Malice

Two professionals, a happily married couple, long to start a family. Tracy teaches infants, while Andy is a college professor. Their stable life is upended when Tracy goes to the hospital for a procedure and is treated by Jed Hill, a doctor who acts like he always knows best. The situation quickly thickens into a wary game of trust and control as patient and spouse confront a medical crisis that tests loyalty, ethics, and the boundaries of care. The film keeps twists beneath the surface, handling suspense with economy while gradually revealing how ambition and desire can collide with the responsibilities of even the closest relationship. The narrative avoids easy shocks, instead building tension through character choices and moral ambiguity.

Directed by Harold Becker, Malice arrived in 1993 with a screenplay credited to Aaron Sorkin, Scott Frank, and Jonas McCord. The film benefits from Becker's crisp thriller sensibility and a strong ensemble that anchors the story. The cast sells it.

It grossed 46,405,336 worldwide against a 20,000,000 budget, signaling moderate but steady interest for a mid 90s thriller and confirming the film found an audience beyond initial critics. Its appeal comes from the tension between intellect and impulse for audiences.

Malice is remembered for its prestige cast and for anchoring a notable early collaboration between Sorkin and Frank. It stands out among 1990s thrillers that mix sharp dialogue with medical ethics and high stakes, leaving a mark on the genre for its confident setup. That mix continues to resonate today.

Critics praised the mood and the performances by Baldwin and Kidman, while noting the plot's focus on trust, ambition, and moral responsibilities in both marriage and medicine. The film delivers a brisk, unsettling look at how desire and power can distort judgment. It remains a solid example of 90s thriller.