Primal Fear is a 1996 American legal thriller film directed by Gregory Hoblit, based on William Diehl‘s 1993 novel of the same name, and written by SteveShagan and AnnBiderman. It stars RichardGere, LauraLinney, John Mahoney, AlfreWoodard, Frances McDormand and EdwardNorton in his film debut and is a box office success and very good picture. The film revolves around a Chicago defense attorney who believes that his altar boy client is not guilty of murdering an influential Catholic archbishop. good movie Rated R . not suitable to watch with kids