If you've watched this movie, chances are you'll either love it or hate it. If you hate it, you'll hate it for its predictable plot, simplistic storytelling and obvious catering to hormone-driven teen girls looking for some eye candy in the shape of young Mark Wahlberg's visually pleasing physique. But if you love it, you'll love the convincing and multi-faceted acting. You'll love its honest take on first loves and first experiences, and you'll love it for
Mark Wahlberg's visually pleasing physique. Because let's admit it: The boy's darn fine.
FEAR offers everything you expect from a '90s psycho stalker thriller directed at a young audience. It does, however, go further than that. Unlike most movies of this genre, FEAR manages to make you, let's not use the word sympathize, but at least understand the crazed lunatic and, if nothing else, respect that David's need to 'own' the girl is not based on an entirely unfounded and ridiculous madness. The stalker guy for once isn't one-dimensional and the movie takes the time to lead up to the climax and show us a believable relationship between the bad guy and the victim.
The climax of the film, on the other hand, is a little bit disappointing. The grand 'showdown' was necessary to the plot, but doesn't seem very well thought through. I feel that involving David's lowlife cronies was a bad choice they were nothing but distracting extras. Having David 'storm the gates' alone, or some other scenario involving only David, Nicole and her father, would have been much more logical and effective.
All in all I give FEAR 7/10 stars. It is not a work of cinematic genius, but it is a gripping, well acted and entertaining movie and worth watching at least once.
FEAR offers everything you expect from a '90s psycho stalker thriller directed at a young audience. It does, however, go further than that. Unlike most movies of this genre, FEAR manages to make you, let's not use the word sympathize, but at least understand the crazed lunatic and, if nothing else, respect that David's need to 'own' the girl is not based on an entirely unfounded and ridiculous madness. The stalker guy for once isn't one-dimensional and the movie takes the time to lead up to the climax and show us a believable relationship between the bad guy and the victim.
The climax of the film, on the other hand, is a little bit disappointing. The grand 'showdown' was necessary to the plot, but doesn't seem very well thought through. I feel that involving David's lowlife cronies was a bad choice they were nothing but distracting extras. Having David 'storm the gates' alone, or some other scenario involving only David, Nicole and her father, would have been much more logical and effective.
All in all I give FEAR 7/10 stars. It is not a work of cinematic genius, but it is a gripping, well acted and entertaining movie and worth watching at least once.