There can be no mistaking that notions of horror media in past eras were very different from modern conceptions. It's not that there was less imagination to go around, only that the sensibilities of what was acceptable to show in a movie was much more restrictive. Be that as it may, good horror never grows old, and just as the stories of mid-nineteenth century author Edgar Allan Poe endure and continue to inspire, 1917 German film 'Fear' ("Furcht") carries a certain delicious edge of unease about it. It's not for nothing that I mention Poe, in fact, because the genre styling here rather recalls the master of the macabre in telling the tale of a man so consumed by fear that he goes mad. Those modern viewers who seek visceral brutality and thrills may be best served looking elsewhere, yet for anyone receptive to the more understated side of cinema, this remains a splendid classic worth checking out.
In most regards the construction here is fairly modest, partly a reflection of contemporary techniques and technology and partly a reflection of the earnest simplicity of the affair. By no means is this to impugn the work of anyone involved; I mean only to say that there is perhaps nothing about that's singularly striking, as may be true in other pictures. Nonetheless, everyone here is quite well done. The filming locations, sets, props, costume design, and hair and makeup are all lovely, considered and conjured with enough detail to make facets like the count's manor, the temple briefly seen in a flashback, and the "Indian priest" more vivid and lifelike. The tale may be comparatively straightforward, yet as both writer and director Robert Wiene illustrates a keen sense of building shots and scenes to get the most out of any given moment, whether it's the grandiosity of the count's lifestyle, or the looming dread and inescapable trepidation that hounds him.
The narrative provides firm foundation, the crew turned in terrific work, and Wiene's direction shapes every scene into that form that will help it to matter most. Like all else here, the acting may not be so outwardly remarkable if we stand it side by side with other productions, but still the cast are excellent, and ultimately very crucial to the success of 'Fear.' Silent legend Conrad Veidt has a decidedly small supporting part as the Indian priest (yes, replete with the brownface makeup, a relic of cultural history that hasn't aged well), but still he commands an imposing presence where he does show up. Mechthildis Thein is charming as the unnamed love interest, bringing a tinge of lighter feelings to the proceedings. Above all, star Bruno Decarli definitely shines as beleaguered Count Greven, possibly the top highlight of the feature. Decarli very capably zeroes in on the constant, increasing agitation of the protagonist, an agitation that informs all those other pursuits the man indulges as the clock runs down. This is an instance where the exaggerated body language and facial expressions common to much of the silent era actually serve the acting well, for such aspects serve to accentuate the count's extreme, gnawing distress. There's a time and a place for most everything, and the acting that even ten years later would appear gauche is a boon in this case.
No, there's no disputing that this is a far cry from the genre fare that audiences would recognize in 2023, but the kinship unquestionably remains. Even as an element of the supernatural comes into play, or at least mysticism, the core conceit of Count Greven's troubled psyche - his obsession and his madness - is all that is truly necessary for the title to be a solid early example of horror cinema. There may be no part of 'Fear' that is so exceptional as to demand a spotlight; by the same token, save perhaps for the last sequence being overly drawn out, nor are there any specific flaws. Unless one is a diehard fan of the silent era this probably isn't a must-see, and even for those open to the type of stories told so long ago, it's not necessarily required viewing. All the same, 'Fear' holds up as an enjoyable, satisfying experience, and I'm happy to give it my recommendation.
