Norton really elevates the otherwise standard procedural to new heights. And the rest of the cast are equally in top form, including Gere at his charismatic best. The conclusion is a bit rushed, but effective nonetheless.

This movie was incredibly thrilling and really fun to watch. All of the twists and turns this movie took were mind boggling, and I still think about it to this day. I definitely recommend it for legal-drama fans!

A gripping, fast-paced thriller. Rating: 7.8/10

standout performances with a great story twist

I was in search of a good unpredictable thriller, and finally came across Primal Fear. I dont know how I havent watched this movie until now. A rare movie that has lived up to my expectations this quality thriller has twists on top of twists:) A must watch with Edward Nortons marvellous acting, and great soundtrack btw. Up on my top 10 now:) dont want to comment much to not ruin it for the ones that didnt watch this movie, everyone deserves to experience this

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 Best Supporting Actor. Playing Aaron, a timid altar boy with hidden depths. Richard Gere holds his own as the slick defense lawyer, Norton’s layered acting and the intense chemistry between them make this movie unforgettable. Primal Fear goes beyond a typical courtroom drama, serving up suspense, stellar performances, and production.

Great actors, soundtrack, director! SO, I'LL AIR MY BEEF HERE. SINCE WHEN DID YOU FEEL THE NEED TO REMOVE STARS FROM AUDIENCE. OF COURSE, WHEN I TRY TO CONTACT YOU I GET FANDANGO, WHO WON'T EVEN RESPOND TO A SIMPLE EMAIL I KNOW YOU ARE IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE, WITH THEIR OTHER COMPANIES, BUT HOW ARE YOU SAVING MONEY???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????/

It is kind of predictable but you still want to know the truth. It is just not enough to make it a very good movie. While the plot is not that interesting, the acting and pacing is very good.

All Time Classic. It's first rate made all around on top of being ice cold. Riveting performances by everyone involved. A plot that keeps you guessing the entire way and an incredible ending. Were so used to seeing this genre end with the rightious justice previals ending. To see one that turns so dark is crazy to see and I haven't seen very many that do this. It's first rate made even without that. Everyone should give this a try once.

An interseting movie with a amazing twist

A fantástica atuação de Edward Norton diferencia o filme de outros do mesmo género, elevando-o para um patamar mais alto do que o que ele poderia estar.

Tense, gripping legal thriller. The young Edward Norton is so great in this role, conjuring sympathy and frustration equally as the movie goes on. Richard Gere is, of course, charming as ever. Honestly, all of the supporting cast did a really solid job too. There's nuance in every performance, no matter how small. The twists start comin' and they don't stop comin', but some of them feel a little cheap and like they undermine the rest of the movie, so I'm taking off half a star for that. But it's still an excellent movie that has really held up well.

Amazing movie! Norton deserves 100 oscars just for this movie alone, and this was his first movie? Omg 😲 😱

Aaron is a boy toy, but then there's Roy... Primal fear is a nearly 27 year old court thriller about an altar boy who brutally murders a priest, but he has multiple personality disorder. Quite a intriguing plot here, and is it good? Well... It's not bad. I mean some scenes are really good (the best being when they activate his disorder in court and the ending) but unfortunately the film is ludicrously riddled with cliché dialogue and Richard Gere has the character depth of a thin plank. I think though, it's worth it just to see Edward Norton and how he commands a lot of his scenes that got him an oscar nomination (for his first ever role!!). Also there are the decent supporting cast necessary for a film like this and it does that well. Overall, at the right points, Primal Fear is a good enough court watch, and while deliverance can be saved for another review, it does it's job at making the average, yet satisfying steps to the conclusion. Grade: B

In the eyes of God, guilt is seen in the eyes of the beholder! A defense attorney defends a boy convicted of killing an archbishop, only to learn that the boy has got some demons of his own. Stellar acting from Edward Norton and Richard Gere make this film a stand out in cinema and in our minds!

Watched this AGES ago (maybe between 10 and 12 years ago?), and rewatched it recently. Had a real tough time placing this one. Was thinking is this... ***... **** ... ***1/2? Definitely not a ... I was surprised, on second-watch, just how bored I was watching this. And yet, I have watched trash before, and this movie, isn't that. There's enough here to warrant a watch. I just, sadly, think there's a few things wrong with it. If you're a fan of acting, watch the movie. Ed Norton is the reason to watch this IMO. Absolutely fantastic performance. The film, aside from that, is...fairly bland. Uninventive shots. Looks very dated. But, Ed Norton is so compelling. And I genuinely got chills (more than once), even knowing how things were going to play out. Incredible performance by him. And, definitely worth a watch on that alone. Was the story predictable? Fairly. Good character development re: Richard Gere and the shot of him at the end, which encapsulates a lot without words. I just think the film takes TOO much time to get exciting. It's fairly slow for the first whole hour. Laura Linney is good as well. Credit to her. As is her boss (the guy from Frasier).

I wish I didn't know the ending before watching Primal Fear. However, when you wait a few decades to see a movie, things are going to get spoiled and there's not much you can do about it. This is a fascinating courtroom drama. Edward Norton hits the ground running in his breakout role of Aaron. I can see why Hollywood started casting him in everything shortly afterwards. Richard Gere and Laura Linney shine in their perspective roles, too. Primal Fear has kind of disappeared from the pop culture spotlight, but I feel like it has something to offer, especially if you don't know what's going to happen.

Awesome twist at the end and Edward Norton in this was incredible this movie is a underrated masterpiece and easily deserves a 5 star.

Norton impresses in his first major role along with Gere. Movie a tad too long but enjoyed it for the most part. Great twist to end the movie!

There I have Primal Fear, a memorable film with a memorable performance from Edward Norton in his first film debut. Richard Gere as Martin Vail is defending Aaron Stampler played by Edward Norton who believes that he is not guilty of murdering the Archbishop after being chased by the police while being covered in blood. So this leads to Martin to decide that Aaron is innocent. Edward Norton is fantastic in this role as Aaron Stampler/Roy. Now by saying Roy, Aaron Stampler has multiple personalities who he turns into Roy who seemly doesn't have a stutter. Edward Norton in his first film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture. He's fantastic in this. The twist at the end is phenomenal. Well, I gotta say that this is a great entertaining film with it's thrills that can be worth a wait and a Oscar nominated performance from Edward Norton.