The Crush (1993 film)

The Crush was a 1993 American psychological erotic thriller film written and directed by Alan Shapiro. It stars Cary Elwes and Alicia Silverstone in her feature film debut. It was filmed on location in Vancouver, British Columbia.

In editing the film for broadcast TV, the character of Darian's name was changed to Adrian after a lawsuit against Shapiro by the real-life Darian Forrester. The VHS and laserdisc versions of the film still use the original name, but DVD releases and later cable TV airings also change the name to Adrian.

Plot

Arriving in a new city, writer Nick Eliot (Cary Elwes) secures a job at Pique magazine and lodgings in a guest house belonging to Cliff and Liv Forrester (Kurtwood Smith and Gwynyth Walsh). The handsome Nick soon makes the acquaintance of the Forrester's 14-year-old daughter, Adrienne/Adrian (originally Darian) (Alicia Silverstone), a precocious gifted girl who develops an intense attraction to him. She secretly helps Nick by sneaking into his room and rewriting one of his Pique stories, which subsequently wins a rave from his editor/boss Michael (Matthew Walker). At a party thrown by the Forresters, Nick agrees to accompany the lonely girl on a nightly drive to a romantic spot, where she kisses him.

This intensifies Adrian's crush on Nick, but he quickly wises up and attempts to put her off, having begun a budding romance with co-worker Amy (Jennifer Rubin). Adrian continues to boldly pursue him, even going so far as to undress in his view. Nick, however, continues to rebuff her advances, and Adrian's actions become destructive—she defaces a car he's restored and erases his computer discs—yet he's unable to convince Cliff and Liv of what's going on. Cheyenne (Amber Benson), a friend of Adrian who has warned Nick about her, meets with an "accident" at the riding school they attend together. Then, after Adrian spies on Amy in bed with Nick, the girl locks Amy in her darkroom and empties a bees' nest into the vents.

Amy survives, and Nick, now convinced that Adrian is big trouble, attempts to find new lodgings. However, Adrian manages to sabotage his efforts. She then accuses him of sexually assaulting her with "evidence" obtained from a used condom from Nick's trash, leading to his arrest. After Michael bails him out (and fires him), Nick is met once again by Cheyenne, who informs him of a diary Adrian kept that can acquit him. When Cheyenne leaves, Nick goes looking for her when he hears strange noises from the Forresters' house. He discovers Cheyenne tied up in the attic and is confronted by Adrian and then Cliff, who attacks him. Adrian, still infatuated, attacks her father, leaving Nick free to subdue her with one punch. Acquitted, Nick goes to live with Amy while Adrian, confined to a psychiatric ward, wishes to express her remorse for what she has done to Nick. Her doctor comments that she is making good progress, but seems to be yet unaware she is developing a crush on him.

Cast

• Cary Elwes as Nicholas "Nick" Eliot
• Alicia Silverstone as Adrienne Forrester
• Jennifer Rubin as Amy Maddik
• Kurtwood Smith as Cliff Forrester
• Gwynyth Walsh as Liv Forrester
• Amber Benson as Cheyenne
• Matthew Walker as Michael
• Duncan Fraser as Detective

Awards and nominations

External links

• The Crush: The Homepage of Darian Forrester film collective resource
• The Crush at the Internet Movie Database