Asunder (1999) Poster

(1999)

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4/10
starts off OK, but goes steadily downhill
movieman_kev21 March 2006
After a professional photographer, Chance, sees his wife die in a freak ferris wheel accident, he becomes a tad morbid and overly defensive. So holding his former best friend wrongly responsible, he puts a bizarre plan of revenge into motion. Coming off as a black and reversed version of "Fatal Attraction", I really wanted to like this film and the plot summery that Comcast gave in on Starz on Demand sounded intriguing so I gave it a chance, however I'm sad to say that the film starts off with some promise, but degenerates into mediocrity as the film wears on. None of the major characters came off to me as being particularly believable, and Blair Underwood has done so MUCH better in the past and sadly he can't save this by-the-books psychological drama.

My Grade: D+
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4/10
Arghh!
trasea19 November 2005
This was one of the worst movies I've ever seen! I think it played down to the audience. When, at the beginning, Michael Beach's character makes the comment that Chance is crazy, it just went straight down hill from there. I love Blair Underwood----no question, but I think someone must have had something on him to get him to play this part. The ONLY saving grace in this movie was Debbie Morgan. We need to see more of her. She rises above the material, and she is one of my favorite actors, but even with a life preserver and the National Guard she couldn't rescue this fiasco. I rented this movie and I wanted my money back. I know lots of people put lots of effort into it, but they'd have done better studying the masters before trying to, off the top of their heads, do a Psychological Thriller. Stanley Donen, Peter Godfrey, Stanley Kubrik, Phillip Noyce, Renny Harlin, and of course Alfred Hitchcock would have been great places for the director to start his study. I looked at this movie twice to make sure I had the right impression. That's time I'll never get back.
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5/10
I have to say....
luvtzone4 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this movie for the first time with my boyfriend the other night and couldn't help wondering WHY OH WHY DID BLAIR UNDERWOOD AGREE TO DO THIS???? There were so many scenes where my jaw just dropped and the "FORE" swing shot was just too much. I love that is is an all-black cast with prominent actors. Didn't know Tim Reid had directed it. What I didn't like was how completely crazy they made Chance and for me, it was just too much. Michael Beach's character was a bit irritating in the beginning, but as the movie progressed, he steadily became the most sane one of the whole film. Debbie Morgan? Great actress. (absolutely LOVE her in Eve's Bayou) Just can't understand why she wouldn't tell her husband the truth straight up. That would have solved everything. Then again, we wouldn't have a movie, would we? I also want to know WHY Didn't THEY SHOW THE BABY????? Will there be a sequel?????
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Good acting and quite intense!
rbritton17 February 2003
I had been waiting to see this movie for two years because made it to some theaters and university auditoriums (with Tim Reid hosting). I rushed to Blockbuster to rent it because I saw it was coming out on Feb 11th. It was worth the wait! Blair Underwood, Michael Beach, and Debbi Morgan were outstanding! It was kind of like a black "Fatal Attraction!" It was so nice to see a black film portraying "well-to-do couples" and yet they were still keeping it real. Tim Reid's direction was superb in how he showed that something so innocent as four couples (who are all best friends)going to the fair can turn into a fatal and horrifying experience and create a "deadly domino" effect that can threaten and ruin relationships as well as lives. I thought the storyline was great. I also liked how Blair Underwood's character (Chance) evolved from docile to demented and how Michael Beach(Michael) explained that Chance once had a "dark-side" and once he met and married Roberta, it calmed him down. All the main characters had their crosses they had to bear. I also loved the town-setting, scenery, music and cinematography. Kudos to Tim Reid, Blair Underwood, and Daphne Maxwell-Reid for taking author Eric Lee Bowers and putting it on screen.
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2/10
A Movie that has no Soul
LeonLouisRicci14 December 2012
Well, the movie looks good, too good. What was on screen was just a modern upper-middle class black experience, packaged as a psycho-thriller and it all seems like playacting. Almost every character and setting, for that matter, looks so handsome and beautiful that it was shot as not to portray anyone or anything with a minimum of real life flaws or imposing reality. The Director tries way too hard to portray Blacks as successful "American Dream" types that it seems that they lose their soul along with this movie on their way to the top.

It is so glossy and has that TV patina of plastic, passing as a suspenseful neo-noir movie and it is simply all packaged so slick that it feels like a trip to a shopping mall. These people are so beautiful and so successful and so bland (even the villain) that everyone seems to move and talk in slow motion and deliver some really uninspired, vapid dialog along with unrealistic stalking and predatory behavior.

