Primal Fear
1996
Not currently streaming on CaSTV
Synopsis
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.
Primal Fear (1996) is a 2h 10min crime feature film by Gregory Hoblit. Defense attorney Martin Vail takes on jobs for money and prestige rather than any sense of the greater good. Selected for Los Angeles Film Awards (2025).
Key facts
Cast
Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Edward Norton, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard, Frances McDormand, Terry O'Quinn, Andre Braugher
Original language
English
First release
April 3, 1996 (United States)
Production companies
Paramount Pictures
Home video distributors
Paramount Home Video (United States)
Based on
Primal Fear
Setting
Chicago
Filming locations
Chicago
Crew
Screenplay
Ann Biderman, Steve Shagan
Producer
Gary Lucchesi
Cinematography
Michael Chapman
Editing
David Rosenbloom
Music
James Newton Howard
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
Titles
| Original title | Primal Fear | |
| Alternate title | Peur primale |
VHS & home video releases
| VHS | Paramount Home Video (cat. no. 328323) | 1996, United States, slipcase |
Soundtracks
| CD | Primal Fear (Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack) - James Newton Howard, Jim Weidman, David Olson (1996) | 3 releases, 1996-2016: La-La Land Records, Milan |
| Cassette | Primal Fear (Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack) - James Newton Howard, Jim Weidman, David Olson (1996) | 1 release, 1996: Milan |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | United States | April 3, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Spain | April 26, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Argentina | May 9, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Australia | May 16, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Italy | May 17, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Germany | May 23, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | May 23, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Finland | May 24, 1996 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | May 24, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | May 24, 1996 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | May 24, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | May 24, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | May 31, 1996 |
| Theatrical | France | June 5, 1996 |
| Theatrical | South Africa | June 7, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Denmark | July 5, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Philippines | July 10, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Slovenia | July 11, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | July 12, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Czech Republic | July 18, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Hungary | July 25, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Poland | August 9, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Greece | November 2, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Japan | November 2, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Turkey | November 29, 1996 |
| Television | France | January 30, 2000 |
| Television | Netherlands | April 27, 2002 |
| Streaming | France | January 1, 2006 |
| Streaming | France | October 1, 2022 |
| Classification | Germany | 16 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 18 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Home video VHS | United States | 1996 328323 |
| Home video | France | October 2, 1997 |
| Home video | France | July 5, 2001 |
| Home video | Netherlands | November 20, 2013 |
| Home video | France | July 7, 2021 |
Full credits
| Director | Gregory Hoblit |
| Cast | Richard Gere (Martin Vail), Laura Linney (Janet Venable), Edward Norton (Aaron Stampler / Roy), John Mahoney (Shaughnessy), Alfre Woodard (Shoat), Frances McDormand (Molly), Terry O'Quinn (Yancy), Andre Braugher (Goodman), Steven Bauer (Pinero), Joe Spano (Stenner), Tony Plana (Martinez), Stanley Anderson (Rushman), Maura Tierney (Naomi), Jon Seda (Alex), Reg Rogers (Connerman), Kenneth Tigar (Weil), Brian Reddy (Woodside), Christopher Carroll (M.C.), Wendy Cutler (Lou), Ron O.J. Parson (Turner), Sigrid K. Zahner (Vail's Secretary), Diann Burns (WLS Anchor), Linda Yu (WLS Anchor), Andy Shaw (WLS Location Reporter), Mary Ann Childers (WBBM Anchor), Lester Holt (WBBM Anchor), Sylvia Gomez (WBBM Location Reporter), Jon Duncanson (WBBN Location Reporter), David Eckert (WGN Anchor), Robert Jordan (WGN Anchor), Joanie Lum (WGN Location Reporter), Randy Salerno (WGN Location Reporter), Kyle Colerider-Krugh (Postman), Joseph Luis Caballero (Joe), Randall Slavin (Young Boy), Mike Bacarella (Sergeant), Turk Muller (Precinct Jailer), Joseph F. Kosala (Cop), Lenny Wilson (Bartender), Peter Schreiner (Bailiff), Joseph R. Ryan (Old Man), Azalea Davila (Linda), Wayne Wright (Court Clerk), Tony Fitzpatrick (Duty Officer), Clarence Williams, Jr. (Arresting Cop), Rosalie V. Lewis (Stenographer), Dwight Brad Dyer (Prison Guard), Greg Bronson (Banquet Patron (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Ann Biderman, Steve Shagan |
| Producer | Gary Lucchesi |
| Executive producer | Hawk Koch |
| Cinematography | Michael Chapman |
| Editing | David Rosenbloom |
| Music | James Newton Howard |
| Production design | Jeannine Oppewall |
| Visual effects | Rob Burton |
| Costumes | Betsy Cox |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
