Fear is written and directed by Rockne S. O'Bannon. It stars Ally Sheedy, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Michael O'Keefe and Lauren Hutton. Music is by Henry Mancini and cinematography by Robert Stevens. Plot sees Sheedy as Cayce Bridges, a gifted psychic who aids the police in capturing serial killers. However, when she "tunes" into the elusive killer known as The Shadow Man (Vince), she finds that he too has the gift
Originally slated for a full theatrical release, Fear eventually made its bow on Cable TV. Following in the footsteps of other sub-genre psychic thrillers like The Eyes of Laura Mars, O'Bannon's movie is very efficient as a creeper, containing more than competent acting performances, a film with good ideas and visual touches, but ultimately undone by a weak ending.
Film kicks into gear straight from the off as we join Cayce helping the police track a serial killer who is driving his latest victim to his place of slaughter. The effects used are blue tinted paranormal visions that put us in the car with the killer, this gives off the necessary unnerving vibe that O'Bannon manages to maintain right up until the finale. Picture is further boosted by its premise, a killer turning the psychic tables on his pursuer. This provides some quality moments of disquiet, notably an airport sequence that chills the blood. But then an ending, unimaginatively played out at a fair ground via the Hall of Mirrors, that insults the viewers who have been perched on the edge of their seats up till now. Problem is that the Shadow Man (played with wobbly eyed intensity by Vince) is a hulking brute who has terrorised and overpowered a number of women in the film. We are then asked to accept that Cayce, a wee slip of a girl (perfectly petite Sheedy), can fell said brute with the minimum of fuss. I'd have laughed if I didn't feel so annoyed.
Shame because there's still more than enough good here to make it a comfortable recommendation to like minded adults. But it should have been so much better. 6.5/10
Originally slated for a full theatrical release, Fear eventually made its bow on Cable TV. Following in the footsteps of other sub-genre psychic thrillers like The Eyes of Laura Mars, O'Bannon's movie is very efficient as a creeper, containing more than competent acting performances, a film with good ideas and visual touches, but ultimately undone by a weak ending.
Film kicks into gear straight from the off as we join Cayce helping the police track a serial killer who is driving his latest victim to his place of slaughter. The effects used are blue tinted paranormal visions that put us in the car with the killer, this gives off the necessary unnerving vibe that O'Bannon manages to maintain right up until the finale. Picture is further boosted by its premise, a killer turning the psychic tables on his pursuer. This provides some quality moments of disquiet, notably an airport sequence that chills the blood. But then an ending, unimaginatively played out at a fair ground via the Hall of Mirrors, that insults the viewers who have been perched on the edge of their seats up till now. Problem is that the Shadow Man (played with wobbly eyed intensity by Vince) is a hulking brute who has terrorised and overpowered a number of women in the film. We are then asked to accept that Cayce, a wee slip of a girl (perfectly petite Sheedy), can fell said brute with the minimum of fuss. I'd have laughed if I didn't feel so annoyed.
Shame because there's still more than enough good here to make it a comfortable recommendation to like minded adults. But it should have been so much better. 6.5/10