A Problem with Fear (2003)

A young man in Calgary, Alberta is multiphobic: nonetheless, he believes that he is the cause of the fear which is killing people around him.

Director:

Gary Burns

Writers:

Donna Brunsdale, Gary Burns

Stars:

Paulo Costanzo, Emily Hampshire, Camille Sullivan

2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Paulo Costanzo	...	Laurie
Emily Hampshire	...	Dot
Camille Sullivan	...	Michelle
Benjamin Ratner	...	Alan
Keegan Connor Tracy	...	Vicky
Jennifer Clement	...	Tina
James McBurney	...	Bill
Willie Garson	...	Erin
Marnie Alton	...	Daphne
Donna Brunsdale	...	Wanda
Peter Strand Rumpel	...	Jerry
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gregory D. Alvas	...	Stylish Young Man
Michael Matthew Barker	...	Business Man
Rita Bozi	...	P.A. Announcer
Lee Cameron	...	Businessman #1

Storyline

A young man in Calgary, Alberta is multiphobic: nonetheless, he believes that he is the cause of the fear which is killing people around him.

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Plot Keywords:

anxiety | female frontal nudity | freak accident | nudity | elevator | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 April 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Parano

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Burns Film Ltd., Fear Alberta Ltd., micro_scope

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 92 min 94 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Although significant efforts have been made to disguise Montreal's subway as Calgary by replacing almost all signs and advertisements with English-only equivalents, we can still some references to Montreal in some shots. For instance, we can see a map of Montreal on the wall at one subway's entrance, there is a regulation sign on the wall with reference to STCUM (Société de Transport de la Communauté Urbaine de Montréal), and there is a warning sign in one vehicle with at least one sentence in French.

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Connections

Featured in Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Walking Lizard"
Written by Mouserocket
Performers include Alicja Trout, Robby Grant, and T-Mo
Heard in shopping mall scene

User Reviews

Refreshing, hilarious and Well-Constructed

I'm surprised by the lack of enthusiasm that has greeted Gary Burns' fourth feature, A PROBLEM WITH FEAR. Reminiscent of his previous film, WAYDOWNTOWN, FEAR utilizes the insular setting of Calgary's enormous shopping mall and urban life. With an absurdist tone, and hilarious dialogue, Burns examines the culture of fear in which we live. The story is well-constructed, building around Laurie's whose many fears are starting to happen to people around him. FEAR explores similar ground to that which Michael Moore did in BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, but with a sharp, fantastic story. And once again, as in WAYDOWNTOWN, Burns wraps his story up with a surprisingly touching finale.