The movie has such a gloss to it one cannot ever get pass the shine and believe anything that is going on here. These people seem to wear their success as a designer distraction and underneath bares a barely beating heart. It is all so pretty and pretty awful.
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5/10
Wow...what a diverse group of reviews...as for me...hated it (well, almost)
vincentlynch-moonoi7 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
To begin with, whoever was responsible for the hair styles in this film should receive the death penalty. Admittedly, I'm no fan of corn rows, but they're okay. However, with Debbi Morgan and several of the other female actresses, all I could keep thinking of was Medusa! And they certainly must have run out of Afrosheen on the men. Yuck. It was downright distracting. And no, I'm not just an old white guy who doesn't like Blacks. I usually enjoy films with mostly Black casts. Just not this one. Among my favorite actors: Morris Chestnut and the exquisitely beautiful Gabrielle Union.

And for that matter, Michael Beach, who at least in terms of acting ability ought to have had the lead credit in this film. He's a reliable, steady actor who never disappoints...and is excellent here...when he can keep his head above water with a less than competent script.

I was not impressed with the nominal lead actor here -- Blair Underwood. I used to like him back in his "LA Law" days. But here it seemed like he had to think about acting, which results in one looking like they are thinking about how to act. Gee, I think I should look intense here. Gee, I think I should look evil here. I found it to be rather shallow acting. He gave me the creeps...and he seemed to come to the creepiness all too easily. Hmmmmmmmm.

While I didn't like her hair, Debbi Morgan's acting was fine. I thought the script built around her scenes were a bit shallow, as if her character didn't have an ounce of backbone. But she did okay with what was given to her.

In terms of the plot, the premise is pretty good. Two Black couples are best of friends, and at a carnival a problem with the Ferris wheel causes one woman (Underwood's wife) to fall off the ride to her death. He then turns on the other couple, attempting to destroy their marriage in revenge. Good, basic plot; nothing too new, but always good for some suspense. And the ending. Let's see, they have a Christmas party, one woman is left behind drunk, so hubby takes her home...even after the psycho stalker has shown up at their party just a little while before. Geeeez! Nothing could happen there. Right? The ending is unusually violent, but well done.

Perhaps Tim Reid isn't up to directing a feature film. It all seems very contrived.
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4/10
Meh
kenyaekofi10 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It was different seeing Blair Underwood acting like a psychopath. The acting was horrible. The wardrobe was horrible. Debbi Morgan look really old and ugly and most of her shots. The choreography was horrible. We didn't get to see the baby. That kind of makes it irrelevant now. The police didn't even come to the situation there was a person hit in the face with a golf club and another person that ended up dead from Chance. This movie had its moments.
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7/10
Stay true to your marriage and if there is a problem discuss it with your mate.
vbrown81 April 2006
I saw the movie called Asunder and the title speaks for itself. In the world where there is so much deceit going on especially in marriages, this is evidence of how selfishness can become dangerous. Blair Underwood was magnificent in the movie as the crazy person who took things too far. When you have an affair you don't know how it will turn out but studies show it is never without someone innocent getting hurt. You also don't know how crazy and out of touch some people are and they are still are managing parts of their lives. This movie was yet another way of reminding me why I don't engage myself with people unless I really have checked them out. Blair really was out of touch with reality even after he was told by the husband and the wife to stay out of their lives. He only heard what he wanted to hear. When he killed the lady who came home with him that was really brutal. I was convinced by his character that he was a very sick man.
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10/10
Summary of this film
davidwd19897 December 2005
I watched this film late at night at 4.00am. I found it so good that i recorded it. Asunder is a brilliant film with a lot of cutting edge scenes which you do not expect. This kind of film gives you a real look on life and how you may consider the real world to be. Blair Underwood's character Chance was brilliant. He became obsessed after rejection which drove him to madness. The story is full of a different set of emotions and feelings. It showed that some people cannot be all they cut out to be. The music was brilliant on this film. Definitely ten out of ten.
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9/10
A taut thriller!
jennyflex827 July 2000
Yikes!! 'Asunder' packs a serious punch --- I found myself clutching my chest, in great fear for the characters pursued by Chance (Blair Underwood, who proved long ago, in 'Just Cause', how scary he can be!), for the bulk of the film. Adrian Lyne's 'Fatal Attraction' no longer holds the trophy for this scorned-lover-comes-back-for-revenge-genre. See it --- you won't be disappointed.
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10/10
I Loved this film
seehill16 February 2003
Living in a small town and not a real movie goer. I rather depend on purchasing my dvd selections by browsing IMDb. I saw this film here and being a real fan of Tim Reid decided to order it. I really loved this film. the casting, in my opinion, was just perfect. It really kept me on the edge wondering what would happen. Would love to see many more films by Mr. Reid. I guess I'll just have to start movie going to make certain that the funding is available for more of his work. I highly recommend this film.
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9/10
Anti-Wedding Film of the Year!
CJXzoic197010 February 2003
This movie totally made me weary of the best friend with wife turning into insane psychopath played brilliantly by an eerie Blair Underwood!

