• I was interested to see "Bad Influence", because it promised an interesting exploration of cowardice and the dark attraction of psychopathy. It was a bit disappointing, though. It never really grabbed me. Spader is not a charismatic presence, though Lowe certainly is. I think the central role needed to be someone we could like and empathise with. I was also disappointed when the movie turned into a typical cat-and-mouse thing, where we're supposed to be shocked at how thoroughly the Lowe character has thought all this through and is able to stay ahead of his prey, but it's really just not interesting.