Gregory Hoblit
Schegge Di Paura

Freud dedicated his life to the meticulous study of the human mind. He spoke of the conscious, subconscious, and unconscious. He became the "philosopher of psychoanalysis." What would he have said about Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton)? How would he have defined him? Split personality? Subject to identity crisis risk? Or a great calculator? We will never truly know, but the thriller directed by Gregory Hoblit sends us an answer, albeit hidden within the mental fragments of the protagonist...

Good old Aaron, shaped by Norton's extraordinary performance (his first and real feature film), is an altar boy who comes to light because he is accused of murdering the city archbishop. His case is taken up by lawyer Martin (Richard Gere) and Dr. Molly (Frances McDormand). Thus begins a tense trial, with an utterly unpredictable conclusion.

A psychological thriller, now a genre very "in vogue," influencing subsequent films like "Session 9" and "The Machinist." In "Primal Fear," the viewer never has certainty of what they see, because the entire film conceals and reveals truth at every moment, thanks to a skillful rhythm that unfortunately gets lost as the film progresses, ending in the final courtroom sequences. The courtroom and the prison are the two main locations of the film, but as lawyer Martin says with the expression "if you want justice, go to a whorehouse; if you want to get screwed, go to court," even the courtroom is not a safe place, just as the prison isn't...

But the defense attorney (truth be told, Gere doesn't exactly deliver his best performance) is an idealist; he wholeheartedly believes in the "truth" suggested by his client. But porn tapes, Aaron and Roy... and the timidity vanishing from the altar boy are elements that would make even the most gullible lawyer think twice. Everything is thus on edge. Nothing is in its place, neither in Martin's mind nor in Aaron's tormented and complex one.

The inevitable is avoided, and everything flows smoothly... or almost, given the final revelation, which completely shatters the lawyer's certainties.

The screenplay, adapted from the novel by American William Diehl, titled "Primal Fear", suits the film well but sometimes reaches redundant tones, especially in the courtroom. However, "Primal Fear" has the merit of being interconnected with multiple stories, almost as if it wanted to reflect Aaron's character. Moreover, the extraordinary debut performance by Norton (nominated for his first big-screen role for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor) ensures that Hoblit's work has a character like no other in recent times. However, what is most intriguing is the absolute uncertainty faced by the viewer in front of Aaron's shifting psychological inclinations, making him the true pivot of the entire feature film.