This is a formula movie, make no mistake. It is an action-adventure, with a mystery, so I won't spill the plot. It begins with the same male hero we see in all movies made after 1940, a man so vicious and mean that the movie's idea is to turn your thinking around about the guy. And after the first few minutes you think "There is no way this guy could ever be anything but a punk", and they "getcha"! A very wonderful turnabout. The character in the movie is the key, and the screen writing, directing, and acting are superb. It maybe the only movie that you ever see that changes your mind about a character from the start, and maybe the best example of a movie which does so. What is extraordinary is that this movie has never resurfaced, and never got the credit it deserved. The end is one of the best Hollywood endings ever since "Charade".
32 Reviews
Forgotten thriller is well worth a look
Leofwine_draca25 April 2016
FEAR IS THE KEY is an unusual and somewhat low key thriller of the 1970s. It's based on a novel by Alistair MacLean that I should imagine few people have heard of, and it stars Barry Newman of VANISHING POINT fame. I was surprised to find out that this is a UK production because you wouldn't be able to tell from watching it. The fact that it was a flop on release means that I'd never heard of it before I saw it showing on TV.
The film begins with an electrifying opening, full of twists, sudden violence, and high speed action. Then we get a lengthy, well-shot car chase clearly included to capitalise on Newman's reputation as a 'car chase' actor, before the movie settles into a rather bogged-down, if not confusing, storyline. However, there seem to be sudden eruptions of violence around every corner, so it's never less than watchable.
Eventually, though, it all makes sense, leading to a climax with an interesting setting. Newman is an acceptable hero but I was particularly excited to see Euro-starlet Suzy Kendall's (THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE) appearance. The by rote villain duties are provided by John Vernon, but the real standout is an incredibly youthful Ben Kingsley - yes, complete with his own head of hair - as a henchman. By the end of its running time, FEAR IS THE KEY has offered up plentiful action, some convoluted plotting, and just a few decent twists, and I thought it passed the time well for what it is.
The film begins with an electrifying opening, full of twists, sudden violence, and high speed action. Then we get a lengthy, well-shot car chase clearly included to capitalise on Newman's reputation as a 'car chase' actor, before the movie settles into a rather bogged-down, if not confusing, storyline. However, there seem to be sudden eruptions of violence around every corner, so it's never less than watchable.
Eventually, though, it all makes sense, leading to a climax with an interesting setting. Newman is an acceptable hero but I was particularly excited to see Euro-starlet Suzy Kendall's (THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE) appearance. The by rote villain duties are provided by John Vernon, but the real standout is an incredibly youthful Ben Kingsley - yes, complete with his own head of hair - as a henchman. By the end of its running time, FEAR IS THE KEY has offered up plentiful action, some convoluted plotting, and just a few decent twists, and I thought it passed the time well for what it is.
Undiscovered cracker of a thriller
barnabyrudge18 November 2002
Warning: Spoilers
I like Alistair MacLean's books, so I approached this film with a sense of dread. Could it be another MacLean book ruined on the big screen, like Bear Island, Caravan to Vaccares or River of Death? Fortunately, this is perhaps the best of all the MacLean's film adaptations. It begins with the most extraordinary car chase imaginable (far better than the much touted one in The French Connection) and never relaxes from that point on. To reveal much of the plot would be a spoiler, but suffice to say that the hero spends most of the film acting as the bad guy, trying to confuse some crooks that he's on their side so that he can get into their organisation and carry out his terrible revenge plan. Barry Newman is terrific as the hero, in a role similar to his Vanishing Point character. John Vernon is a mean villain, too, and Dolph Sweet has a short but pivotal role as a friendly insider. It's impossible to guess what will happen next, but the final scene brings everything together brilliantly, and leaves you quite literally gasping for air. See this soon!!
A superb bit of nostalgia !!
Vindelander14 November 2019
It's aged well. I hadn't seen it in 30 years but thoroughly enjoyed this movie. A very youthful Ben Kingsley and Suzie Kendal support Barry Newman in one of his best known roles.
Good story by Alastair Maclean and screenplay is well crafted to give a satisfying 90 minutes entertainment.
Good story by Alastair Maclean and screenplay is well crafted to give a satisfying 90 minutes entertainment.
Deceptive movie.
dbdumonteil27 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
The title is some kind of misnomer.I would rather call the film " Appearances are the key".The beginning of the film is triteness ,routine thriller : car chase,hostage-taking,fighting...But little by little we begin to realize that all that we are watching is like a trompe-l'oeil painting.Things are not what they seem.You've got to pay attention during the very first scene -a very tragic one,which is given a thoroughly neuter even inhuman treatment-,cause the answer to the questions you ask yourselves only comes at the end.
The final sequences pack a real wallop ,particularly when we see the plane.
This film was almost an anomaly in the seventies scene:to think that at the time the blockbusters were "dirty Harry" and "Shaft" .Talbot is finally much more human than the two superheroes."Fear is the key" has a contemporary feel ,but no remake needed.
The final sequences pack a real wallop ,particularly when we see the plane.
This film was almost an anomaly in the seventies scene:to think that at the time the blockbusters were "dirty Harry" and "Shaft" .Talbot is finally much more human than the two superheroes."Fear is the key" has a contemporary feel ,but no remake needed.
"You're mad! You must be insane!" cries Sarah Ruthven. "I've got nothing to lose," snarls John Talbot
Terrell-42 September 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Watching Fear Is the Key is almost exactly like reading Alistair MacLean's adventure novel on which the movie is based. Or any of MacLean's adventure novels, for that matter. The action is fast, furious and often incomprehensible. The plot roars straight ahead without a care for plausibility, coincidence or loose ends. Women are scarce and irrelevant. The hero can do anything.
MacLean had one great strength, and it's a strength a lot of adventure writers would kill for. He knew how to set up a plot that would capture a reader straight off, and then never let the tempo slow down, always building one readable action sequence after another, however improbable. Fear Is the Key was one of his earlier novels. It holds up as a good action read to finish in a day or two.
