Themes: Mind Games, Dangerous Attraction, Stalkers
Main Cast: Jesse Bradford, Erika Christensen, Shiri Appleby, Kate Burton, Clayne Crawford
Release Year: 2002
Country: US
Run Time: 84 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
A moment of temptation leads to a high body count and untold regrets for a high-school swimming star in this thriller starring Bring It On's Jesse Bradford and Traffic's Erika Christensen. Despite a shady past involving drugs and the juvenile justice system, Ben Cronin (Bradford) seems to have it all: a loving mother, a devoted girlfriend (Shiri Appleby), and a shot at a college scholarship in California. But the same week that athletic scouts will be deciding his future, Ben finds himself embroiled in a flirtation with Madison Bell (Christensen), a bewitching transfer student who seduces him into supposedly strings-free sex during an impromptu swim lesson after hours in the school pool. When Ben takes Madison at her word and goes about his business as if nothing had happened, she insinuates herself into his life with sinister glee. Showing up at Ben's house, befriending his girlfriend, and sending him naked pictures -- none of her strategies wins his heart. So Madison turns to other, more devious forms of courtship. Soon, Ben finds himself kicked off the swim team for supposed steroid use, suspected of murdering a rival (Clayne Crawford), and rejected by his girlfriend for his sexual indiscretions. Eventually, though, he receives help in uncovering the genesis of Madison's uncanny fixation from an unexpected source. Originally titled "Swimfan85" (after Madison's Internet screen name), the retitled Swimfan hit the top spot at the back-to-school box office when it was released September 6, 2002. Dan Hedaya co-stars as Ben's stern but loving mentor, Coach Simkins. Actor-turned-director John Polson previously helmed Siam Sunset. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Frank White III - Art Director, Courtney Potts - Associate Producer, Mindy Marin - Casting, Amanda Harding - Casting, Jamie Gordon - Co-producer, Brad Yonover - Co-producer, Marcy Drogin - Co-producer, Arjun Bhasin - Costume Designer, Stephen Lee Davis - First Assistant Director, John Polson - Director, Sarah Flack - Editor, Fisher Stevens - Executive Producer, Tim Williams - Executive Producer, Louis Febre - Composer (Music Score), Kalina Ivanov - Production Designer, Giles Nuttgens - Cinematographer, Allison Lyon Segan - Producer, John Penotti - Producer, Joe Caracciola, Jr. - Producer, Diana White - Set Designer, Charles Hunt - Sound/Sound Designer, Charles F. Bohl - Screenwriter, Phillip Schneider - Screenwriter, Alex Steyermark - Music Producer, John Nutt - Supervising Sound Editor, Gary Shlifer - Underwater Photography, Howard A. Anderson Company - Title Design
Swimfan is a 2002AmericanErotic thrillerfilm directed by John Polson and written by Charles F. Bohl and Phillip Schneider. Considered a Fatal Attraction for a teenage audience, the film stars contemporary youth icons Jesse Bradford, Erika Christensen, and Shiri Appleby. Early trailers form the film listed it as SwimFan85, the screen name of Christensen's character. The 85, the year the character was supposedly born, was dropped before the theatrical release to not date the film.
Ben Cronin (Jesse Bradford) is a high-school jock who once had a "drug problem" (not specified in the film). An aspiring Olympian, Ben is training to impress a visiting athletic scout from Stanford University. Ben is dating a girl named Amy Miller (Shiri Appleby) and works with his mother at the local hospital. A new girl named Madison Bell (Erika Christensen) transfers to Ben's school and immediately begins to seduce Ben, eventually convincing him to have sexual intercourse with her in a pool. Ben considers the event a one-night stand, but Madison insists that the two continue to be together. Ben, after reflection, finally rejects her in favor of his girlfriend. Possessive Madison becomes obsessed with Ben and turns his life into a living hell as she stalks him. She manages to become friendly with Amy and Ben's mother. After Ben conclusively tells her that he wants nothing to do with her because he is with Amy, the "horror" truly begins as she has a violent streak and will never let him go - even in the face of death.
