User reviews

This sexy thriller is very much entertaining for the *wrong* reasons. It's absurd, trashy, and utterly laughable. It does have a memorable antagonist in the form of young Alicia Silverstone, who plays Adrian Forrester, a Lolita-ish 14-year-old who develops a serious crush on Nick Eliot (Cary Elwes), the 20-something journalist renting a guest house from her parents (Kurtwood Smith, Gwynyth Walsh). Of course, nobody believes the older man when he protests that the crazed girl is the wrongdoer, and Nick finds his life continuously going awry as she creates one problem after another.

Written and directed by Alan Shapiro, this film doesn't exactly have the brightest characters. As a result, you never really root for Nick. Fortunately Silverstone, who'd previously made her name in Aerosmith rock videos, is a total hoot as this deranged gal who does some pretty nasty things to make her crush look bad. And things do indeed look very bad for Nick when she frames him for sexual assault. Elwes does what he can with his obtuse role, while Smith has some choice moments as the dad. Jennifer Rubin looks quite lovely as the photographer whom we know is more appropriate for Nick. And Amber Benson lends some solid support as Adrians' "friend" who tries to warn Nick about what she knows.

The movie *is* well paced and climaxes in one of the more priceless confrontation scenes that you're likely to see in this sort of thing. The ending is actually rather effective in its payoff of the Adrian character.

Silverstone may well have had a body double for the nude scenes, but it's still quite uncomfortable when remembering that the character being watched is a mere 14 years old.

All in all, "The Crush" is entertaining if exploitative trash, and should never ever be taken too seriously.

Seven out of 10.

Alicia's first big film is by far her best. She's gripping, believable and absolutely devilish in the role of little rich witch. Cary Elwes is completely at home in the role of victim as this vortex of terror swirls around him. It's impossible to watch this film without a chill running down your spine. Oh, if only the rest of us could inspire that kind of devotion from our admirers!

The Crush is about a 28 year old journalist named Nick Elliot. He rents a guesthouse and befriends the landlady's beautiful 14 year old daughter Adrian (Alicia Silverstone). Adrian seems lonely, so Nick starts spending a little time with her and he gets to know her better. Nick just sees Adrian as a friend, but Adrian starts obsessing over him and she wants to be more then just friends, much more. And if Adrian can't have Nick, then no one can.. I enjoyed this movie, all the actors did a fine job. I would give The Crush 8/10

Good acting from Alicia silverstone at such a young age & Cary Elwes. Both showing off their good looks in an interesting 90s film. I liked that they played on a woman being the seductress and villain as i feel like in this modern day and age women are never set as the villain. If anything i'd have liked the film / ending to be more sinister, happy endings do tend to be forgettable.

This was Alicia Silverstone's debut film after which she went on to star in some Aerosmith videos (what red-blooded American male can ever forget seeing her and Liv Tyler in "Crazy"?) after which she got the lead in Clueless (1995) and the rest is cinematic history.

In Clueless of course she was a sweet, adorable and slightly empty-headed Valley Girl. Here she is what might be called a Lolita from hell. Director Alan Shapiro even has her do a Sue Lyon (from Kubrick's 1964 Lolita) looking-over-her-sunglasses imitation to start the film. We soon learn that she is 14 "almost 15." (Silverstone was actually 15-years-old during the filming.) She is also rich and very talented, plays a classical piano, knows the scientific names of beetles and wasps, has skipped two grades, etc. The film itself might be dubbed a kind of "Fatal Attraction" for teeny-boppers.

Cary Elwes plays Nick Eliot who is looking for some digs as the film begins. He is a writer who just got a gig with an important, trendy magazine. After nearly bumping into Adrian (Silverstone) with his car, he looks askance and sees a sign advertising a cottage for rent in back of a large house with estate. Turns out this is where Adrian lives with her parents.

Somehow this reminds me of William Holden as the writer Joe Gillis pulling into that driveway on Sunset Boulevard (1950). He should have looked in the other direction! He should have run the other way! When Little Miss Crazy gets a crush, it is a hum-dinger. Maybe Nick should have just surrendered at the start and she would have been bored with him in a couple of months at most. But unfortunately, Nick Eliot is the epitome of the clueless male. He doesn't see the danger until it is too late. He is slightly compromised because he has kissed her, he has wandered about her house when her parents haven't been at home, and worse yet he doesn't have an inkling of the strength of her passion. To be honest I felt a little sorry for her having to deal with all that rejection! I think this would have played more realistically had Adrian's part been given to an ugly little shrew in the making. But then of course the film would not have found any kind of audience.

