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The Lesser Evil (1998) More at IMDbPro »

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The Lesser Evil (1998) -- When four young boys decide to go over-board with dealing with two bullies, they believe they can get away with their crime...

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Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   441 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Jeremy Levine (writer)
Stephan Schultze (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Lesser Evil on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
28 August 1998 (Italy) more
Genre:
Plot:
When four young boys decide to go over-board with dealing with two bullies, they believe they can get away with their crime... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
NewsDesk:
Review – Gossip Girl 3.02 "The Freshman"
 (From TVovermind.com. 23 September 2009, 11:39 AM, PDT)

User Reviews:
"The Lesser Evil" is a taut, unforgettable cinema suspense classic. more (21 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Colm Feore ... Derek Eastman

Tony Goldwyn ... Frank O'Brian

Arliss Howard ... Ivan Williams

David Paymer ... George

Steven Petrarca ... Young Frank

Jonathan Scarfe ... Young Derek

Adam Scott ... Young George

Marc Worden ... Young Ivan

Jack Kehler ... Detective Hardaway
Richard Riehle ... Detective Smitts

Mason Adams ... Derek's Father
Anne Haney ... Derek's Mother
Matt Bohling ... Dying Man
Chris Blackwelder ... Scully
Matthew Francis ... Jock #2
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for violence and pervasive language.
Runtime:
96 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Goofs:
Factual errors: It is said you can't get in the trunk without the key. The Cadillac has an interior trunk release. more
Movie Connections:
References Piranha (1978) more

FAQ

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7 out of 9 people found the following review useful.
"The Lesser Evil" is a taut, unforgettable cinema suspense classic., 29 March 2000
10/10
Author: Louis Rugani (x779@webtv.net) from United States

And its reputation to that end will grow as word-of-mouth continues to spread about this utterly gripping film, a sordid tale of four carefree young friends whose lives forever are changed within one instant.

From the start, we are drawn into an inexorable spiral of almost unrelieved tension. An embarrassing encounter wounds the boys' pride, leading first to rash, childish posturing, immature decisions, and then to a mistaken identity in an abandoned quarry. The story becomes a steamroller in overdrive, as suspicions mount and personal loyalties melt away, overwhelmed by uncomprehending panic, sheer desperation, and the drive towards individual survival.

No other film I've seen has ever led me to as much ongoing "what would I do?" self-introspection. The once-secure bonding among the four young men collapses, replaced by terror and the fear of discovery. This descent into the "eat-or-be-eaten" dark side is part of the relentless march away from civility that captivates us throughout.

You'll not forget this film, its powerful imageries, and its fine cast's potent portrayals of psychological interplay. (Watch for legendary radio actor Mason Adams as the father of the deceased.) Highly recommended to adults.

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