Primal Fear

An arrogant, high-powered attorney takes on the case of a poor altar boy found running away from the scene of the grisly murder of the bishop who has taken him in. The case gets a lot more complex when the accused reveals that there may or may not have been a third person in the room.

Genre : CrimeDramaMysteryThriller

Runtime : 129 mins

Release Date : 1996-03-06

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Reviews (2)

I was never the greatest fan of Richard Gere, but this is certainly one of his better performances. He is cocky lawyer "Vail", adept at ensuring his criminal fraternity clients evade justice. When the shocking news that an archbishop has been savagely murdered is announced, he decides on a bit of p...

Primal Fear is a masterclass in tension, turning a courtroom drama into a high-stakes thriller under Gregory Hoblit’s sharp direction. Then there’s Edward Norton, in his very first role, who makes such an impression it’s no surprise he went on to win over 15 awards including a Golden Globe for B...

Cast

Richard Gere

(Martin Vail)

Laura Linney

(Janet Venable)

Edward Norton

(Aaron)

John Mahoney

(Shaughnessy)

Alfre Woodard

(Shoat)

Frances McDormand

(Molly)

Terry O'Quinn

(Yancy)

Andre Braugher

(Goodman)

Steven Bauer

(Pinero)

Joe Spano

(Stenner)

Tony Plana

(Martinez)

Stanley Anderson

(Rushman)

Maura Tierney

(Naomi)

Jon Seda

(Alex)

Reg Rogers

(Connerman)

Kenneth Tigar

(Weil)

Brian Reddy

(Woodside)

Christopher Carroll

(M.C.)

Wendy Cutler

(Lou)

Ron O.J. Parson

(Turner)

Sigrid K. Zahner

(Vail's Secretary)

Dianne Burns

(WLS Anchor)

Linda Yu

(WLS Anchor)

Andy Shaw

(WLS Location Reporter)

Mary Ann Childers

(WBBM Anchor)

Lester Holt

(WBBM Anchor)

Sylvia Gomez

(WBBM Location Reporter)

Jon Duncanson

(WBBN Location Reporter)

Greg Bronson

(Banquet Patron (uncredited))

David Eckert

(WGN Anchor)

Robert Jordan

(WGN Anchor)

Joanie Lum

(WGN Location Reporter)

Randy Salerno

(WGN Location Reporter)

Kyle Colerider-Krugh

(Postman)

Joseph Luis Caballero

(Joe)

Randall Slavin

(Young Boy)

Mike Bacarella

(Sergeant)

Turk Muller

(Precinct Jailer)

Joseph F. Kosala

(Cop)

Lenny Wilson

(Bartender)

Peter Schreiner

(Bailiff)

Joseph R. Ryan

(Old Man)

Azalea Davila

(Linda)

Wayne Wright

(Court Clerk)

Tony Fitzpatrick

(Duty Officer)

Clarence Williams, Jr.

(Arresting Cop)

Rosalie V. Lewis

(Stenographer)

Dwight Brad Dyer

(Prison Guard)

Larry Cook

(Pilot)

Bob Kenney