If you are looking into this movie for a future watch, a thought is probably crossing your mind, probably the same thought that was in my mind: a late 90's thriller with C. Thomas Howell can't be too good. I like Howell as an actor, but the nineties haven't been very kind to him. He had a few good ones: `That Night,' `Kid,' and `Payback.' But most of his other nineties films have been total duds. Who would actually admit they sat through the dreadful `Far Out Man' or `Treacherous?' Besides me, of course. I didn't think `Fatal Affair' was going to be very good at all when I noticed Lifetime was going to air it. I almost skipped it until I saw that Jay Underwood was in it, too. I gave it a try and was very pleased with what I saw.
Here is a brief plot outline, but nothing that will be a spoiler. Howell plays a wealthy and successful executive with a happy family life. He and his wife have a little girl, are remodeling their house, and share everything. Well, Howell doesn't share the fact that he has recently had an affair with a married woman. One day, Howell is selected for jury duty in a murder case where a man is accused of killing his wife. During the proceedings, Howell realizes that the victim is actually the woman he had an affair with. Lucky for him, the trial is thrown out for a lack of evidence, but not-so-lucky for him is that the defendant, Jay Underwood, knows that Howell had an affair with his wife. Underwood begins to stalk Howell and his family, spouting out claims of innocence and how Howell was responsible for his wife's death.
All this may not sound like much, but there is no need to say more on the plot. Underwood is quite disturbing in his role, and he's very believable. It is made more interesting in that you find yourself not knowing whether to believe his claims or not. The tension builds whenever he is on screen. Howell is good, too, and the struggle he is facing is surprisingly deep, especially in relation to his own wife, played well by Maxim Roy. I wasn't entirely pleased with the movie's finish, but it was all right and the movie as a whole was very good. This is good proof that the name C. Thomas Howell headlining a movie doesn't mean it will be bad. Zantara's score: 8 out of 10.
Here is a brief plot outline, but nothing that will be a spoiler. Howell plays a wealthy and successful executive with a happy family life. He and his wife have a little girl, are remodeling their house, and share everything. Well, Howell doesn't share the fact that he has recently had an affair with a married woman. One day, Howell is selected for jury duty in a murder case where a man is accused of killing his wife. During the proceedings, Howell realizes that the victim is actually the woman he had an affair with. Lucky for him, the trial is thrown out for a lack of evidence, but not-so-lucky for him is that the defendant, Jay Underwood, knows that Howell had an affair with his wife. Underwood begins to stalk Howell and his family, spouting out claims of innocence and how Howell was responsible for his wife's death.
All this may not sound like much, but there is no need to say more on the plot. Underwood is quite disturbing in his role, and he's very believable. It is made more interesting in that you find yourself not knowing whether to believe his claims or not. The tension builds whenever he is on screen. Howell is good, too, and the struggle he is facing is surprisingly deep, especially in relation to his own wife, played well by Maxim Roy. I wasn't entirely pleased with the movie's finish, but it was all right and the movie as a whole was very good. This is good proof that the name C. Thomas Howell headlining a movie doesn't mean it will be bad. Zantara's score: 8 out of 10.