The movie is not as good. Novels let us create our own mind images of the action and the ambiance. (Louisiana bayous and tidal swamps are great places to imagine.) Fear Is the Key, the movie, has a lot of action. But since there's no room for our own images in a movie, we're stuck with seeing exactly what the talents of the director, the faces of the actors and the pictures from the cinematographer force us see. It's harder to ignore improbabilities.
The opening, like so many of MacLean's books, has great hooks. We watch and listen to a man on a short-wave radio talk to the pilot of a small cargo plane flying somewhere over the Gulf of Mexico. We hear the man on the ground talk to a young woman on the plane. Then suddenly the plane's pilot yells that an aircraft is firing on them. We hear bullet strikes, screams, the long dive and the crash into the ocean. We don't know what's going on but by now we're interested.
Three years later we meet the man again. John Talbot (Barry Newman), grim and surly, is driving down the Louisiana coast looking for trouble. He finds it, slugging cops, insulting a judge, making a courtroom escape and shooting a court constable, taking a young woman hostage and then spending the next 15 minutes or so on one of the longest car chases I've seen. With police in pursuit and his hostage wishing she were anywhere else, Talbot takes his stolen car screeching and swerving down city streets, across cane fields, smashing through roadblocks, roaring onto a ferry, clattering over wooden roads, and bouncing over potholes. It's kind of boring after awhile because it goes on for so long and -- key point here -- we have no idea what this tough guy's motivation could be. It's forty minutes before the outline of some reasonable motivation takes shape and 60 minutes before the point of the movie is reached. During this time I found it hard to stay interested despite all the violent action and creepy characters. The last forty minutes, however, when plot and motivation finally meet, turn out to be satisfyingly brutal and filled to the brim with revenge. Along the way, in addition to Newman, we meet a puzzling big business natural gas owner played by Ray McAnally; his daughter (the hostage) played by Suzy Kendall; a smoothie crook played by John Vernon; a possibly corrupt cop played by Dolph Sweet (in a fine performance) and a cool hit man with a nearly full head of dark hair played by a young Ben Kingsley. Except for Kendall, a looker but no actress who has an irritating voice that sounds like a little girl was combined with a munchkin, they all do fine jobs.
Newman, who played tough guy heroes in a number of movies during this time, is grim and capable to a fault. His character becomes understandable only in the last five minutes. Newman has to play him as he's written...and Talbot is written to be an ace driver, skilled scuba diver, knowledgeable explorer of an off-shore oil rig, superb pilot and engineer for an undersea submersible, dominant with his fists and his feet, perfection when it comes to crashing through French doors and always ready with an ironic comeback. In other words, he's one of MacLean's typically over-achieving, unbeatable heroes, and completely unbelievable. In my opinion, Barry Newman was a fine actor when he wasn't called upon to be this kind of Hollywood hero. It seems to me he has just gotten better as he has aged. He was terrific in The Limey.
The movie, like Alistair MacLean's books, gives us action and more action, sketchy motivation and enough loose ends to make a big ball of yarn. Still, I thought the book was fun. The movie is fun for the first 10 minutes and the last 40 minutes.
MacLean had one great strength, and it's a strength a lot of adventure writers would kill for. He knew how to set up a plot that would capture a reader straight off, and then never let the tempo slow down, always building one readable action sequence after another, however improbable. Fear Is the Key was one of his earlier novels. It holds up as a good action read to finish in a day or two.
The movie is not as good. Novels let us create our own mind images of the action and the ambiance. (Louisiana bayous and tidal swamps are great places to imagine.) Fear Is the Key, the movie, has a lot of action. But since there's no room for our own images in a movie, we're stuck with seeing exactly what the talents of the director, the faces of the actors and the pictures from the cinematographer force us see. It's harder to ignore improbabilities.
The opening, like so many of MacLean's books, has great hooks. We watch and listen to a man on a short-wave radio talk to the pilot of a small cargo plane flying somewhere over the Gulf of Mexico. We hear the man on the ground talk to a young woman on the plane. Then suddenly the plane's pilot yells that an aircraft is firing on them. We hear bullet strikes, screams, the long dive and the crash into the ocean. We don't know what's going on but by now we're interested.
Three years later we meet the man again. John Talbot (Barry Newman), grim and surly, is driving down the Louisiana coast looking for trouble. He finds it, slugging cops, insulting a judge, making a courtroom escape and shooting a court constable, taking a young woman hostage and then spending the next 15 minutes or so on one of the longest car chases I've seen. With police in pursuit and his hostage wishing she were anywhere else, Talbot takes his stolen car screeching and swerving down city streets, across cane fields, smashing through roadblocks, roaring onto a ferry, clattering over wooden roads, and bouncing over potholes. It's kind of boring after awhile because it goes on for so long and -- key point here -- we have no idea what this tough guy's motivation could be. It's forty minutes before the outline of some reasonable motivation takes shape and 60 minutes before the point of the movie is reached. During this time I found it hard to stay interested despite all the violent action and creepy characters. The last forty minutes, however, when plot and motivation finally meet, turn out to be satisfyingly brutal and filled to the brim with revenge. Along the way, in addition to Newman, we meet a puzzling big business natural gas owner played by Ray McAnally; his daughter (the hostage) played by Suzy Kendall; a smoothie crook played by John Vernon; a possibly corrupt cop played by Dolph Sweet (in a fine performance) and a cool hit man with a nearly full head of dark hair played by a young Ben Kingsley. Except for Kendall, a looker but no actress who has an irritating voice that sounds like a little girl was combined with a munchkin, they all do fine jobs.
