Fear [DVD]

Fear is one of those intense ‘90s thrillers I end up watching at least once a year. It’s dramatic, suspenseful, and just the right amount of over-the-top in the best way. Young Mark Wahlberg absolutely steals the show — charming one minute and completely unhinged the next. His performance is what really makes the movie memorable. The tension builds so well, and even knowing what’s coming, it’s still gripping every time. If you love classic psychological thrillers with strong performances and major ‘90s vibes, this one never gets old.

such a great movie!

VERY GOOD

When FEAR slipped in and out of our collective consciousness in 1996 with all the impact of a school board election, the critics' near-unanimous cry of "cheesy thriller" was followed by the sound of the cineplex door hitting the picture on the butt as it made its way to oblivion. Well, yes, FEAR is a cheesy thriller, and it's also formulaic, cliched, hysterical and even downright silly. But all of that misses the point. Unlike most formulaic, cliched, hysterical and silly movies, FEAR has enough sex, swagger and thrills that you can still respect yourself in the morning after spending a lurid night with it. Like any charming piece of trash, Fear is best appreciated if you decide at the outset to give wholly in to it (a prospect which shouldn't, in and of itself, disturb anyone who thought Independence Day was a major work of motion picture art). Giving in to the movie isn't just a matter of accepting that it's a hokey cross of FATAL ATTRACTION and THE WILD ONE, though that is undeniably part of the fun. Nor is it just a matter of finding out whether underwear model Marky Mark Wahlberg can act (which he can, some). No, giving in to FEAR is a question of embracing the unthinkable, of considering the possibility that a remake of CAPE FEAR with Wahlberg in the Robert De Niro role and William Petersen standing in for Nick Nolte might actually be an improvement. Seriously. In large measure, FEAR is more satisfying than CAPE FEAR because Wahlberg is a more cuddly villain than De Niro and Petersen a less likable putz than Nolte. Where Nolte is dashing and able, Petersen is aptly wan as an architect whose career is accelerating a tad beyond his capacities, whose second marriage (to an innocuously cute Amy Brenneman) is crumbling, and whose teen daughter (Reese Witherspoon), the issue of marriage number one, is blooming sexually and increasingly eager to act on her new urges. Into this tenuous menage saunters Wahlberg, looking smashing as David McCall, a local hanger-out who's part altar boy and part psychotic. He literally seduces Witherspoon, and figuratively seduces her stepmom, her half brother and the family dog. Only Petersen, who understands David's predatory masculinity all too well, resists the guy's charms, and sets off a hair-raising rivalry, with Papa Bear trying to defend his little cub from the New Young Buck on the Block. Thankfully, FEAR glides along with a big dumb grin on its face, utterly unaware that it's about any such thing as male domination, and therein lies its appeal. This same blissful ignorance also makes Fear a better bet on video than it was a theatrical film. Go to a theater and watch Wahlberg stalk a suburban family and you might start wondering if someone's dosed your Pepsi; watch a Wahlberg film on video and realize that it's actually about something, and you feel pretty good about lying around the house in your sweats on a Saturday night. Don't get me wrong, of course. In the end, as Fear winds its way from moderately engaging psychological thriller to ludicrously over-the-top siege movie, you'll find yourself, howsoever absorbed, grateful not to have spent "E" ticket prices for what is little more than a mental kiddy ride. The fact that FEAR works as both pure cotton candy and intriguing horror show is attributable most of all to director James Foley, who's a frustrating talent as likely to produce silly camp (WHO'S THAT GIRL?) or ponderous contrivance (GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS) as chilling drama (AT CLOSE RANGE) or compelling pulp (AFTER DARK, MY SWEET). This time, he's generally on the mark. He's got an appreciative, voyeuristic feel for teenagers (look at his 1984 directorial debut, RECKLESS, an archetypical young-teen-on-bike-gets-laid movie, for a similar pattern), and in FEAR, Alyssa Milano is particularly piquant as Witherspoon's slutty best friend. But Foley's always been a guy's director with a knack for getting performances from young leading men: Sean Penn, Aidan Quinn and Jason Patric have all done solid work with him, and he gets some real moments out of Wahlberg (who has since stunned the world with further evidence of acting talent starting with BOOGIE NIGHTS and culminating in an Oscar nomination for THE DEPARTED. Go figure!) So, sure, give in to FEAR for 90 minutes or so of cheap pleasure, but don't expect it to be anything more than what it looks like: a Mark Wahlberg movie. Which isn't so much to say that it sucks as to register surprise that there's as much good in it as there is.

