The Lesser Evil (1998 film)

The Lesser Evil is a 1998 psychological thriller film directed by David Mackay.

The Lesser Evil
Directed by	David Mackay
Written by	Jeremy Levine and Stephan Schultze
Produced by	Daniel Helberg David Mackay
Starring	David Paymer Tony Goldwyn Arliss Howard Colm Feore Steven Petrarca Adam Scott Jonathon Scarfe Marc Worden Mason Adams
Cinematography	Stephan Schultze
Music by	Don Davis
Distributed by	MGM Home Entertainment
Release date	September 13, 1998 (1998-09-13) (UK)
Running time	100 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

Four old friends, Derek, George, Ivan, and Frank, are reunited when they become suspects in a double murder that took place twenty years before, when they were teenagers. The four covered it up and have now become successful professionals with seemingly normal lives.

The story switches back and forth between the present day and the time of the killings. As the police investigation closes in on the four men, they turn on each other. It soon becomes clear that one of them will have to take the blame, or they will all be convicted.

Cast

• Colm Feore as Derek Eastman
• David Paymer as George
• Arliss Howard as Ivan Williams
• Tony Goldwyn as Frank O'Brian
• Steven Petrarca as Young Frank
• Adam Scott as Young George
• Jonathan Scarfe as Young Derek
• Marc Worden as Young Ivan
• Jack Kehler as Detective Hardaway
• Mason Adams as Derek's father

Reception

The film has a 60% approval rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes based on 5 reviews, with an average score of 7.07/10.^[1] Variety gave a positive review, calling the film "a crafty and well-crafted drama",^[2] and Film Threat praised it as "an exceptionally well told tale".^[3]