Newman, who played tough guy heroes in a number of movies during this time, is grim and capable to a fault. His character becomes understandable only in the last five minutes. Newman has to play him as he's written...and Talbot is written to be an ace driver, skilled scuba diver, knowledgeable explorer of an off-shore oil rig, superb pilot and engineer for an undersea submersible, dominant with his fists and his feet, perfection when it comes to crashing through French doors and always ready with an ironic comeback. In other words, he's one of MacLean's typically over-achieving, unbeatable heroes, and completely unbelievable. In my opinion, Barry Newman was a fine actor when he wasn't called upon to be this kind of Hollywood hero. It seems to me he has just gotten better as he has aged. He was terrific in The Limey.
The movie, like Alistair MacLean's books, gives us action and more action, sketchy motivation and enough loose ends to make a big ball of yarn. Still, I thought the book was fun. The movie is fun for the first 10 minutes and the last 40 minutes.
Rarely seen twister of a film .......
merklekranz31 August 2015
This is one of those movies with a mammoth "I did not see that coming" moment. The set up for this startling revelation is quite convincing, and Barry Newman's motivation for revenge is overwhelmingly strong. Unheralded character actor, Dolph Sweet, steals every scene he is part of. Ben Kingsley with hair takes some adjusting to, but his acting is solid. Unfortunately John Vernon was not convincing as the head bad guy, perhaps because I can't get by thinking of him as Dean Wormer in "Animal House". The movie itself is extremely uneven, with a grabber opening, followed by a prolonged car chase that seems like it was yanked right out of a "Smokey and the Bandit" movie. The actual plot is murky and difficult to follow, but is pulled together quite well in the showdown conclusion. Recommended for the unusual twisted plot and some solid performances. - MERK
Great suspense, either down in Louisiana or at the bottom of the sea
Coventry21 November 2020
Now, I know that action/adventure movies based on Alistair MacLean novels usually require a large portion of suspension of disbelief, but "Fear is the Key" is extra far-fetched! A grieving man stages an entire criminal career, including a spectacularly violent escape from the court room with murder and hostage-taking, only so that he can infiltrate as a salvage expert into a gangster squad that wants to retrieve a valuable loot from a sunken airplane. Don't worry if it sounds too convoluted or incomprehensible, as the film is easy to follow and very entertaining.
There are three main reasons why "Fear is the Key" is a class above the vast majority of contemporary adventure/mystery thrillers. #1: the chase. A film that features a nearly 20-minutes-long car chase with, behind the wheel, Barry Newman, the same cult-movie stunt driver as in the legendary "Vanishing Point"? Yes, please! Excellent Louisianan filming locations, too. #2: the cast. The aforementioned Barry Newman is cool, as always, but particularly the bad guys impress. Sure, he's typecast, but nobody depicts a loathsome villain like John Vernon does. The film also stars a young Ben Kingsley, and he's truly awesome as a silent but deadly menacing hired killer. #3: the climax. I guarantee that "Fear is the Key" has one of the most intense, captivating and edge-of-the-seat suspenseful endings you'll ever see.
There are three main reasons why "Fear is the Key" is a class above the vast majority of contemporary adventure/mystery thrillers. #1: the chase. A film that features a nearly 20-minutes-long car chase with, behind the wheel, Barry Newman, the same cult-movie stunt driver as in the legendary "Vanishing Point"? Yes, please! Excellent Louisianan filming locations, too. #2: the cast. The aforementioned Barry Newman is cool, as always, but particularly the bad guys impress. Sure, he's typecast, but nobody depicts a loathsome villain like John Vernon does. The film also stars a young Ben Kingsley, and he's truly awesome as a silent but deadly menacing hired killer. #3: the climax. I guarantee that "Fear is the Key" has one of the most intense, captivating and edge-of-the-seat suspenseful endings you'll ever see.
One of the All Time Great Adventure Movies You've Probably Never Heard About
cinemaisdope4 July 2001
I was browsing the commentary track on the DVD release of Soderbergh's movie *The Limey* where he and screenwriter Lem Dobbs are talking about Barry Newman and movies with cool chases... Lem Dobbs just so happens to mention his fondness for "Fear is the Key" and it's cool car chase sequence, etc., Once I hear the words "movie" and "cool car chase" in the same sentence my interest automatically goes through the roof... as there is nothing better I like than a movie with a cool car chase in it. I ask all my friends if they've heard of the movie and no one, and I mean NO ONE I know has ever even heard of the movie. When I was at Tarantino's 4th Annual Film Fest I asked him about the movie and he hadn't even seen it (though he just had gotten a print of it). So here for this huge period of time was this movie I had been building up and dying to see...
Well at last I finally got to see it (as I found a place that was legit and sold copies of it) and was not let down in the slightest though I will say the last 5 minutes of the movie has one of the most original and intense endings I've ever seen. The movie is worth watching for seeing a tour de force performance by Barry Newman, the very very gorgeous Suzy Kendall (whom was also in Torso), and a pre-Gandhi Ben Kingsley (with hair), a very electrifying and long car chase that is one of the coolest car chases I've ever seen in a movie, and the last 5 minutes which just sucks you in and makes you forget your watching a movie... I mean the ending just literally has you on the edge of your seat. This movie is also a must for any Alistair Maclaine fans since it was based on Alistairs novel of the same title.
The movie starts out slowly and your not quite sure where it is going to go. It drifts along for the first couple of minutes and then *BAM* it takes off like a bat out of hell and never slows down until the credits roll at the end. It is one of those few action/adventure movies where you aren't quite sure what is going to happen next, which way it will twist, nor are you really sure of the intentions or alliances that any of the characters... it just literally takes you on a wild ride of adventure and intrigue.
The car chase sequence which goes on for quite some time (like around 10 minutes or so) is just one of the all time coolest car chases you will see in a movie. I mean it's not on the level of the French Connection, or Bullitt, or the all out craziness of The Master Touch... but it is cool in it's own unique way of sorta of throwing out the usual movie rules cliche that you can only have a car chase on a road. In this movie if a car is coming down the road right at Barry Newman... he doesn't try to hit it dead on or try to out maneuver it on the actual road... he is like forget that and takes off into the woods, forest or beach or whatever is around him... you get the sense he'd take his car through a supermarket or a iceberg if he had to. Which makes the scene electrifying with movie coolness.
