic 14 year old stalker, he's the attractive guy made to look dopey with big dumb glasses and bad hair who is renting the summer house behind her parent's place. Silverstone plays Darian "Adrian," who is one of those villains who manages to know and see everything and be everywhere at exactly the right time. For example, Nick's (Elwes) girlfriend walks in the woods to find sticks and Adrian is there. I wonder how long she had been there, hoping to find her and frighten her with her terrifying knowledge of wasps?
And Nick is the kind of "hero" who does what the plot demands so that Adrian can trap him before the end. At one point, I gave up on him entirely as a hopeless dork who deserved what Adrian put him through. He actually goes into her home when it is empty to look for a photo he thinks she has taken. He then walks into her bedroom -- will it be empty for long? Is he the dumbest man to walk the earth? Maybe. After all, he has new locks installed, determines to move out, then has sex with his girlfriend in the summer house where he KNOWS Adrian can get to him, and leaves the door unlocked. Yeah. I can't help watching these wretched movies. Loved it.
Beware the wasps...they attack in groups....
And Nick is the kind of "hero" who does what the plot demands so that Adrian can trap him before the end. At one point, I gave up on him entirely as a hopeless dork who deserved what Adrian put him through. He actually goes into her home when it is empty to look for a photo he thinks she has taken. He then walks into her bedroom -- will it be empty for long? Is he the dumbest man to walk the earth? Maybe. After all, he has new locks installed, determines to move out, then has sex with his girlfriend in the summer house where he KNOWS Adrian can get to him, and leaves the door unlocked. Yeah. I can't help watching these wretched movies. Loved it.
Beware the wasps...they attack in groups....
Average... very average
TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews10 October 2004
Watching this film again, after several years, after having seen many far better films since the first time I saw it, I can't help but compare it to looking at an old class photo, from a school you only spent one year at, and didn't like too much; you recognize a lot of the faces, but you can't bring yourself to look too long at it, and soon you start paying attention to something else. Of course, you knew from the beginning that it would probably end up like that, and before you know it, you've pushed the memory almost entirely out of your head, once again. Yes, there is a good amount of talents involved in this film, and I quickly recognized Cary Elwes, who I've also seen in Liar Liar, Bram Stoker's Dracula and Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Kurtwood Smith, who I only know from the original RoboCop, where he played Clarence Boddicker. Of course I recognized Alicia Silverstone as well, but I already knew she was in the film, as I had seen her in one film before seeing The Crush the first time(can't remember which, though). The plot is pretty much a rehash of Lolita, with the tables turned to provide mainstream cliché thriller, in the vein of films like The Hand That Rocks The Cradle. The pacing is daft. The acting is decent, but one would expect better from Elwes and Silverstone(then again, it was her first film... still, we don't see any of the talent that she proved she had in later films). I suspect it's the directors fault. Misdirection, or simply bad direction, can ruin a lot. The characters are the usual clichés and stereotypes of the thriller-genre. The film lacks any real thrills, and relies entirely on the typical formula of this type of thrillers(the psycho-close-to-the-lead(s)-tries-to-kill-him/her/them). The film has no surprises and is thoroughly predictable. All in all, the film has no real purpose, apart from seeing Cary Elwes and Kurtwood Smith in different roles(from what I've seen them in, at least). I recommend it purely to big fans of any of the three actors and very big fans of thrillers. Everyone else should probably avoid it. 6/10
Alicia Was Hot Stuff In '93
ccthemovieman-119 February 2008
Word was that "you have to see this Alicia Silverstone; she's really hot." That was back in 1993, so I checked out the movie. This was Alicia's film debut and she got a lot of hype for this movie.
I discovered, yeah, Silverstone has a pretty face, but that's about it. The movie was nothing special; not something you haven't seen before. Cary Elwes, not Silverstone, ruins the picture. Not literally him; the character he plays: "Nick." What a dork!
Nick is an incredibly stupid guy who befriends the 14-year-old "Adrienne" (Silverstone), who is his neighbor. The girl, who then expects more from the guy and doesn't get it, vents her wrath on him. Nick is so annoying I didn't care what the stupid neighbor did to him. Both of the lead characters deserved each other.
Whatever happened to Silverstone? I guess she never really made it to stardom. The last I remember her was playing "Batgirl" with George Clooney and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
I discovered, yeah, Silverstone has a pretty face, but that's about it. The movie was nothing special; not something you haven't seen before. Cary Elwes, not Silverstone, ruins the picture. Not literally him; the character he plays: "Nick." What a dork!
Nick is an incredibly stupid guy who befriends the 14-year-old "Adrienne" (Silverstone), who is his neighbor. The girl, who then expects more from the guy and doesn't get it, vents her wrath on him. Nick is so annoying I didn't care what the stupid neighbor did to him. Both of the lead characters deserved each other.
Whatever happened to Silverstone? I guess she never really made it to stardom. The last I remember her was playing "Batgirl" with George Clooney and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
A Sexy Villain Sells this Movie
BettieTeese12 March 2005
In her film debut,the attractive Alicia Silverstone plays Darian Forrester,a mentally disturbed 14 year old girl who develops an unhealthy obsession with her neighbour,Nick Eliot (Cary Elwes)a baby faced blonde hair,blue eyed journalist who has no sexual interest in her.Silverstone shines in her role as the villain,making life hell for Nick,who wants nothing more than a friendship with the girl next door.Darian's desperate attempts to seduce the older man are unsuccessful,driving her deeper into her obsession and making her more psychotic.Silverstone's acting is superb,but her facial expressions are what is so convincing about her performance.Alicia superbly transforms herself from sweet and innocent into scary and psychotic giving new meaning to the phrase,'When she was good she was very very good,and when she was bad she was horrid'. The film has you on the edge of your seat as the plot unravels,and truths are discovered about sweet little Darian Forrester who is crazier than anyone thought.Her anger at Nick for leading her on goes to the extreme until she comes up with a plan she hopes will destroy his reputation.Nick is oblivious to Darian's feelings for him and believes its nothing more than a silly school girl crush that will pass until he discovers just how dangerous Darian really is.
So bad!
kat8019868029 April 2004
I can't believe what some people have written about this awful,awful film. I mean come on how stupid and dopey was Nick? how stupid and unfleashed out was the plot?. I was overall left disgusted by this film.I hope it's one of those films that you have to watch a couple of times before you get into it but i doubt it as i have now completed my third viewing.Alicias acting was pretty good for he age i think she was about sixteen or seventeen. I rated this 3 out of 10 on the imbd ratings. I wouldn't recommend it to enyone but from reading others reviews it seems that some people might find it ok. You be the judge.
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