Well, this is a familiar premise and the kind I like to see worked out and resolved--well, I like to look at Alicia, anyway. Unfortunately Alan Shapiro, who also wrote the script, has the originality of a photocopy machine and just milks the premise while mindlessly escalating the bizarro. Suffice it to say that Little Miss Crazy doesn't take no for an answer and that Nick stupidly behaves in a way that just makes his situation worse. The ending does have the virtue of being nicely ironic while suggesting the hoped-for sequel.

(Note: Over 500 of my movie reviews are now available in my book "Cut to the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote!" Get it at Amazon!)

"Nick Eliot" (Cary Elwes) has just moved to Seattle and needs a place to stay prior to working as an investigative journalist for a magazine there. He settles on a semi-furnished guest house belonging to a married couple by the name of Cliff Forrester (Kurtwood Smith) and his wife "Liv" (Gwynyth Walsh). Also there is their 14-year-old daughter "Adrian" (Alicia Silverstone) who immediately develops a crush on Nick. Since he is twice her age he figures that her attraction to him is nothing serious. Big mistake. Anyway, as far as this film is concerned it pretty much follows the standard format of any number of similar movies made both before and after. However, what distinguishes this one is the performance of Alicia Silverstone in her very first film debut. Likewise, both Jennifer Rubin (as "Amy") and the aforementioned Cary Elwes also performed quite well too. Again, the story is pretty formulaic but even so I thought it was still enjoyable. Accordingly, I rate this movie as slightly above average.

Alan Shapiro's first film intended for cinema distribution was (and still is) immensely popular even though it's a bunch of unoriginal nonsense. "The Crush" all the more proves that you don't really need an intelligent idea or a well-plotted story as long as you've got an attractive actress to play the lead-role… Especially not when you manage to convince the audience that she's only 14 years old, but with the curves of an irresistible bikini-model. This is yet another fancy-looking thriller that combines the success of Stanley Kubrick's "Lolita" with the typical 'lethal-beauty' premise of "Fatal Attraction", and the result is a very routine and forgettable chiller with depthless characters and predictable situations. The only trump here is a gorgeous Alicia Silverstone in her debut as the obsessive stalker-girl Darian, who takes an unhealthy interest in the new tenant of her parents' studio. He – an untalented writer – politely turns down her approaches, but this only makes her more aggressive and determined. It doesn't take long before unpleasant things start to happen to the writer and his girlfriend but, of course, nobody suspects the cherubic Darian of being responsible. Cary Elwes' acting is downright awful and he makes Silverstone look like she's Oscar material, even though her performance is mediocre at best. The story moves very slow and doesn't dare to go controversial. Shapiro has the opportunity to insert the taboo-topic of sex with minors but he reluctantly avoids it, like he was already afraid of receiving negative remarks before his film is even released. All the talking about "Wuthering Heights" is really boring and the only few action sequences are very tame. The ending of this film is overly weird and misfit and involves a wild carrousel-ride in the attic…or something like that. The supportive roles are decent, with Kurtwood Smith ("Robocop") as Silverstone's unaware dad and Jennifer Rubin ("Bad Dreams") as the writer's girlfriend.

It's very hard to understand why this movie is rated so low. I really enjoyed watching this film, which was Silverstone's first major role. She plays a crazy teenager who has a crush on a guy who lives in a guesthouse. In her selfish pursuit of the object of her affection, she makes the guy's life a living hell. She also makes the life miserable for anyone who tries to "steal" the guy from her. I think Silverstone fit her role perfectly. The plot was very good as well, and I was always wondering what Silversone's character (Alicia) would do next. This movie gets a solid 8 from me.

I bought this today in a previously enjoyed bin at Blockbuster. It set me back five bucks, so I figured since I like Alicia, this would be worthwhile for my guilty pleasure collection I've been building up over the years (Included in that collection is Excess Baggage, the film that made me get a huge crush on Alicia). Considering the money spent, this is great popcorn. When buying this I expected a pseudo update of Fatal Attraction, which in so many words, was. (spare me if I offend some for making that comparison) The Crush is a campy, but dark story. Alicia plays a very convincing 14 year old obsessive compulsive psychopathic teenager who is experiencing love. I really thought she did well, I know she has limitations - but it's a totally unbiased opinion. You'd never expect the girl from Clueless to say such lines like "Hey Nick, ever do a virgin?" - She portrays this very sexual presence, which works.