I would talk about the ending more but... sigh... it just is so unique and surprising... it would be a huge injustice to say anything other than it was my favorite part of the movie and I'm surprise a James Bond film hasn't ripped it off yet.
Barry Newman shines John Talbot and puts on a tour de force type of performance that is so friggin good and cool! You rarely ever get such a cool acting performance in a action/adventure type movie... yet Barry Newman here shows why he was one of the best and coolest actors of the 70's and even today!
I will say I just loved loved Suzy Kendall in this movie. Of course she is just gorgeous but I mean she made the most of her role, whereas with other actresses they could have just completely walked through the role with blandness with zero effort. I had previous seen Suzy in the movie Torso so I was already a big fan of her work.
Alistair Maclaine who wrote the novel to which the movie is based on is known for full throttle engaging novels full of adventure that once they get into gear they grab a hold of you until the very end. You can chalk this one as another one of Alistair's novels that was made into a great movie (Guns of Navarone, Ice Station Zebra, Where Eagles Dare, are some of the other and more well known).
So I am very thankful now to Lem Dobbs who inspired me to see this fine flick and hopefully now I can spread that onto others now to see this forgotten but great movie.
Well at last I finally got to see it (as I found a place that was legit and sold copies of it) and was not let down in the slightest though I will say the last 5 minutes of the movie has one of the most original and intense endings I've ever seen. The movie is worth watching for seeing a tour de force performance by Barry Newman, the very very gorgeous Suzy Kendall (whom was also in Torso), and a pre-Gandhi Ben Kingsley (with hair), a very electrifying and long car chase that is one of the coolest car chases I've ever seen in a movie, and the last 5 minutes which just sucks you in and makes you forget your watching a movie... I mean the ending just literally has you on the edge of your seat. This movie is also a must for any Alistair Maclaine fans since it was based on Alistairs novel of the same title.
The movie starts out slowly and your not quite sure where it is going to go. It drifts along for the first couple of minutes and then *BAM* it takes off like a bat out of hell and never slows down until the credits roll at the end. It is one of those few action/adventure movies where you aren't quite sure what is going to happen next, which way it will twist, nor are you really sure of the intentions or alliances that any of the characters... it just literally takes you on a wild ride of adventure and intrigue.
The car chase sequence which goes on for quite some time (like around 10 minutes or so) is just one of the all time coolest car chases you will see in a movie. I mean it's not on the level of the French Connection, or Bullitt, or the all out craziness of The Master Touch... but it is cool in it's own unique way of sorta of throwing out the usual movie rules cliche that you can only have a car chase on a road. In this movie if a car is coming down the road right at Barry Newman... he doesn't try to hit it dead on or try to out maneuver it on the actual road... he is like forget that and takes off into the woods, forest or beach or whatever is around him... you get the sense he'd take his car through a supermarket or a iceberg if he had to. Which makes the scene electrifying with movie coolness.
I would talk about the ending more but... sigh... it just is so unique and surprising... it would be a huge injustice to say anything other than it was my favorite part of the movie and I'm surprise a James Bond film hasn't ripped it off yet.
Barry Newman shines John Talbot and puts on a tour de force type of performance that is so friggin good and cool! You rarely ever get such a cool acting performance in a action/adventure type movie... yet Barry Newman here shows why he was one of the best and coolest actors of the 70's and even today!
I will say I just loved loved Suzy Kendall in this movie. Of course she is just gorgeous but I mean she made the most of her role, whereas with other actresses they could have just completely walked through the role with blandness with zero effort. I had previous seen Suzy in the movie Torso so I was already a big fan of her work.
Alistair Maclaine who wrote the novel to which the movie is based on is known for full throttle engaging novels full of adventure that once they get into gear they grab a hold of you until the very end. You can chalk this one as another one of Alistair's novels that was made into a great movie (Guns of Navarone, Ice Station Zebra, Where Eagles Dare, are some of the other and more well known).
So I am very thankful now to Lem Dobbs who inspired me to see this fine flick and hopefully now I can spread that onto others now to see this forgotten but great movie.
Bathyspheres, helicopters and automobiles
Lejink17 November 2018
I must have read every Alistair MacLean novel growing up so I'm sure I've read this one in the distant past though I don't recall anything about it nor do I think I ever saw this movie before. I know Barry Newman from his last-minute-lawyer Petrocelli TV role later in the decade but he's possibly better here as John Talbot, a man on a mission although, while the mission is indicated only cryptically at the beginning, it becomes crystal clear by the end.
Until it does, the film narrative leaves criss-crossing dust-trails as to his motives and in so doing seems to conform to other early 70's adventure movies with a violent courtroom escape, lengthy car chase and the hostage-taking of a pretty girl but once the reveal is made as to what his intentions are, the plot plays out to a surprisingly taut, claustrophobic finish and not the crash-bang-wallop affair you might have expected after the all-action beginning.
For a British B-movie, the production values are surprisingly high as witness the scenes inside the bathysphere, during the storm and of course the ten minute plus car chase. Newman turns in a terse, committed performance and there's good support from main villain John Vernon, his main henchman, a young Ben Kingsley on his film debut and Dolph Sweet as an ex-cop private detective who gets caught in the slipstream of events. Suzy Kendall mostly plays the role she and Susan George almost played by rote around this time although she does show some moxy coming to Newman's aid in a fight scene.
As for the direction, I appreciated the subversion of the traditional adventure movie plotting of the time by starting the action loudly and finishing it all quietly but effectively. Roy "Get Carter" Budd also delivers a background score which does all that an early 70's soundtrack needs to do.
All in all a watchable and entertaining thriller with more than one twist in the tale.