Fear is a sort-of Fatal Attraction type thriller, though is not the classic that Fatal Attraction has become. Fear, however, is quite effective for what it is and though nothing about it is top-rate as far as a great Thriller goes, the combined package of what Fear offers still grabs hold of you and pulls you in for the ride. David McCall (Mark Wahlberg) catches the eye of Nicole Walker (Reese Witherspoon) and the pair hook up for an evening together after leaving a dance club. Nicole is practically shocked when the man she gets to know is much more than meets the eye, and her dreams seem to be coming true when she thinks she has found the perfect guy. The first half of Fear sets up a love story that is actually enjoyable to watch, as both David and Nicole fall for each other. I never felt the love story was ever very cheesy, especially when the "roller coaster experience" is quite original. David finally meets Nicole's family, and everyone is amazed at this perfect, handsome gentlemen. Everyone except Nicole's father, Steve (William Peterson) who just doesn't buy into it. All good things must come to an end....if it's too good to be true....etc etc...and here we go...David comes by Nicole's school on a typical afternoon to pick her up and witnesses her friend Gary hugging her. The kind and gentle David we thought we knew is suddenly transformed into a raging beast, knocking Gary to the ground and kicking the crap out of him. Smart Nicole thankfully doesn't want anything to do with David again. Regretting his mistake, David apologizes til it wears down Nicole. She gives David another chance, meanwhile outraging Steve. Thus begins the war between Steve and David, and eventually brining the enitre family into the mix. The last half of Fear is, well, Fear. The thrills and suspense begin. The final setting of the film is at the Walker residence, where David and his buddies won't rest until they bust inside and do the damage. Overall, it's a predictable finale, but the bits and pieces getting there are always fun and contain some surprise thrills. You might feel silly when you step out of the spotlight about Fear, cause its certainly not a masterpiece but its a fun ride nevertheless that effectively entertains. If you're looking for a good teenager love story that isn't cheesy follwed by a sudden turn for the worst in terms of thrills, Fear is worth checking out. Acting - 3.5 Characters - 3.5 Story - 3.5 Suspense - 4 Overall - 4

Fear is an fantastic 90's film. 😀👍

One of the best items material that I ever read

Marky mark dude

Item arrived in great condition. Was pleased to be able to finally get a copy of this as it seems it is harder to come by nowadays. One of my favorite movies from the 90s! Love the actors and the thrilling plot played in my dvd player well too 👍

DVDをレコーダーに挿入したら、ガーガー鳴るので、取り出して確認したら、ディスクがひび割れてて、ディスクの周りが溶けてました。こんな状態のDVDディスク、生まれて初めてお目にかかりました。もちろん、星なんか一つもあげられませんよ(怒)しかし、先に進まないので、星一つです。

No fear at all , pretends to be FEAR , but nothing at all . You can just give it a go

I watched this Film a few years ago late one night on channel 5 with my cousin and autie and I thought the Film was awesome then, but I was about 14 and never thought to buy it as it is an 18 rating. But then Mark Walhberg appears in Ted the best Film I have see this year and I thought ah I need to buy Fear so I brought it of amazon great price and the Film was deliverd safely 2 Days later :) What a great choice I made this Film is just totally awesome Reese and Mark are totally babes in this Film I love the cast even down to the dog just a simply fantastic film with a great soundtrack that needs to be relesed. I know this Film is an 18 for anyone worrying that it's scarey it's not I am the biggest wimp when it comes to scary films but this one just isn't it's a great thiller and its Awesoeme!! I highly recommend it to anyone in search of a great Film and Mark is nice and easy on the eyes also, but let me tell you this roller coaster scene HOT!! :) :) :)

zu Anfang denkt man, es ist eine ganz normale Teenager-Beziehung, Mädchen trifft Junge, Mädchen verliebt sich, Happy End... Das ändert sich allerding schnell, und man merkt, dass dieser David doch nicht so nett ist, wie er tut! Obwohl das Ende absehbar ist, hat mich dieser Film sehr in den Bann gezogen. Die schauspielerische Leistung von Wahlberg und Witherspoon ist sehr autentisch! Nur die Alterseinstufung kann ich nicht ganz nachvollziehen, es gibt Filme ab 16, wie beispielsweise Inglourious Basterds, die ich viel brutaler finde, aber es wird Gründe für diese Einstufung geben (auch wenn sie sich mir nicht erschließen...) Alles in allem ein super Film!!!