Despite its similarities to the classic 1987 thriller Fatal Attraction, the movie Fatale has recently become Netflix’s top trending movie. Directed by Deon Taylor and written by David Loughery, the film initially struggled at the box office upon its release in 2020. However, it has now found renewed success on Netflix. The surge in popularity can be attributed to a combination of factors.
Fatale follows a familiar storyline of adultery, stalking, and poor decision-making, mirroring the plot of Fatal Attraction. The film stars Michael Ealy as Derrick Tyler, a former basketball player-turned-agent who suspects his wife is having an affair. After having a fling of his own in Las Vegas, Derrick becomes entangled with Hilary Swank’s character, Val Quinlan, who is not only his ill-advised hookup but also the manipulative detective assigned to a robbery case. The similarities between Fatale and Fatal Attraction are hard to ignore, with both films featuring similar character developments and plot points.
Fatal Attraction, directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close, is considered a classic of the genre. Despite its success, the film also drew controversy for its portrayal of a violent, obsessive woman, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and adding to the stigma surrounding mental illness. Close, however, approached her role with a desire to bring humanity and nuance to the character. In contrast, Fatale’s story and ending are seen as inferior and lacking any attempts to elevate its premise. The movie plays into harmful stereotypes for cheap thrills rather than exploring the complexities of the characters.
The sudden popularity of Fatale on Netflix can be attributed to several factors. The film faced COVID-19-related delays, which affected its theatrical release and initial reception. Released briefly in theaters in December 2020, the film received negative reviews before landing on video-on-demand platforms just a month later. The challenging climate for new movies during the pandemic likely contributed to the film’s initial failure. Additionally, Netflix has not released many hit movies with lasting interest during the summer of 2023. As a result, viewers are turning to recycled films like Fatale, leading to its resurgence in popularity on the streaming platform.
In conclusion, Fatale’s sudden success on Netflix does not change the fact that it is seen as a rip-off of the classic thriller Fatal Attraction. Directed by Deon Taylor and written by David Loughery, the film features similar plot points and character developments. Although Fatale has become Netflix’s top trending movie, it fails to live up to the standards set by Fatal Attraction. The surge in popularity can be attributed to COVID-19-related delays, genre interest, and Netflix’s lack of hit new movies in 2023.
Source link
