Bad Influence 1990

As the urban landscape stirs to life, a solitary figure stealthily exits from a vulnerable woman’s bedside, leaving behind a scattered assortment of shattered secrets. Enter Michael Boll, a shy and reserved character who stumbles into a grave injustice: his work data has mysteriously disappeared, and he suspects that the duplicitous Patterson, his colleague, is the culprit. Despite his simmering frustration, Michael struggles to address the situation head-on or level accusations against Patterson.

Later, retreating to the sanctuary of his office, he encounters Ruth, his fiancée, whose constant chatter about their forthcoming wedding only heightens his anxiety. Seeking escape from the chaos, he wanders into a seaside bar and ends up buying a drink for a woman who has misplaced her wallet. Unfortunately, her aggressive boyfriend soon arrives, leading to a brutal assault on Michael. Just when it seems all is lost, the enigmatic figure from earlier intervenes, shattering a beer bottle to defend him with incredible ferocity, sending the thug fleeing in terror.

With the night still young, Michael returns home to find his older brother Pismo, a chronic borrower, siphoning off his savings—an all too familiar cycle resulting from Pismo’s past struggles with drug addiction. To clear his mind, Michael sets out on a late-night jog, only to encounter the mysterious figure from the bar again, who introduces himself as Alex. Over drinks, Alex reveals his intriguing plan to aid Michael in seeking revenge against Patterson, setting off a sequence of events that will irrevocably change Michael’s path.

As days turn into a dizzying blur, Alex ushers Michael into a realm of unrestrained hedonism, violence, and chaos. They whimsically scheme, pulling off audacious heists and indulging in drug-fueled escapades, even planning an assault on Patterson. Michael’s mental state begins to fray as he indulges too heavily, leading to nights he can’t fully recall. Meanwhile, Alex slyly manipulates Ruth, revealing an incriminating video of Michael with his friend Claire, leading to the unraveling of their engagement. Each passing moment finds Michael deeper in this malevolent web, as he remains blissfully unaware of the disastrous consequences looming on the horizon.

Reality hits Michael hard when he comes to confront the uncomfortable truth about his toxic relationship with Alex, whose unsettling revelations regarding a recent assault leave him shaken. A momentous work promotion arrives, spurred by Patterson’s withdrawal, yet it only intensifies Michael’s guilt and moral conflict. At this point, Alex escalates his manipulations, subjecting Michael to emotional blackmail, tightening his grip over him.

As tensions ramp up, Michael discovers his apartment hauntingly empty, save for the unsettling presence of Alex, who brazenly takes credit for Michael’s promotion and presents him with a deeply unsettling parting gift—a twisted game that sets into motion a series of increasingly dire events. The situation spirals further when Claire’s lifeless body surfaces in Michael’s apartment, her murder chillingly recorded by Michael’s own golf club, a stark reminder of Alex’s malevolence.

Michael’s reality begins to fracture as law enforcement uncovers Claire’s body and his golf club in his office—all grim tokens of Alex’s twisted game. Turning to Pismo for aid, Michael enlists his brother’s help to dispose of Claire’s body and navigate the increasingly savage landscape around him.

As Michael endeavors to manage the confusion at work, his secretary transfers departments, claiming his personality has drastically shifted. Meanwhile, Pismo infiltrates an underground sex party to locate Alex, obtaining critical evidence in a beer bottle and a bag containing a driver’s license belonging to Alex’s current girlfriend.

The stakes escalate dramatically when Pismo is ambushed by Alex, only for Michael to rush in and save his friend. Armed now with a gun lent by a security guard, Michael braves the confrontation with Alex, who has just rigged a car to explode in a vendetta of violent revenge. As tensions continue to mount, Michael is compelled to re-evaluate his approach, opting for a more calculated strategy that aims to end Alex’s reign of influence.

As the night stretches on, Alex’s apartment becomes a space of fleeting passion, his recent conquests caught in a moment of forgetfulness while the shadows of their dubious encounter loom ominously. Just as he readies to disappear into the night, Michael emerges from the darkness, a glimmer of resolve in his eyes, a knife poised at Alex’s throat.

The air thickens with tension as Alex admits his schemes to frame Michael in a web of deceit, yet as they engage in a fierce struggle, the tables turn. With every fiber of his being, Michael fights back, ultimately gaining the upper hand and sending Alex plunging down the pier.

Having surveyed the scene, Michael identifies the gun planted as a bait to ensnare him; however, he deftly seizes the weapon, determined to shield himself against Alex’s plotting. In a high-stakes confrontation, Michael exposes Alex’s darkest secrets, including his grisly murder of Claire and the brutal beating of Patterson—all while Alex had relied on Michael’s vulnerability for his sinister exploits.

As the atmosphere pulsates with foreboding, Pismo appears unexpectedly, briefly drawing Michael’s focus and allowing Alex a fleeting chance to strike. But it is too late, as Michael fires the gun in an act of self-defense, concluding Alex’s malevolent game once and for all.

With law enforcement arriving on scene, Pismo stands steadfast, presenting the incriminating evidence that will bring justice to light. As Michael strides towards the authorities, the burdens of his past begin to lift, heralding the dawn of a new chapter in his life.