Fear

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.

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.

I wanted to see this film when I saw that Joseph Sikora was in it. I watch Power and binge watched the spin off Force, so it was impressive to see him do something that was not Tommy Eagan. Very convincing as well mattered novelist who had success with one book and is working on another one. Then this white dude takes his girlfriend and his closest friends who are all black to a cabin in the woods and he thought that would somehow end well.

Fear was a movie that starts out a social commentary that honestly may have gone over with me better six or eight months ago. My level of social fear has lessened sense then. This may work on others but all I see is an indi movie that came out too late to give me the full fear it intended.

Plus, that supernatural element felt like a great story but possibly a little too complex. I felt that the filmmakers had some good talent to do some damage but instead everything was broken.

The attempt to frighten me with a real issue than present me with a decent story that was laid out very uneventfully just did not work for me.

Just very dull.

If i could go back in time and stop myself from choosing this movie, i would. It started off strong, with an interesting plot and a storyline that was easy to follow. I liked the idea of a fear based horror movie, but it took less than 30 minutes to drift into boring nothingness. They didn't follow the original plot of the movie, the acting was all over the place, the scenes clashed, the logic was absolutely nonexistent. Adding the sudden religious savior complex at the end totally killed it for my family. It came out of nowhere and ruined the classic indie vibe. It was unoriginal and bland, and seemed to follow the classic horror sequence. Regret.