The Fear (1995)

Nice try…but that's about the only positive thing you can say about this lackluster attempt to blend psychological thriller with eerie horror monsters. The script desperately tries to be intelligent and innovating but the result is a very poor and tedious movie, even for the already low 90's standards. The story handles about an overly ambitious psychology student who motivates a clique of people to go on a mountain-weekend where he'll finish his thesis about phobias. The point is that all the participants get over their fears by talking about them and, in the meantime, our college boy can process his own childhood trauma. Upon arrival, everyone's fear comes to life in the shape of a life-size wooden dummy. Of course the puppet means trouble! It's made by Indians…it's always the Indians with their spiritual evils, I tell you!! This movie takes itself way too seriously and the makers actually seem to believe that the subject matter is deep and complex! It's not! It's more than obvious that every character hides one of several dark secrets and the viewer figures them all out long before they reveal the "truth" themselves. I've rarely seen a movie so predictable than "The Fear". The story gets more and more annoying near the end and, the more clever it tries to be, the more ridiculous it all looks. The wooden "evil personified" dummy isn't very impressive and the squeaky stretching-sounds he constantly makes aren't my idea of eerie sound effects. Pinocchio actually was a lot scarier…at least he could do tricks with his nose. The acting performances are forgettable, even though I'm sure the guy who came up with the idea to offer Wes Craven a small role is very proud of himself. In case you're looking for some really unsettling evil-dummy horror movies, check out "Pin" (brilliant but disgracefully underrated 80's thriller) and "Magic" (staring a young Anthony Hopkins".

I can't really add upon the guy above's comments except to say that this film has one moment of sheer comedy brilliance. I, like the person who wrote previously watched this film with no expectations except maybe some good "b" movie fun. the moment worth watching this film for comes towards the end.... all the moments of promise have passed and Morty is chasing a potential victim as he finally grabs hold of her he............. shakes her! i kid you not! all he can do is shake her! not bite of her face, or remove her heart and use it as a football! if you have a phobia of being shook, then stay away! If however you love a good shake and no, i don't mean porn movie style! then this just may be the movie for you.

I wasn't really expecting much from this low budget horror movie, especially considering how cheap it is to buy and the numerous negative comments on IMDb about it, but in all honesty I was pleasantly surprised by ‘The Fear'.Richard (Eddie Bowz), a psychology student, decides to conduct a group experiment in controlled fear for the purposes of his thesis. After this idea is approved by Dr. Arnold (one of two brief appearances from Wes Craven) he organises a weekend away with his `subjects' at his childhood home. Richard is haunted by nightmares which go back to his childhood, but he is unable to think of what it is that bothers him so much….and what does this wooden mannequin named Morty have to do with his fears?The first half of this movie is almost like a psychological thriller with a few unnerving parts and some eerie sequences but mainly concentrating on introducing us to the characters. Throughout the first half of movie the viewer learns more about each character as the story progresses but we are also treated to some rather interesting and occasionally dramatic moments. The second half of the film is more like a straight horror film and unfortunately loses some of its appeal due to some rather confusing sequences and unexplained happenings. The acting was fairly good from all the cast, particularly from Heather Medway who played Ashley and Darin Heames who played Troy. Heames previously played Z-Boy in ‘Night of the Demons 2' and for those who have seen that movie his character was very similar in ‘The Fear'. Also worthy of comment was the direction from Vince Robert which was of fairly good quality and created a certain dark atmosphere to the movie.It's probably not everyone's cup of tea and the ending left a lot to be desired, including the answers to many important questions but ‘The Fear' is still fairly entertaining in my opinion. There is a distinct lack of action and no real gore to speak of which is why I consider this a fairly adept thriller. My rating for ‘The Fear' – 6.5/10

This movie would be a great movie for a true horror fan, and not so much a slasher fan like I am.. How ever, I like Horror of the old, like the Exorcist, or maybe House, that didn't have so many killings in them, where most of the people in the movie lived in the end.. That is the difference between Horror and Slasher in most cases.. I also like movies based on folk lore, and legend, like Rumpelstilskin, Pinocchio's revenge, or more known, the Leprechaun.. This movie was both.. It was made in 1995, and for a 90's horror, (not Suspense) it looked fairly good.. The production was done well for an Independent film, and for being made by A-Pix.. The actors were know ones, except Wes Craven, who as an actor, is still a know one.. And the movie takes place in a cabin, in the middle of the woods.. All great things that Horror movies posses.. Jason would have fit in well where this movie was filmed.. I like the fact that the director was not afraid to use and work with total darkness.. Most movies made today, don't have what one would call real darkness.. Most scenes in movies that are dark are not dark at all.. This way the viewer can see what is going on all around the actors.. Mostly movies like the original Halloween's and Friday the 13th's have true darkness.. Like the original Halloween and many other movies, this film builds up the characters and the bad guy, so that you don't really know what's going on, but if you watch you will find out.. This movie would make a good beginning for a great series, that would end up turning into a Slasher, with a killer that could be compared to Freddy, or the Wishmaster in the long run.. I was happy to see a sequel after this movie.. The #1 down fault is the fact that the movie was made in 1995 and not 1985, or 1975, because if it was, than this movie would have a long chain going now, and would be a classic.. But it was made too late, with not enough special affects for the times.. See when people watch a horror movie that is 15 to 20 years old, and the acting is bad or it doesn't look that good, they don't care so much because they just figure that the movie is so old, and that is why it looks bad, and that is why they can watch, and even more, they can like it.. But when a movie is made today, they have to say it sucks if the picture doesn't look like a top rate film, or if the acting seems to be lacking in a way.. The funny thing is that Horror movies have always had bad acting and a lousy picture, that was the idea, it made things look more scary and maybe more real to life, as far as who was filming goes.. Just look at the first Friday The 13th.. It looks old right? made in 1980 as a matter of fact, but at the same time Rocky was made in 1976 and part 2 in 1979.. Star Wars was made in 1977, and Empire Strikes Back in 1980, all four movie's looked much better than Friday The 13th.. of course Star Wars has been Redone now, but the Original copies still look fine.. a little old but fine... So go rent this movie pop it in the DVD or VHS player, and tell yourself this is a late 70's early 80's HORROR movie, and if you are a real fan of horror, you will like it!! Cause if not "Black Peter will Get Ya!!" or maybe just Morty..LOL Or maybe not..