Fear

Wow, where do I start? The central idea for the story is not a bad one and could've been something decent had it not been for the terribly written dialouge, the absolutely embarrassing acting and the all around derivative feel of the film. Like honestly, how many movies did this director have to rip off in order to shoot his film? It was all terribly familiar and ground that has been covered in other, better horror films. It was almost so bad it was good to be honest. I have busted out laughing like that in quite a while. Some of the lines these actors have to deliver are startlingly bad. Nobody talks like this and nobody would react like this. I also have to mention the soundtrack for the film. It was just awful and did not fit the film one bit, it made cheesy scenes even more cheesy and it ruined what could've been tense scenes as well. Just a trash movie all around.

0 fears out of 5.

I admittedly tend to be very critical and harsh when it comes to horror movies, as I've seen pretty much all of them and have high expectations. However, I found this film unexpectedly enjoyable. It doesn't advertise itself to be some convoluted, thought-invoking horror film. It's your typical weekend getaway gone awry horror flick but with a considerable, effective twist that I personally enjoyed. I also loved the ending, because it was one of those moments where a character FINALLY does the thing you've been shouting at the tv for them to do. Maybe, I'm crazy but I actually really liked this movie and have even recommended it to some of my friends and family, and I can say, in complete honesty, it's one of the better horror movies to come out recently- which, admittedly, isn't saying a whole lot, I know. But give it a chance, because you might actually side with me on the opinion that Fear succeeds at what it intended to be: a casual, fun, spooky watch to curl up on the couch with your friends or loved one on the weekend and have a good time.

A group of big city friends, head out to a remote complex of cabins, in anticipation of two of them getting engaged, under the ruse of celebrating the female half of the couple's birthday.

However, it was built upon land that harbours a dark legend.

A legend concerning a number of native women, who were kidnapped by a group of gold miners, before starting a coven, and taking control of the town, by using their magickal powers to make the men hallucinate.

While hanging out around a campfire, the group reveal their most deepset fears to one another.

Setting off a series of events, during which their fears start to become manifest.

Unfortunately, the whole thing becomes a convoluted mess.

As they try to tie in a number of plot devices, like the presence of ghosts, the spread of a respiratory illness, spiked wine, and something being released from a mysterious pandora's box.

So, when one of their friends gets sick...the paranoia starts to set in...and the group starts to turn on one another.

You can tell they wanted this to be something like The Shining.

But it's not The Shining.

Rather, being more akin to this year's biggest horror flop, Snow Falls.

Which is based on a similar theme.

It's fault lies in the structure.

Which, due to the sheer number of characters- and flipping back and forth between different aspects of the plotline- you are never really able to become engaged with the story or characters.

For the most part, I felt the acting was fine.

With the lead male actor being, by far, the weakest of the bunch.

But the writing is subpar.

There's just no nuance to it.

Things plod along, and suddenly "everybody's dead".

But, frankly, you just don't care.

The main character is fashioned as an author who has come to the area as research for his new book.

And he, somehow, unravels the mystery...though, it's not exactly clear how he managed to do so.

Which goes to show just how underdeveloped the storyline and structure really are.

I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt...in that there would be some sort of twist at the end, that would tie all of these things together.

But it just never comes to fruition.

On the one hand, you have the whole psychological horror angle (which is poorly done, in the form of flashbacks).

While, on the other, you have the whole supernatural thing going on.

And they just don't vibe as being two parts of the same whole...despite the fact that you know they are.

To their credit, they do make an effort to do this, by introducing a monster-like charcter.

But it doesn't work.

The whole thing simply lacks that cohesive element it needs to really work.

And never meets the threshold required to keep you engaged.

Hence why it has been garnering such harsh reviews.

2.5 out of 10.

Right on schedule, our abysmal January horror release is here as the movie Fear hit cinemas this past Friday. Horror films are continuing to flood into cinemas, and with that, we've gotten a slew of standout scary movies. But we must take the bad with the good, and conversely, there has also been an increase in junk like this. There were a total of two, maybe three scenes that offered me something incrementally above unwatchable. The opening credit sequence was nicely arranged, but I think it's safe to say that the opening credits should not be the high point of a film. None of the characters were likeable, partly because of the brash realism of the writing and partly because of the shallow acting. The story was formulaic, and the metaphor on fear manifestation was so literal that I hesitate to even call it a metaphor. Oh well, it's films like this that'll deepen my appreciation for the more refined horror projects I'm sure to see in the future.

If you ignore the bad digital graphics, terrible acting, and convoluted plot...you could craft a drinking game with this movie. Every time a character says we've gotta get outta here...and they don't, take drink. Every time a choir inexplicably starts singing Latin...take a drink. Every time a confusing new plot point is added... take a drink. Every time someone says It's not real and then acts like it is,...take a drink. Everytime a character makes a inexplicable decision that puts them in danger, and somehow moves the plot...take a drink. *warning this is not responsible drinking, and may result in alcohol poisoning.