Until it does, the film narrative leaves criss-crossing dust-trails as to his motives and in so doing seems to conform to other early 70's adventure movies with a violent courtroom escape, lengthy car chase and the hostage-taking of a pretty girl but once the reveal is made as to what his intentions are, the plot plays out to a surprisingly taut, claustrophobic finish and not the crash-bang-wallop affair you might have expected after the all-action beginning.
For a British B-movie, the production values are surprisingly high as witness the scenes inside the bathysphere, during the storm and of course the ten minute plus car chase. Newman turns in a terse, committed performance and there's good support from main villain John Vernon, his main henchman, a young Ben Kingsley on his film debut and Dolph Sweet as an ex-cop private detective who gets caught in the slipstream of events. Suzy Kendall mostly plays the role she and Susan George almost played by rote around this time although she does show some moxy coming to Newman's aid in a fight scene.
As for the direction, I appreciated the subversion of the traditional adventure movie plotting of the time by starting the action loudly and finishing it all quietly but effectively. Roy "Get Carter" Budd also delivers a background score which does all that an early 70's soundtrack needs to do.
All in all a watchable and entertaining thriller with more than one twist in the tale.
Poor, predictable nonsense.
john-70-69027816 May 2021
Reading other reviews, I'm wondering if I've watched the same film. For me, 'Fear is the Key' is bitty, confusing and illogical. Even as a product of its 1972 origin, it's a very poor offering. I have trouble believing that the novel on which it's based isn't rather better.
The action is frequently ridiculous, the lengthy car chase being one of the more implausible elements, while the characters are wooden, the dialogue banal and the direction seriously weak, with too much style and too little substance. The plot itself is obscure and the 'twist' is obvious from very early on. Only at the very end is there anything that approximates to tension or suspense or, indeed, a scene that lasts for any length of time with reasonable dialogue.
John Vernon plays a the archetypal villain, but hardly seems enthused by his role, Barry Newman the hero who is on a mission and tackling a whole gang of crooks single-handed. Suzy Kendall provides the female interest, doing very little while looking terrified most of the time she's on screen, which isn't much.
Altogether it adds up to a pretty dreadful film. It's one I would not bother watching again and rather regret the time wasted in watching it at all. There are far better films of similar type from the same era and I'm far from surprised that this one has been largely forgotten.
The action is frequently ridiculous, the lengthy car chase being one of the more implausible elements, while the characters are wooden, the dialogue banal and the direction seriously weak, with too much style and too little substance. The plot itself is obscure and the 'twist' is obvious from very early on. Only at the very end is there anything that approximates to tension or suspense or, indeed, a scene that lasts for any length of time with reasonable dialogue.
John Vernon plays a the archetypal villain, but hardly seems enthused by his role, Barry Newman the hero who is on a mission and tackling a whole gang of crooks single-handed. Suzy Kendall provides the female interest, doing very little while looking terrified most of the time she's on screen, which isn't much.
Altogether it adds up to a pretty dreadful film. It's one I would not bother watching again and rather regret the time wasted in watching it at all. There are far better films of similar type from the same era and I'm far from surprised that this one has been largely forgotten.
Unpredictable to the very end.
WOZ inOZ8 October 1999
Fine actioner based on Alistair MacLean's novel holds a few surprises for those lucky enough to catch this underrated gem. An unorthodox and at times bitty script is held together by an amiable cast including a young Ben Kingsley (debuting with a full head of hair) surprisingly in his only film before his Oscar winning performance of 'Ghandi' ten years later.
The screenplay is a crafty one, with Barry Newman ploughing through the first half of the film seemingly out of control and playing a role hauntingly similar to his one in 'Vanishing Point' but this time in a Ford Gran Torino, keeping the viewer guessing what's going to happen next and why. After a slightly boggy, espionage filled middle act the film coolly builds to a dramatic nail-biting finale and it is only here in the film's dying moments do you actually discover the truth. Though the ending may not quite reach some viewers expectations, it does wrap things up succinctly, making the thrills on the way (including a fine car chase that bursts from a courthouse breakout) all the more worthwhile.
The screenplay is a crafty one, with Barry Newman ploughing through the first half of the film seemingly out of control and playing a role hauntingly similar to his one in 'Vanishing Point' but this time in a Ford Gran Torino, keeping the viewer guessing what's going to happen next and why. After a slightly boggy, espionage filled middle act the film coolly builds to a dramatic nail-biting finale and it is only here in the film's dying moments do you actually discover the truth. Though the ending may not quite reach some viewers expectations, it does wrap things up succinctly, making the thrills on the way (including a fine car chase that bursts from a courthouse breakout) all the more worthwhile.
Generally efficient thriller
gridoon202429 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Action takes precedence over characterization in "Fear Is The Key", but that's not necessarily a bad thing. There are great car stunts in the first half, and a memorable climax set underwater. Some of the plot twists are rather obvious, and John Vernon's casting gives away the identity of the chief bad guy almost instantly. Not that he doesn't make an excellent bad guy, as does Ben Kingsley, playing a seriously creepy hit-man in his film debut. Barry Newman is a solid antihero who sheds the "anti" as the film proceeds. Suzy Kendall is beautiful but not asked to do much, except for her participation in one close-quarters fight scene where she tries to help Newman. A successful film on its own modest terms. **1/2 out of 4.
Too Short!
davyd-0223717 April 2019
For those of us old enough to have read Alaistair MacLeans original book, the film is too short to cram everything in, leaving only the basics, with the final showdown all too brief. John Vernon did look out of place to present us with his usually convincing "bad guy" which is a pity for someone whose screen presence was always powerful. The car sequence chase is pretty good and we also have a younger Ben Kingsley as well as Suzy Kendall. Tony Anholts brief appearances are never explained so you have to work it out!. Worth watching, but get the book for something far more gritty
Good thriller but lacks the power of the book
bob the moo1 October 2001
Drawn from Alistair McLean's book of the same name this is a solid thriller that twists and turns nicely throughout. Barry Newman is good as Talbot, the character who finds himself drawn into shady dealings. While the mobsters are adequate (including an early appearance by Ben Kingsley!).
