Spirit of Fear (2023) User Reviews

Watchable

[peshkacs · 5/10 · 4 August 2023]

The movie was a little slow and the ending was anticlimactic. Although a refreshing take on an otherwise overused horror trope. You kind of want to smack the protagonist with some of the things he does throughout the film.

Walking around your house in your socks instead of having shoes on, while in real life is normal, makes you somewhat uncomfortable in a horror movie. Out of my 2 ratings of watchable and unwatchable, this movie falls squarely in the watchable category. It wasn't the scariest movie, it also wasn't the worst. I couldn't sit through it twice, but I was happy I watched it the first time.

A Slow Moving, Yet Atmospheric, Minimalist Mystery.

[meddlecore · 3/10 · 21 August 2023]

This film is slow moving, yet atmospheric.

Extremely minimalist.

Being almost completely void of dialogue.

Mysterious.

Though, not in a particularly engaging way.

Somewhat psychological.

A bit supernatural.

And even a touch satanic.

But, mostly, it's just a guy wandering his house with a knife, trying to solve a mystery.

Amidst vague warnings, he may or may not have left himself on post-it notes.

What's clear...is that he had a wife and daughter...who aren't present...after waking up with an arm covered in blood.

Seemingly, without any memory as to how or why he ended up in such a state.

Either way...it starts to seem like he has become trapped in a hellish purgatory, of his own making...or something like that, at least.

One from which he must escape, perhaps, in order to be redeemed.

If it is not just a punishment, for his wrongdoings, that is.

Did he murder his family? Kill his daughter? Or lose them to a situation of domestic abuse?

Might he be stuck in a coma?

You are purposely left in the dark, and, thus, can only speculate.

As you wait for some sort of explanation- and payoff- in the end.

Luckily, it's rather a short film.

Clocking in at barely over 70 minutes.

So you don't need to invest an inordinate amount of time, in order to indulge, in it.

That being said...the mystery already starts to feel a bit redundant by the 40 minute mark.

As he is forced to reflect on a series of incidents from his past.

Prior to the twist kicking in, to offer some semblance of an explanation.

One which I could very well see many people thinking is a bit too predictable.

That being said...it's not necessarily a bad film, overall.

Just a simple one.

That could be seen as entertaining, if you aren't expecting anything too groundbreaking.

But it could, fairly, be considered to be just boring, at the same time.

Hence the divergent views, from reviewer to reviewer.

It does seem to have a bit of a religious tone to it, as well.

Which could also be a point of contention.

Though, it didn't bother me.

Because it isn't particularly preachy (like, say, Nefarious is).

But it's certainly nothing special.

2.5 out of 10.

Nope

[stevelivesey-37183 · 2/10 · 15 November 2023]

Half a hour into this micro budget, film school nonsense and that was enough for me. I have better things to do with my time.

So why did I give a two out of ten? Because at least they had a go and got a movie made, that's why. It might not be for me but someone might like it.

For the record, the bits of the movie that I did see had a man wake up in a house covered in blood but seemingly with no idea how any of this happened. He wanders round the house in silence and tries to piece together how he arrived at this situation.

The post it notes bit has been lifted from 'Momento'. A much better movie than this.

I fell into the trap

[hhhuuu-91747 · 1/10 · 4 August 2023]

I can't believe I wasted an hour and a quarter of my life on this rubbish!! It was a recommendation from a friend, and he glorified and praised it a lot, and he gave it 7/10, which made me deceived and agreed to watch it. I do not know what is dazzling about this movie, and he liked it to this degree! I'm really shocked, it's a completely empty movie, its story is cliché, the twisted plot is weak, and it's not worth all this tedium. I'm going to block this person who gave it to me as a recommendation *very angry*

Don't watch this movie Don't watch this movie Don't watch this movie Don't watch this movie.

I fired up iMDB to specifically rate this "horror movie."

[MarcelSaintMarie · 1/10 · 3 August 2023]

Oh, my. Where do I begin? Let me first start off by saying that I wanted to like this movie. I did not go into watching it in order to be disappointed by it; that was NOT my intention. It was a day off for me and I was excited about the prospects of it. It took place in some house, which I'm good with. It was doing a ranch-house-of-doom sort of thing like "Sinister" and I already had high hopes for it! I liked the first "Sinister" and if this movie had been anything like that, it would have been better. But it wasn't. It was poorly paced, the scares were practically non-existent and there wasn't even any real piece of dialogue until the middle of the film and he was talking to himself! It could have been so much better than it was. The main character spent the entire film looking highly concerned, as if he'd forgotten to do his taxes and it was April 14th. That's it.

The entire movie was a disappointment because all it was about was possession and it wasn't even one of the exciting possession-style films. I SERIOUSLY debated against watching this or watching "The Possession of Deborah Logan" again because it had been a while since I'd seen it; it was helluva film. I know now that I made the WRONG choice.

