Fear (1990)

Ally Sheedy plays a psychic, who assists the police with locating murderers and helping them to apprehended.In her spare time she writes books, flirts with firemen, and tells Stan Shaw all his memories.Then another psychic comes on the scene, but he's a serial killer, but gets Sheedy to feel the victims fears when they are being murdered. So now its up to her and the flirty fireman to catch him, but he's always one step ahead....For the most part, its a pretty tense movie, and the shadow man is a wondrous creation, but after a tantrum too many, Sheedy becomes a little tiresome, and her little outburst on the plane is deserved of a few choice words.But its a little rare movie. I found this on the horror channel late one night, as over here in the UK, its unavailable on DVD, unless you are willing to pay silly money for it.But overall the film does have a few tense moments, and the fear sharing scenes, are pretty unique, but usurped in Strange Days.The last act in the fair is wonderfully over the top, but just adds to the mix.But it's the best film ever where a woman's psychic ability can tell what her intended wants to eat...

Fear is written and directed by Rockne S. O'Bannon. It stars Ally Sheedy, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Michael O'Keefe and Lauren Hutton. Music is by Henry Mancini and cinematography by Robert Stevens. Plot sees Sheedy as Cayce Bridges, a gifted psychic who aids the police in capturing serial killers. However, when she "tunes" into the elusive killer known as The Shadow Man (Vince), she finds that he too has the gift……Originally slated for a full theatrical release, Fear eventually made its bow on Cable TV. Following in the footsteps of other sub-genre psychic thrillers like The Eyes of Laura Mars, O'Bannon's movie is very efficient as a creeper, containing more than competent acting performances, a film with good ideas and visual touches, but ultimately undone by a weak ending.Film kicks into gear straight from the off as we join Cayce helping the police track a serial killer who is driving his latest victim to his place of slaughter. The effects used are blue tinted paranormal visions that put us in the car with the killer, this gives off the necessary unnerving vibe that O'Bannon manages to maintain right up until the finale. Picture is further boosted by its premise, a killer turning the psychic tables on his pursuer. This provides some quality moments of disquiet, notably an airport sequence that chills the blood. But then an ending, unimaginatively played out at a fair ground via the Hall of Mirrors, that insults the viewers who have been perched on the edge of their seats up till now. Problem is that the Shadow Man (played with wobbly eyed intensity by Vince) is a hulking brute who has terrorised and overpowered a number of women in the film. We are then asked to accept that Cayce, a wee slip of a girl (perfectly petite Sheedy), can fell said brute with the minimum of fuss. I'd have laughed if I didn't feel so annoyed.Shame because there's still more than enough good here to make it a comfortable recommendation to like minded adults. But it should have been so much better. 6.5/10

this psychological suspense thriller was way better than i expected.it reminded me a lot of the 1976 movie,the Eyes of Laura Mars,starring Fay Dunnaway.not only is the subject matter very similar,but the style is also the same.instead of just being a normal by the numbers movie about serial killers,this one has the psychic ingredient added to the mix.it's not the first movie to do this.for example the aforementioned The Eyes of Laura Mars,but it does do it well.the suspense is nearly off the charts.the music by Henry Mancini has a lot to do with that.it's also not that predictable in terms of what is happening and how it ends.it isn't gory either.it's all about the suspense,or Fear,if you will.a nice refreshing change from the usual slice 'n dice,hack and slash gore-fests.not that there's anything wrong with that.by the way this is not the movie starring mark Walberg.it's with Alley Sheedy,who's pretty credible in a very serious role.for,me,Fear is a solid 8/10

I saw a part of this movie on a cable channel a LONG time ago and looked all over for the movie to rent it but couldn't find it anywhere. It turns out it was on Showtime and that was the only place to see it...I finally got to watch the whole thing and really was creeped out. I liked the whole plot and the way the killer and Ally Sheedy were in each other's heads.I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, but I will add, in the past, I've seen movies that I found horrifying as a young adult or even late teen but as a more let's say mature? person now, found them ho-hum or ridiculous. i hope this is not the case with this movie.