The twist are good but if you've read the book it really takes away from the movie as there is not a whole lot else to hold the interest. However the twists keep you guessing what people's motives are almost up till the end - having said that it's not in the league of Se7en or Usual Suspects so don't expect too much.
The ending is a strange anti-climax to the film, I won't give it away but it is rather muted considering the plot up till that point.
Overall a good story but let down by a lack of any real extended tension and a disappointing conclusion. Turn off the TV and go and read the book - it's much better!
The twist are good but if you've read the book it really takes away from the movie as there is not a whole lot else to hold the interest. However the twists keep you guessing what people's motives are almost up till the end - having said that it's not in the league of Se7en or Usual Suspects so don't expect too much.
The ending is a strange anti-climax to the film, I won't give it away but it is rather muted considering the plot up till that point.
Overall a good story but let down by a lack of any real extended tension and a disappointing conclusion. Turn off the TV and go and read the book - it's much better!
A wild ride
gbill-7487712 November 2023
This is a film that seems predictable in the beginning with its lengthy car chase, shifts gears for some unanticipated twists that make it seem like it's going to get kinda bonkers, but then all comes together in down the stretch, making for a pretty satisfying film. The on-location footage in Louisiana is certainly a plus, bringing a sense of realism to counterbalance the wild story.
I have to say, there is only so much (ahem) mileage I can get out of a car chase scene, but if vintage 70's type action like that is your thing, you'll probably like the chase near the beginning, which is over 13 minutes long and goes over all sorts of Louisiana terrain. Never mind that the length of the chase makes little sense given what we find out later. Regardless, if that sounds boring, stick around, as what follows has some nice bits of intrigue and drama, particularly at the end.
The film has a solid cast for a lower budget effort, featuring Barry Newman of Vanishing Point fame, regular bad guy from the 70's John Vernon, a truly fine performance from Dolph Sweet, and Ben Kingsley in his very first film. Kingsley would not appear in another movie for a decade, when he hit the big-time playing Gandhi, which is quite a contrast. Suzy Kendall is unfortunately a weak link, in part because her character isn't given a lot to do, and in part because her performance is somewhat tepid.
Overall, really solid as a B type movie, and a lot of fun, so much so that I almost considered a slightly higher rating.
I have to say, there is only so much (ahem) mileage I can get out of a car chase scene, but if vintage 70's type action like that is your thing, you'll probably like the chase near the beginning, which is over 13 minutes long and goes over all sorts of Louisiana terrain. Never mind that the length of the chase makes little sense given what we find out later. Regardless, if that sounds boring, stick around, as what follows has some nice bits of intrigue and drama, particularly at the end.
The film has a solid cast for a lower budget effort, featuring Barry Newman of Vanishing Point fame, regular bad guy from the 70's John Vernon, a truly fine performance from Dolph Sweet, and Ben Kingsley in his very first film. Kingsley would not appear in another movie for a decade, when he hit the big-time playing Gandhi, which is quite a contrast. Suzy Kendall is unfortunately a weak link, in part because her character isn't given a lot to do, and in part because her performance is somewhat tepid.
Overall, really solid as a B type movie, and a lot of fun, so much so that I almost considered a slightly higher rating.
One of those great movies nobody has heard of !
p-jacksonturner23 July 2006
This is one of my favourite movies of the 70's and in my opinion , very underrated. I certainly think it has the best car chase , ie; when the car is dented , it remains so in the next shot , not back to showroom condition ! ( the one in Bullitt is perhaps the coolest , but how many times does McQueen pass that green Beetle ! ) along with the great Roy Budd soundtrack. Barry Newman is great in the lead role , and although the plot is a bit far-fetched in places, it is great entertainment and has a good twist at the end , but I do think the underwater scenes looked a bit like the bottom of a goldfish pond ! One of those great movies nobody has heard of ! This is available on DVD in Scandinavian countries so grab a copy.
Very weak, thoroughly unengaging
vostf10 June 2023
The main problem here seems to be a very mediocre director, then Barry Newman and Suzy Kendall are both really mediocre in it (and it looks like they would have benefited from a tyrannical director with a much stronger grip on his story). At no point does it look better than your average TV detective episode from the turn of the 1970s.
Oh yes, there is a 20-min. Long car chase. Which makes no sense story-wise, reality-wise or technically-wise: what can you show for 20min that doesn't feel like a boring chase OR jumping the shark?
The plot is meh because you're either kept in the dark of routine action in a 70s B-movie, or heavily let in on what is actually going on.
Eventually it looks cheap and desperately unconvincing. John Vernon and Ben Kingsley can only offer a glimpse of real charismatic characters, and Roy Budd's score is mangled in between the beginning and end credits.
Oh yes, there is a 20-min. Long car chase. Which makes no sense story-wise, reality-wise or technically-wise: what can you show for 20min that doesn't feel like a boring chase OR jumping the shark?
The plot is meh because you're either kept in the dark of routine action in a 70s B-movie, or heavily let in on what is actually going on.
Eventually it looks cheap and desperately unconvincing. John Vernon and Ben Kingsley can only offer a glimpse of real charismatic characters, and Roy Budd's score is mangled in between the beginning and end credits.
If you like the car chases in VANISHING POINT...
udar555 February 2006
WOW! I watched this adaptation of an Alistair MacLean novel tonight and it is fantastic. Barry Newman stars as John Talbot, a drifter who ends up getting into it with the local police in a parish in Louisiana. He gets hauled before a judge but breaks out of the courtroom, taking oil heiress Sarah Ruthven (Suzy Kendall) hostage in the process. What happens after that is gonna remain a secret for the element of surprise.
