Primal Fear (1996)

Defense attorney Martin Vail takes on jobs for money and prestige rather than any sense of the greater good. His latest case involves an altar boy, accused of brutally murdering the archbishop of Chicago. Vail finds himself up against his ex-pupil and ex-lover, but as the case progresses and the Church's dark secrets are revealed, Vail finds that what appeared a simple case takes on a darker, more dangerous aspect.

Released March 6, 1996 131 min 17+

Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Keywords: tmdb.corruption, tmdb.based-on-novel-or-book, tmdb.bishop, tmdb.court-case, imdb.pornographic-video, tmdb.court, tmdb.psychopath + 222 more, tmdb.whodunit, tmdb.legal-drama, tmdb.legal-thriller, mdblist.has-trailer, imdb.altar-boy, imdb.stuttering, imdb.feigned-mental-illness, imdb.federal-prosecutor, imdb.chicago-illinois, imdb.defense-attorney, imdb.contempt-of-court, imdb.housing-project, imdb.based-on-novel, imdb.two-word-title, imdb.lawyer-client-relationship, imdb.political-cover-up, imdb.murder-of-a-priest, imdb.reference-to-the-scarlet-letter, imdb.scene-of-the-crime, imdb.sex-tape, imdb.directorial-debut, imdb.testimony, mdblist.certified-fresh, tmdb.pornographic-video, imdb.murder-trial, imdb.courtroom, imdb.amnesia, imdb.manipulation, imdb.deception, imdb.lawyer, imdb.priest, imdb.mutilation, imdb.dissociative-identity-disorder, imdb.confession, imdb.child-abuse, imdb.district-attorney, imdb.scandal, imdb.psychopath, imdb.mental-illness, imdb.surprise-ending, imdb.neo-noir, imdb.murder-investigation, imdb.crime-reporter, imdb.psychiatrist, imdb.anger, imdb.interview, imdb.choir, imdb.revenge, mdblist.ext.2k-blu-ray, imdb.psychiatric-evaluation, imdb.professional-rivalry, imdb.corruption, imdb.political-conspiracy, imdb.catholic-priest, tmdb.child-abuse, tmdb.chicago-illinois, tmdb.manipulation, tmdb.lawyer, tmdb.psychiatrist, tmdb.mental-illness, tmdb.murder-trial, tmdb.altar-boy, imdb.boys-choir, mdblist.ext.dolby-vision, mdblist.ext.4k-blu-ray, awards.oscar-nominated, awards.golden-globe-winner, awards.golden-globe-nominated, imdb.sexual-abuse, imdb.abuse, imdb.trauma, imdb.african-american, imdb.female-judge, imdb.threesome, imdb.buttocks, imdb.corpse-in-water, imdb.vanity, imdb.arrogance, imdb.profanity, imdb.arrest, imdb.prisoner, imdb.ex-boyfriend-ex-girlfriend-relationship, imdb.blood-splatter, imdb.fistfight, imdb.voyeur, imdb.train-track, imdb.videotape, imdb.brutality, imdb.prison, imdb.banquet, imdb.male-rear-nudity, imdb.bad-guy-wins, imdb.trial, imdb.bishop, imdb.catholic, imdb.sociopath, imdb.video-camera, imdb.news-report, imdb.police-investigation, imdb.jury, imdb.prison-cell, imdb.press, imdb.foot-chase, imdb.playing-pool, imdb.prosecutor, imdb.public-humiliation, imdb.property-investment, imdb.evidence-tampering, imdb.corrupt-official, imdb.church, imdb.castration, imdb.piercing-ripped-out, imdb.finger-cut-off, imdb.corpse, imdb.southern-accent, imdb.gore, imdb.severed-finger, imdb.cigarette-smoking, imdb.fellatio, imdb.pro-bono, imdb.bar, imdb.breasts, imdb.double-cross, imdb.official-corruption, imdb.homicide-detective, imdb.injustice, imdb.f-rated, imdb.pornographic-movie, imdb.car, imdb.character-appears-on-a-magazine-cover, imdb.head-injury, imdb.attempted-escape, imdb.fired-from-a-job, imdb.beggar, imdb.judicial-system, imdb.psychological-thriller, imdb.boy, imdb.truth, imdb.cruel-man, imdb.cruelty, imdb.one-female-two-males-threesome, imdb.manipulative-man, imdb.young-man, imdb.dead-character, imdb.female-lawyer, imdb.blood, imdb.punched-in-the-face, imdb.reference-to-nathaniel-hawthorne, imdb.police-inspector, imdb.police-station, imdb.newspaper-headline, imdb.music-conductor, imdb.evidence, imdb.placard, imdb.knife, imdb.photograph, imdb.remote-control, imdb.police-officer, imdb.police-car, imdb.nightclub, imdb.microphone, imdb.photographer, imdb.bartender, imdb.applause, imdb.soccer-game, imdb.singing, imdb.news-footage, imdb.former-lover, imdb.f-word, imdb.eyes-gouged, imdb.choke-hold, imdb.beating, imdb.chase, imdb.sermon, imdb.opportunism, imdb.law-office, imdb.legal-thriller, imdb.male-nudity, imdb.latex-gloves, imdb.reference-to-thomas-jefferson, imdb.watching-tv, imdb.fugue, imdb.revolver, imdb.train, imdb.speech, imdb.helicopter, imdb.siren, imdb.camera, imdb.computer, imdb.fine, imdb.chinese-restaurant, imdb.apartment, imdb.whiskey, imdb.mailman, imdb.child-pornography, imdb.female-nudity, imdb.female-topless-nudity, soundmix.dolby-digital, tmdb.taunting, tmdb.suspenseful, tmdb.harsh, imdb.murder, release.blu-ray, release.dvd, tmdb.death-penalty, tmdb.courtroom-drama, tmdb.capital-punishment, aspectratio.1-85-1, imdb.dissociative-disorder, imdb.bloody-mess, imdb.butt, imdb.cigarette, imdb.questioning, imdb.neuropsychologist, imdb.did, imdb.judge, imdb.attorney, imdb.archbishop, imdb.mpd, imdb.disorder, imdb.multiple-personality-disorder, imdb.swearing