Fatal Affair

Fatal Affair

Year: 1998

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: Marc S. Grenier

ThrillerMystery

Young advertising executive Mack Maddox is rapidly climbing the corporate ladder. He enjoys a happy marriage and a young daughter, seemingly having everything. However, a string of bizarre incidents suddenly thrusts him into danger, turning him into a murder target and forcing him to confront a deadly conspiracy to protect his family.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Fatal Affair (1998)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Fatal Affair (1998). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Contemporary (present day)

The story unfolds in the modern era, reflecting current technology and social dynamics. The events are set in recent years, with the use of smartphones, hacking, and modern hacking techniques playing a significant role in the plot. The contemporary setting highlights the relevance of digital vulnerabilities in personal lives.

Location

Coastal California, San Francisco

The movie takes place in a picturesque coastal California setting, known for its scenic beaches and affluent neighborhoods. San Francisco, nearby, provides a vibrant urban backdrop with iconic landmarks and a renowned tech industry. These locations contribute to the atmosphere of elegance and underlying tension in the film.

🌊 Coastal 🌉 Urban 🌅 Beautiful scenery

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:46

Main Characters – Fatal Affair (1998)

Meet the key characters of Fatal Affair (1998), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ellie Warren (Nia Long)

A successful attorney seeking a new beginning after her move to coastal California. She is resourceful, resilient, and determined to protect her family from an invasive stalker. Her character embodies strength in the face of psychological and physical threats.

💼 Lawyer 🧠 Resilient 🚶‍♀️ Determined

David Hammond (Omar Epps)

A tech consultant with a dark obsessive streak. His manipulation, hacking skills, and violent tendencies make him a formidable antagonist. His past anger management issues and obsession with Ellie reveal a deeply disturbed personality.

💻 Hacker 😡 Obsessed 🔪 Dangerous

Marcus (Stephen Bishop)

Ellie’s supportive husband who becomes entangled in the escalating danger. He is protective and loving but faces peril as the threat from David intensifies. His loyalty and strength are pivotal in the climax.

❤️ Supportive 💪 Protective 👫 Loyal

Courtney (Maya Stojan)

Ellie’s friend and confidante, who gets caught in the chaos. Her trust is exploited by David, leading to her attack. She reflects vulnerability and the danger of misplaced trust.

👭 Friend ⚠️ Vulnerable 😔 Naive

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:46

Major Themes – Fatal Affair (1998)

Explore the central themes of Fatal Affair (1998), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔒 Obsession

The film explores themes of obsessive behavior, with David’s relentless fixation on Ellie driving much of the suspense. His stalking, hacking, and intrusive actions illustrate the destructive pursuit of infatuation. This theme highlights the dark side of obsession and the importance of boundaries.

🎭 Deception

Deception pervades the story, as characters hide secrets and manipulate others through hacking and lies. David’s duplicitous nature and Ellie’s efforts to uncover the truth emphasize the futility of trust in a digitally connected yet treacherous world. The theme underscores the masks people wear and the danger of false appearances.

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:46

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Thrillers about protecting family like Fatal Affair

Ordinary lives shattered by a stalker's dangerous obsession.If you liked the relentless tension of Fatal Affair, discover more movies where families are targeted by an obsessive stalker. These similar thrillers focus on domestic danger, psychological games, and the fight to survive against a sinister foe.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a seemingly secure protagonist whose life is upended by the arrival of a threatening individual. The plot revolves around a series of escalating intrusions, forcing the protagonist to uncover the stalker's motives and defend their family against a hidden past or obsession.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by the core experience of domestic invasion, the high-stakes fear for loved ones, and the cat-and-mouse dynamic between a stable protagonist and a dangerously obsessive antagonist, creating a consistently tense and claustrophobic mood.

Paranoid slow burn thrillers like Fatal Affair

A steady build of dread where trust evaporates and fear takes over.Fans of the anxious, suspenseful build-up in Fatal Affair will enjoy these similar movies. This thread collects psychological thrillers with a steady pacing, a heavy emotional weight, and a pervasive mood of paranoia and dread.

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Narrative Summary

The story unfolds through the protagonist's perspective, as a series of ambiguous but frightening events erode their sense of security. The journey is less about action and more about the psychological toll of sustained fear, mistrust, and the feeling of being trapped in a nightmare with no clear escape.

Why These Movies?

They share a specific emotional mix: a steady, deliberate pacing that builds tension, a high-intensity feeling of dread, and a heavy focus on the protagonist's psychological descent into paranoia, making the viewer feel equally anxious and claustrophobic.

Unlock the Full Story of Fatal Affair

Don't stop at just watching — explore Fatal Affair in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Fatal Affair is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Fatal Affair Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Fatal Affair, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Fatal Affair Summary

Fatal Affair Timeline

Track the full timeline of Fatal Affair with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Fatal Affair Timeline

Fatal Affair Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Fatal Affair that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Fatal Affair Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Fatal Affair

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Fatal Affair: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Fatal Affair

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