This is a slammin' action film in reverse. The first half hour is comprised of an amazing car chase that is right up there with the likes of THE FRENCH CONNECTION. Seriously, this is one of the greatest (and unheralded) car chases of all-time (courtesy of VANISHING POINT's stunt coordinator Cary Loftin). After that, the film settles down to tell Talbot's complex story. Newman, also fresh off that other car chase epic VANISHING POINT, is quite good as the mysterious Talbot. Supporting turns include John Vernon (I wonder if he a good guy), Dolph Sweet and a weaselly looking guy in his film debut named Ben Kingsley. The stellar score is supplied by Roy Budd (GET CARTER).
This is a slammin' action film in reverse. The first half hour is comprised of an amazing car chase that is right up there with the likes of THE FRENCH CONNECTION. Seriously, this is one of the greatest (and unheralded) car chases of all-time (courtesy of VANISHING POINT's stunt coordinator Cary Loftin). After that, the film settles down to tell Talbot's complex story. Newman, also fresh off that other car chase epic VANISHING POINT, is quite good as the mysterious Talbot. Supporting turns include John Vernon (I wonder if he a good guy), Dolph Sweet and a weaselly looking guy in his film debut named Ben Kingsley. The stellar score is supplied by Roy Budd (GET CARTER).
You can do better.
bombersflyup2 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Fear is the Key is quite the dull affair.
There's like a forty minute car chase by the police near the beginning and we find that it's all been staged. So why did we watch him driving around for so long then? Not exactly safe for everyone involved and no guarantee of anything. The characters are wooden, particularly lead Barry Newman and actress Suzy Kendall does almost nothing and isn't a love interest because he's out for the revenge of his family. I was half asleep I gotta say, so I may not be giving it enough credit. I re-watched the ending and that's alright, putting all the pieces together. Ben Kingsley's debut film by the way.
There's like a forty minute car chase by the police near the beginning and we find that it's all been staged. So why did we watch him driving around for so long then? Not exactly safe for everyone involved and no guarantee of anything. The characters are wooden, particularly lead Barry Newman and actress Suzy Kendall does almost nothing and isn't a love interest because he's out for the revenge of his family. I was half asleep I gotta say, so I may not be giving it enough credit. I re-watched the ending and that's alright, putting all the pieces together. Ben Kingsley's debut film by the way.
One of the best Alistair Maclean Film/Novels Ever!
cato900729 June 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Underrated in both cinematic and musical score terms, Fear is the iconic embodiment, of seventies real action cinema, without the gadgets. The haunting theme music by child prodigy Roy Budd("GET CARTER"). "God bless him", Is probably one of the greatest in cinematic history. Barry Newman(Petrocelli) and Vanishing Point, the original! Yet again another underrated actor, whom Hollywood did not completely embrace. Class performances from John Vernon, The charismatic Tony Anholt (The Protectors/Space 1999) put this movie in a league up there with few others. The eye candy provided by Suzi Kendal, is not disappointing. A "9" minute car chase to rival any. The ending will leave you gasping for breath. A must for anyone who wants some excitement in their lives, its a shame that a well known TV company who has the rights to this movie, does not screen it as often, as some of the lesser quality celluloid it transmits.
Disjointed dribble
imknight2 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
If you want to see poor acting in big American long cars in a chase sequence through swamp land then this us for you . The film starts out a man listening to a radio from a plane ,then a women screams , plane crashes , man is expressionless . Next scene he is driving through a town stopping at a petrol station exuding anger at everyone . Assaults a publican , 2 policeman and ends up in court then escapes by shooting dead a police officer while kidnapping a lady which starts a silly car chase . Dialogue is almost completely gone with just screaming by that women . It just has no story and how can you feel sympathy for a man who is trying to find out who killed his family in a plane crash when all he is doing us killing innocent people . Just awful.
Fear in Louisiana!
ShadeGrenade6 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
'Fear Is The Key' is an underrated action movie from 1972, based on the bestselling novel by Alistair Maclean. When I was at school, Mac's books were on the list of most popular 'behind the bike shed' reading, along with Fleming's 'James Bond' novels, 'Jaws' by Peter Benchley, and 'The Exorcist' by William Peter Blatty. Mac knew how to spin a yarn alright. Much of his stuff was filmed, including 'The Guns Of Navarone', 'The Satan Bug', 'Ice Station Zebra', and 'Puppet On A Chain'.
'Fear' opens in Louisiana, as an unnamed man ( Barry Newman ) is in radio contact with a plane. Suddenly it is shot out of the sky, and crashes. He looks mortified. We then move to a bar, where the same man raises a fuss because he cannot get a drink on a Sunday. He then beats up cops when they try to arrest him. He winds up in court, and here we learn his name is John Talbot, a former underwater salvage expert wanted by Interpol. Also present is Sarah Ruthven ( Suzy Kendall ). Before he can be sentenced, Talbot escapes, taking Suzy as hostage. In a stolen car, they are chased relentlessly.
That's enough plot. To tell you more would be to spoil it. Suffice to say, that Talbot is not what he seems and the stakes are bigger than they first appear. A very good supporting cast includes John Vernon and Ben Kingsley ( in his first movie role ).
Roy Budd wrote the music, and as you'd expect coming from the guy who scored 'Get Carter' its first-rate.
The action is fast ( that car chase goes on forever! ), and Newman looks cool as the hero. Kendall ( a former wife of Dudley Moore ) is stunning, and refreshingly we never see her getting it on with Talbot.
Some have commented on the 'anti-climactic' ending, but I disagree. It is the same as the one in the book, and the film makers were right to use it. It is incredibly tense ( and as an asthmatic myself, I sympathise with the hero's plight! ) and rounds the film off perfectly. If you liked the other Maclean movies, you ought to like this too.
Michael Tuchner, the director, made the Richard Burton gangster drama 'Villain' the year before.