Great execution, excellent acting, excellent directing. Hope to see more films of this genre come from this studio! Surprised more people haven't voted on this film but that should change with the advent of it coming to video. Still fresh even from 1998 to 2002! Tell a friend!
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10/10
Excellent Movie!
matielaine27 March 2007
My daughter bought the DVD for this film on a whim. She noticed that the stars were very good actors,and the synopsis of the film sounded very intriguing. She picked a winner! I'm glad that this movie wasn't your typical black film,that was full of stereotypes and nonsense. This movie should have gotten exposure in the theaters. It had all the earmarks of a successful film: great actors,plot twists,thrills,lies,deception,and sex. It's sad that movie distributors think the black audience is only interested in mindless comedies. This movie, like "Motives" seems like it would have enough crossover appeal to have been as successful as "Eve's Bayou". This movie would be a welcome addition to anyone's DVD collection.
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8/10
An Intense Sexy Thriller
sallenharris30 March 2005
I've been waiting for an African American film in the same vein as Clint Eastwood's "Play Misty for Me." I'm just sorry it took so long to find out about this one. To see Blair Underwood's character slip into madness and sill maintain his sexy edge was quite thrilling. The ladies will understand what I mean. In real life, such a character would be scary and repulsive. Yet this movie allows us to indulge in an alluring fantasy where we experience, from a safe distance, the nuances a fine Black man with a "dark side." Tim Reid is to be commended on his directing which created a sense of intense anticipation as the action increased and the movie reached its apex. Finally, the sound track was excellent. It should be produced for sell, if it has not already been done. I highly recommend this movie. It is both a romance and a thriller. Men and woman should find it enjoyable.
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10/10
Love these Leading Actors and Director
jmlady-892933 January 2024
Love this cast! Debbie Allen and Blair Underwood! Even more thrilled seeing it's Tim Reid's work. I'll have to find other classics of his.

Though I despise the narrative and all too common situation of the marriage and relationships, this is a really great movie. The setting and staging of the movie is was good. I'm looking to see where the location was based, and that house if it's still standing, I realize how dated the film is. How refreshing to have written in the good husband with Michael Beach.

I also loved the movie Juanita with Alfred Woodard fantasizing of Blair Underwood! That was also a great work!
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10/10
Perfect action packed thriller!!
mbcea16 May 2002
I have been waiting patiently for the movie to arrive in my area. I read the book in one day. Couldn't put it down. For all you thrill seekers out there, this one is a MUST read. Everything about this work (plot, characters, etc.) is perfect. My kind of action!
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A satisfying thriller
kaylahand2 November 2000
A formula movie, this is nonetheless an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Blair Underwood's transformation from a dark yet likeable character to a horrifyingly creepy antagonist makes this film a real nail-biter. A twist on the Fatal Attraction theme, Asunder is much more satisfying with its moral dilemmas not quite solved at the end.
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'Ooooh! A Nibbler!"...
azathothpwiggins2 October 2021
Chance Williams (Blair Underwood) loses his wife and child in an accident. At first, he appears to be grieving normally enough, staying with his friends Michael and Lauren (Michael Beach and Debbi Morgan) for a few days for support.

Chance soon begins to act a bit odd, taking on a completely different personality. His friends try to help but find themselves drawn into the vortex of Chance's disintegrating sanity.

ASUNDER is a drama for the most part, with each character revealing personal secrets that could ruin their lives. It's during the final act when the movie shifts into full horror-thriller mode.

Definitely worth watching. Especially the last 20 minutes...
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