My problem with the film is I guess I've sort of marked myself as a fan of the Alicia who plays sweet characters, so it's kind of a knock back. Other than that - If not taken seriously it would make a good film to throw on if you like Alicia, if not, could still be a decent thriller movie to watch with a couple beers or if you just want to throw on a guilty pleasure. It's campy, it's got some corn, but you gotta love it sometimes.

The Crush is a pure 90's Thriller with a pure 90's cast & a pure 90's score & i loved it all.

No other girl/lady screams 90's more than ALICIA SILVERSTONE, this chick made the mega hit teen comedy Classic CLUELESS & suited up as an Awesome Batgirl in the underrated & extremely fun BATMAN & ROBIN & starred in other 90's Thriller's such as THE BABYSITTER for example & her introduction to big movies was this incredibly intense Thriller CRUSH.

By the late 90's or early 2000's the great actress pretty much disappeared? But Alicia's definitely left her mark on 90's movie Nostalgia & her performance here in "Crush" is excellent, especially considering her young age & the content & story!!! This film probably would get made today or if it did it would be a brutal & bloody revenge type of flick.

Carey Elwes (Saw) gives an intense performance in his role as the unlucky journalist Nick, who rents & moves into a beautiful little apartment in the guesthouse of a wealthy couple & their weird teenage daughter. Silverstone is young & has a huge Crush on her new neighbour & becomes obsessed with him but the silly guy is so mellow & too nice that he walks into her trap & even stupidly kisses her!!! The guy is in his late 20's & she is only 14!!! Terrifying stuff & the movie gets gripping as hell as she starts Messing with his life & his new important job as a big journalist & it's so scary how it escalates. Nick makes stupid mistakes by being too friendly with her & gets himself in ridiculous situations that makes him look like a pedo pervert!!! He's stupid but it all makes for a really engrossing & suspenseful Thriller & i just love the 90's Thriller genre from the music to the clothes to look & cinematography, films were made better & have a richer feel & look to them that can't be matched today. Everything about this film is quality & it's very well crafted to be an intense experience like the 80's Classic Thriller FATAL ATTRACTION.

I was super impressed with this sweaty, panicky & scary situation Thriller & am glad I've finally seen it.

The stage curtains open ...

"The Crush", featuring Alicia Silverstone in her first starring role, is a fun bit of moviemaking. I never really pictured Cary Elwes in a thriller/suspense film, but he pulled it off well. This movie was formulaic of most suspense films in the early 90's with the ever present piano tickled keys and high string notes. It was a bit cookie cutter, but still a nice diversion.

Our story starts when Nick Eliot (Elwes), a writer for a posh magazine, moves to Seattle and rents the guest house of the Forresters. Their 14-year-old daughter, Adrian (Silverstone), develops a crush on Nick and what starts out as harmless adolescent flirtation becomes much more serious and dangerous. Nick begins a romance with a co-worker named Amy, which only fuels the intense jealously of Adrian. Adrian's friend, Cheyenne, tries to warn Nick about her, but she has an accident before they can meet. The harder Nick tries to pull away from Adrian, the worse it becomes until the inevitable climactic finish.

This really wasn't that bad of a film. It was a solid debut for Alicia Silverstone who showed that she had more than just charisma - she could act. I felt she pulled off the psychotic, obsessed teen well. Like any movie in this genre, there are some holes in the plot, but it's still very entertaining.

I would recommend "The Crush". It doesn't hold up as well these days, but it is a fun revisit to days gone by. I like this one and have it in my own collection. It isn't what I would call a favorite, but when I'm in the mood for something that isn't too heavy and can bring a smile to my face, I'll watch it. 7 stars out of 10.

I love bad movies on tv. Currently playing on my TV is "The Crush" starring Cary Elwes and Alicia Silverstone. She's a psychotic 14 year old stalker, he's the attractive guy made to look dopey with big dumb glasses and bad hair who is renting the summer house behind her parent's place. Silverstone plays Darian "Adrian," who is one of those villains who manages to know and see everything and be everywhere at exactly the right time. For example, Nick's (Elwes) girlfriend walks in the woods to find sticks and Adrian is there. I wonder how long she had been there, hoping to find her and frighten her with her terrifying knowledge of wasps?

And Nick is the kind of "hero" who does what the plot demands so that Adrian can trap him before the end. At one point, I gave up on him entirely as a hopeless dork who deserved what Adrian put him through. He actually goes into her home when it is empty to look for a photo he thinks she has taken. He then walks into her bedroom -- will it be empty for long? Is he the dumbest man to walk the earth? Maybe. After all, he has new locks installed, determines to move out, then has sex with his girlfriend in the summer house where he KNOWS Adrian can get to him, and leaves the door unlocked. Yeah. I can't help watching these wretched movies. Loved it.

