Fatal Attraction - 20 Years Later

While flipping channels late one night I happened upon the 1987 Psycho-Thriller Fatal Attraction: starring Glen Close as the psycho (Alex Forrest), Michael Douglas as the trifflin husband, (Dan Gallagher) and Anne Archer as the non-assuming wife, (Beth).

I remember seeing it originally at the Shattuck Theater in Berkeley, California weeks prior to going off to military basic training. Back then I was in awe of the stupidity of the husband. Was it that easy to give into temptation? Were his marriage vows not sacred and holy? Didn't the respect of his wife and daughter mean anything to him?

Well, twenty years later I realize, even with the extreme depiction of the psycho-mistress, people still haven't learned. But, then again why should I be shocked. We didn't learn anything from "Play Misty for Me" either; which aired 16 years prior to Fatal Attraction. In my opinion, Play Misty for Me had a much scarier psycho-mistress.

With the ease and access of Internet dating, along with this new generation operating on the "hook up", infidelity is the thing to do. Most people are calling it "open marriage" others just flat out lie.

What I don't get is, with knowing that Glen Close's character isn't that far off from . . . let's say . . . the cross country-diaper wearing astronaut, why are people still having affairs? The Alex Forrest character is very real and not always a woman.

I know more than a few people who have been stalked. Whether the mistress or "other man" was off of their medication or just felt a need to possess another life, having someone show up at your home at 3 AM to do a bed check is just crazy. Or telling you to "hold the phone up" in a room to hear if anyone else is breathing is just too scary to tempt fate.

Plus, to top all of this off, we live in an era where stalkers now have a choice of anthems. I really don't listen to the radio a lot and am not up on secular music. But whenever I am flipping through channels and hear: Say My Name, Ring the Alarm, We Belong Together, I immediately think of Alex Forrest.

Actually, I like the We Belong Together song. It makes me remember fonder days when Ben and Jerry were my main squeeze(s). But I digress.

I once asked a group of men I work with if they knew they would lose the respect of their children and spouse did they really believe having an adulterous affair was still worth it. In unison, as if auditioning for Diddy's "Making the Band" they all said, "YES!"

Now, I'm not going to shine the light only on the men. I know a few women who have bitch slapped their husbands when told to give up the other guy. CRAZY!

The saddest part with most affairs I've been privy to is that the unassuming spouse feels they have to deal with the wife or husband's infidelity because - - "I got pregnant and messed up his life" "She was like that before we got married and I can't tell her what to do", "I just don't know what I'm doing to make him/her treat me like this". Not to mention those who are dedicated to changing their mate. I've said this before but, you can't change anyone who is not in diapers.

We also gawked at the ending to Fatal Attraction. How tragic that the mistress had to die. The truth of infidelity is that it is a very selfish sport. No one seems to care how it will effect or change the lives of all involved or connected.

Not too long ago in Arlington, Texas a man shot another man whom he thought to be raping his wife. Yep, killed him dead. What this gallant husband didn't realize was his wife had got caught (with the other man in their bed) and told a lie that changed their lives forever. Fortunately our judicial system got this one right and sent her ass to jail for that crime.

I'm sure I will forever be baffled with infidelity. I mean, from a married person's perspective. Because you know you're married, right? You were one of the main characters in the wedding show. And we know most are for show nowadays.

My issue with having a "little sumthin sumthin" on the side is the whole standing before GOD and making a promise part. Forget mama nem! They have no bearing on your salvation. But to tell GOD that you are going to do right by that other person in accordance with His statutes just does not seem like something to play with.

So, twenty years after the release of Fatal Attraction and people are still making grandiose mistakes in their relationships. I would love to offer a solution at this point but I'm not married and with the present state of marriage I am embracing the single life. Plus, with my new found career in law enforcement, I can guarantee you one thing. If you are married and should lose your mind and ask me out on a date, you won't have to lie. I'll know 80% of it before the waiter hands us our menus.

Here's a suggestion. Rent Fatal Attraction. Watch it with your mate. Then realize it shouldn't take having a bunny boiled on your stove to get you to realize infidelity is probably not a good idea!