'Fear' opens in Louisiana, as an unnamed man ( Barry Newman ) is in radio contact with a plane. Suddenly it is shot out of the sky, and crashes. He looks mortified. We then move to a bar, where the same man raises a fuss because he cannot get a drink on a Sunday. He then beats up cops when they try to arrest him. He winds up in court, and here we learn his name is John Talbot, a former underwater salvage expert wanted by Interpol. Also present is Sarah Ruthven ( Suzy Kendall ). Before he can be sentenced, Talbot escapes, taking Suzy as hostage. In a stolen car, they are chased relentlessly.
That's enough plot. To tell you more would be to spoil it. Suffice to say, that Talbot is not what he seems and the stakes are bigger than they first appear. A very good supporting cast includes John Vernon and Ben Kingsley ( in his first movie role ).
Roy Budd wrote the music, and as you'd expect coming from the guy who scored 'Get Carter' its first-rate.
The action is fast ( that car chase goes on forever! ), and Newman looks cool as the hero. Kendall ( a former wife of Dudley Moore ) is stunning, and refreshingly we never see her getting it on with Talbot.
Some have commented on the 'anti-climactic' ending, but I disagree. It is the same as the one in the book, and the film makers were right to use it. It is incredibly tense ( and as an asthmatic myself, I sympathise with the hero's plight! ) and rounds the film off perfectly. If you liked the other Maclean movies, you ought to like this too.
Michael Tuchner, the director, made the Richard Burton gangster drama 'Villain' the year before.
Fear is the key
BandSAboutMovies29 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
John Talbot (Barry Newman, Vanishing Point) shows up in a small Louisiana town and nearly immediately starts a fight with some cops, goes to jail and it's soon discovered that he is wanted for killing a policeman and robbing a bank. He then escapes, abducting Sarah Ruthven (Suzy Kendall), who just so happens to be the daughter of a millionaire. But nothing in this movie is as it seems.
Directed by Michael Tuchner with stunt sequences coordinated by Carey Loftin (Bullit, The French Connection), Fear Is the Key is really about Talbot faking his way into becoming a criminal in order to find out who killed his wife and son, going the whole way to the depths of the ocean to get the answers and retribution that he craves.
It's also Ben Kingsley's first movie, although he would only work on the stage on on TV for a decade until he was in his next movie, Ghandi.
As exciting as the book that this was based on, written by Alistair MacLean, there's nothing like getting a twenty-minute car chase that features Newman driving a 1972 Ford Gran Torino. Loftin was the king of scenes like this, as well as being the driver of famous car scenes in Duel and Christine. That chase happens at the beginning of the movie, which may seem like a strange way to structure a movie, but sometimes, you give it your best shot right from the starting flag.
Directed by Michael Tuchner with stunt sequences coordinated by Carey Loftin (Bullit, The French Connection), Fear Is the Key is really about Talbot faking his way into becoming a criminal in order to find out who killed his wife and son, going the whole way to the depths of the ocean to get the answers and retribution that he craves.
It's also Ben Kingsley's first movie, although he would only work on the stage on on TV for a decade until he was in his next movie, Ghandi.
As exciting as the book that this was based on, written by Alistair MacLean, there's nothing like getting a twenty-minute car chase that features Newman driving a 1972 Ford Gran Torino. Loftin was the king of scenes like this, as well as being the driver of famous car scenes in Duel and Christine. That chase happens at the beginning of the movie, which may seem like a strange way to structure a movie, but sometimes, you give it your best shot right from the starting flag.
Amazing twist for first time viewing!
anthonymclaughlin866 August 2008
Firstly I will say that this film definitely has an impact like the original 'Planet of Apes' with the late great Charlton Heston.
However, with multiple viewing you will discover more and more about the lead character 'Talbot' - so believably played out by the under-rated talented actor Barry Newman, and the storyline will become even more engaging. I would simply recommend you either buy the DVD or await the Blue-Ray version when it comes out from the date I have posted this review.
The supporting cast is very good, including Dolph Sweet, John Vernon, earliest appearance of Ben Kingsley (with some hair still) and the lovely Suzy Kendall.
It is not until near the end of the film that you realise where the film is actually going with it's unique ending inside a mini-submarine (or Bath-Escape as it was called) called the Fathom. The car chase is well choreographed and in a Smokey and the Bandit style - even longer than the car chases in Bullitt and French Connection.
Without going into too much detail, I have not read the book by the classic novelist Alistair MaClean, but if it is even better than the theatre adaptation of the story then maybe one day I will have to seek out the book, because this film, despite it's old age is a classic in my mind.
Find it, and I guarantee you will like it a lot. It takes a bit of getting used to when seeing Barry Newman in a role like this, because he definitely has an 'un-likely' hero look about him. But the more you watch it, the more you will realise that he has the perfect face for the role.
However, with multiple viewing you will discover more and more about the lead character 'Talbot' - so believably played out by the under-rated talented actor Barry Newman, and the storyline will become even more engaging. I would simply recommend you either buy the DVD or await the Blue-Ray version when it comes out from the date I have posted this review.
The supporting cast is very good, including Dolph Sweet, John Vernon, earliest appearance of Ben Kingsley (with some hair still) and the lovely Suzy Kendall.
It is not until near the end of the film that you realise where the film is actually going with it's unique ending inside a mini-submarine (or Bath-Escape as it was called) called the Fathom. The car chase is well choreographed and in a Smokey and the Bandit style - even longer than the car chases in Bullitt and French Connection.
Without going into too much detail, I have not read the book by the classic novelist Alistair MaClean, but if it is even better than the theatre adaptation of the story then maybe one day I will have to seek out the book, because this film, despite it's old age is a classic in my mind.
Find it, and I guarantee you will like it a lot. It takes a bit of getting used to when seeing Barry Newman in a role like this, because he definitely has an 'un-likely' hero look about him. But the more you watch it, the more you will realise that he has the perfect face for the role.
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