History Film / PrimalFear

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: [[spoiler:Aaron]] himself in the books ends up committing way more crimes beyond what he does here. In the book's sequels, [[spoiler:Stampler commits more murders out of petty vengeance--including his own fellow abuse victims; throws in with a terrorist militia and before getting killed, arranges for a passenger plane to crash]]. Here though, [[spoiler:Aaron's only goal is to get off for killing Rushman]] and while this could be because the sequels never got adapted, he still comes off as way more of an AntiVillain--or not as bad a villain as he could be--as a result.

** [[spoiler:Shaughnessy]] straight up is this though, having thrown lives into poverty and outright taken them for political aspirations, especially when he [[spoiler:concealed the truth about all the abuse Rushman was committing]].

* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler: Archbishop Rushman is revealed to be one when his video is found]].

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: [[spoiler:Aaron]] himself in the books ends up committing way more crimes beyond what he does here. In the book's sequels, [[spoiler:Stampler commits more murders out of petty vengeance--including his own fellow abuse victims; throws in with a terrorist militia and before getting killed, arranges for a passenger plane to crash]]. Here though, [[spoiler:Aaron's only goal is to get off for killing Rushman]] and while this could be because the sequels never got adapted, he still comes off as way more of an AntiVillain--or not as bad a villain--as a result.

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: [[spoiler:Aaron]] himself in the books ends up committing way more crimes beyond what he does here. In the book's sequels, [[spoiler:Stampler commits more murders out of petty vengeance--including his own fellow abuse victims; throws in with a terrorist militia and before getting killed, arranges for a passenger plane to crash]]. Here though, [[spoiler:Aaron's only goal is to get off for killing Rushman]] and while this could be because the sequels never got adapted, he still comes off as way more of an AntiVillain as a result.

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: [[spoiler:Aaron]] himself in the books ends up committing way more crimes beyond what he does here. In the book's sequels, [[spoiler:Stampler commits more murders out of petty vengeance--including his own fellow abuse victims; throws in with a terrorist militia and before getting killed, arranges for a passenger plane to crash]]. Here though, [[spoiler:Aaron's only goal is to get off for killing Rushman]] and while this could be because the sequels never got adapted, he still comes off as way more of an AntiVillain here as a result.

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: [[spoiler:Aaron]] himself in the books ends up committing way more crimes beyond what he does here. In the book's sequels, [[spoiler:Stampler commits more murders out of petty vengeance--including his own fellow abuse victims, throws in with a terrorist militia and before getting killed, arranges for a passenger plane to crash]]. Here though, [[spoiler:Aaron's only goal is to get off for killing Rushman]] and while this could be because the sequels never got adapted, he still comes off as way more of an AntiVillain here as a result.

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: [[spoiler:Aaron]] himself in the books ends up committing way more crimes beyond what he does here. In the book's sequels, [[spoiler:Stampler commits more murders out of petty vengeance--including his own fellow abuse victims, throws in with a terrorist militia and before getting killed, arranges for a passenger plane to crash]]. Here though, [[spoiler:Aaron's only goal is to get off for killing Rushman]]. While this could be because the sequels never got adapted, he still comes off as way more of an AntiVillain here as a result.

--->'''Marty:''' First thing that I ask a new client is "Have you been saving up for a rainy day? Guess what? ''It's rain-ing!''"

** Also, the film neglects the fact that Aaron hasn't been acquitted at the end. Martin just agreed with the judge to retry it as a bench trial, where she would consider his insanity defense alone, without a jury. True, he can't reveal the movie's twist [[spoiler: (that Aaron was faking it)]], but there's still no guarantee he'll actually get off, as the insanity defense only works in about one fourth of the cases where it's used. Even if he did, as stated above people acquitted on the ground of insanity usually wind up living out the rest of their life in a mental institution.

!!!This page is about the film starring Richard Gere and Edward Norton. For the trope, [[PrimalFear click here]]. For the band "Primal Fear", [[Music/PrimalFearBand click here]].

Not to be confused with [[PrimalFear the trope]] of the same name, with which [[NonIndicativeName it has little to do]].

* SarcasticClapping: [[spoiler:Aaron eerily does this at the end of the movie when Vail, and us in the audience, discover that Aaron has been faking his split personality/insanity for the entire film-he is actually sane. However, due to attorney-client confidentiality, even when Vail now knows the truth he's powerless to do anything, as Ed Norton's character mocks him creepily from his cell.]]

* WhamLine: [[spoiler:Right at the end Martin figures out that Aaron has tricked the court, and asks why he invented his killer personality "Roy". Aaron corrects his assumption.]]

** ''Literature/TheScarletLetter'' reference carved in the chest Archbishop Rushman’s corpse about a man who can "wear one face to himself and another for the multitude."

** ''Literature/TheScarletLetter'' reference carved in Archbishop Rushman’s chest about a man who can "wear one face to himself and another for the multitude."

* PedophilePriest: Technically averted, though the truth is still pretty despicable. [[spoiler: Archbishop Rushman apparently only targets those in the youth home who have reached legal age of , threatening them with expulsion and being thrown on the streets if they don’t perform in his {{Home Porn Movie}}s.]]