Beware the wasps...they attack in groups....

The film that probably got Alicia Silverstone noticed by Hollywood The Crush is a new take on the young teenage being obsessed with an older man. Cary Elwes is alright though he doesn't have much to do but Silverstone is pretty good- It is strange to see her absent lately as she clearly has that star factor going for her. Go see it for her.

Word was that "you have to see this Alicia Silverstone; she's really hot." That was back in 1993, so I checked out the movie. This was Alicia's film debut and she got a lot of hype for this movie.

I discovered, yeah, Silverstone has a pretty face, but that's about it. The movie was nothing special; not something you haven't seen before. Cary Elwes, not Silverstone, ruins the picture. Not literally him; the character he plays: "Nick." What a dork!

Nick is an incredibly stupid guy who befriends the 14-year-old "Adrienne" (Silverstone), who is his neighbor. The girl, who then expects more from the guy and doesn't get it, vents her wrath on him. Nick is so annoying I didn't care what the stupid neighbor did to him. Both of the lead characters deserved each other.

Whatever happened to Silverstone? I guess she never really made it to stardom. The last I remember her was playing "Batgirl" with George Clooney and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In her film debut,the attractive Alicia Silverstone plays Darian Forrester,a mentally disturbed 14 year old girl who develops an unhealthy obsession with her neighbour,Nick Eliot (Cary Elwes)a baby faced blonde hair,blue eyed journalist who has no sexual interest in her.Silverstone shines in her role as the villain,making life hell for Nick,who wants nothing more than a friendship with the girl next door.Darian's desperate attempts to seduce the older man are unsuccessful,driving her deeper into her obsession and making her more psychotic.Silverstone's acting is superb,but her facial expressions are what is so convincing about her performance.Alicia superbly transforms herself from sweet and innocent into scary and psychotic giving new meaning to the phrase,'When she was good she was very very good,and when she was bad she was horrid'. The film has you on the edge of your seat as the plot unravels,and truths are discovered about sweet little Darian Forrester who is crazier than anyone thought.Her anger at Nick for leading her on goes to the extreme until she comes up with a plan she hopes will destroy his reputation.Nick is oblivious to Darian's feelings for him and believes its nothing more than a silly school girl crush that will pass until he discovers just how dangerous Darian really is.

Watching this film again, after several years, after having seen many far better films since the first time I saw it, I can't help but compare it to looking at an old class photo, from a school you only spent one year at, and didn't like too much; you recognize a lot of the faces, but you can't bring yourself to look too long at it, and soon you start paying attention to something else. Of course, you knew from the beginning that it would probably end up like that, and before you know it, you've pushed the memory almost entirely out of your head, once again. Yes, there is a good amount of talents involved in this film, and I quickly recognized Cary Elwes, who I've also seen in Liar Liar, Bram Stoker's Dracula and Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Kurtwood Smith, who I only know from the original RoboCop, where he played Clarence Boddicker. Of course I recognized Alicia Silverstone as well, but I already knew she was in the film, as I had seen her in one film before seeing The Crush the first time(can't remember which, though). The plot is pretty much a rehash of Lolita, with the tables turned to provide mainstream cliché thriller, in the vein of films like The Hand That Rocks The Cradle. The pacing is daft. The acting is decent, but one would expect better from Elwes and Silverstone(then again, it was her first film... still, we don't see any of the talent that she proved she had in later films). I suspect it's the directors fault. Misdirection, or simply bad direction, can ruin a lot. The characters are the usual clichés and stereotypes of the thriller-genre. The film lacks any real thrills, and relies entirely on the typical formula of this type of thrillers(the psycho-close-to-the-lead(s)-tries-to-kill-him/her/them). The film has no surprises and is thoroughly predictable. All in all, the film has no real purpose, apart from seeing Cary Elwes and Kurtwood Smith in different roles(from what I've seen them in, at least). I recommend it purely to big fans of any of the three actors and very big fans of thrillers. Everyone else should probably avoid it. 6/10

I can't believe what some people have written about this awful,awful film. I mean come on how stupid and dopey was Nick? how stupid and unfleashed out was the plot?. I was overall left disgusted by this film.I hope it's one of those films that you have to watch a couple of times before you get into it but i doubt it as i have now completed my third viewing.Alicias acting was pretty good for he age i think she was about sixteen or seventeen. I rated this 3 out of 10 on the imbd ratings. I wouldn't recommend it to enyone but from reading others reviews it seems that some people might find it ok. You be the judge.