I feel like I've wasted time that I will never get back. Please, do not see this movie. I just want you to know that if you watched this movie, then walked outside and got hit by bus, THIS WAS LAST MOVIE YOU SAW. Don't do that to yourself. Please.

And the ONLY reason I gave it two stars as opposed to one was because they managed to convince my stupid @$$ to finish watching it. I really thought something, ANYTHING was going to happen! 😬🤣

Absolute Crap.

[fluffchop · 1/10 · 16 August 2023]

The worst movie you will literally waste your time watching. Self indulgent crap. There is no story. There are no characters. Nothing happens. There is no horror, it's not interesting. It's a waste of time. The worst movie you will literally waste your time watching. Self indulgent crap. There is no story. There are no characters. Nothing happens. There is no horror, it's not interesting. It's a waste of time. The worst movie you will literally waste your time watching. Self indulgent crap. There is no story. There are no characters. Nothing happens. There is no horror, it's not interesting. It's a waste of time.

not bad - be patient

[marotastic · 6/10 · 6 August 2023]

To summarize the plot with a few words - and then wakes up in a empty house with no memory and follows clues with an unknown outcome. It's definitely watchable and more of a low budget production, which doesn't matter. The movie has some sinister and dark elements. You pretty much follow the main character throughout the movie, while he collects the paper notes. The ending was quite unpredictable. Here and there it reminded me of a video game. If you're looking for a different kind of horror movie (please don't expect a slasher or anything that comes similar to it, it's really just a story with dark elements) give it a go.

Stop scrolling and watch this

[RBIves-202-725352 · 10/10 · 9 August 2023]

OK this one was right up my alley. Man wakes up in an empty house covered in blood with no explanation, no memory, and no escape. Clues have been left around the house on sticky notes, but none of them seem to add up. Ultimately we get both an escape room type of scenario, with a lurking evil presence to add to the tension, and a deep dive into one man's psyche. It's a classic Twilight Zone setup and I was totally engaged the entire runtime despite the minimalist approach to locations, cast, sound design, and dialogue.

Fantastic cinematography and score are the glue that holds this film together. The ending totally sticks the landing for me. I wish there were more of these types of well thought out indie movies in the horror/suspense genre.

"Ooh a slight chill"

[cyborgbeetle · 6/10 · 18 August 2023]

As Mr Merenghi him self would say, it's more of a slight chill. If you like horror movies that are more on the creepy atmospheric side rather, you will probably enjoy this. To be honest, it's greatest sin is that it's not a computer game. I spent a lot of time thinking I would have enjoyed playing this.

The acting is good, for someone who must try his best to look confused and terrified for over an hour straight, and the plot twist is fairly predictable, but still a lot of fun.

In short, we gain a fun, atmospheric movie that entertains, and lose what would be the next critically acclaimed, forever cult horror game of a generation. I mourn our loss.

Still fun though.

Don't listen to other reviewers

[isatoro77 · 10/10 · 6 August 2023]

I am a true horror junkie. Found the trailer on YouTube, and decided to watch. At the beginning, I was confused of what was happening, but the acting of the main character kept me intrigued... he is so expressive. Without saying a word, he can transmit fear, anxiety, uncertainty. Without knowing what was it about I pushed through and I'm glad I did as the end has a great twist, it is fantastic.

With a religious background, I can appreciate what they trued to do. The similarities to demons and other facts, its very well thought off. I don't want this post to get flashed as a spoiler as I would like y'all to give it a try. Finally something less Hollywood. This movie is artistic, well thought off and you can see a labor of love.

I congratulate the whole cast and directors, it's refreshing to see something new and innovative.

Less Is Truly More 8/10

[clancybrian-18407 · 8/10 · 9 September 2023]

A very well done film, constantly having you ask "what is next?" Leaving you in the dark but with enough information that you feel like you understand where it's going.

I thought it was great, my wife and I are huge film nerds and specifically love horror. Some of our favorites are the Conjuring and Insidious series, IT, Sinister etc. Spirit Of Fear is close to those films but their budget was definitely a factor that kept it from breaking into the 9/10 and 10/10 area.

Some people seem to not be satisfied but I don't understand them to be honest. Go in with no expectations and just enjoy it. Sure, it isn't the greatest film or horror film we've ever seen but in no way did it disappoint.

Enough of my rambling... 8/10.

Suspenseful story that had me guessing

[photo-859-401631 · 9/10 · 27 August 2023]

This is a suspense thriller that uses horror to raise the tension. It tells a tight story about a man who is being mysteriously tormented and must figure out who or what is tormenting him and threatens him in every room of a pared-down minimalist house. This is a low budget independent film but that does not take away from the great direction that raises the tension in most scenes as the lead character explores the house, figures out clues, and is threatened by unseen (and then, seen!) entities. The look of the film is really good too with great depth and composition to each shot. The creepy music adds to the build-up of tension. I would definitely recommend this film to others, especially film lovers who enjoy a sense of creep and dread like in The Shining or The Machinist.

One of the best Indie movies I've seen in a long time.

[jedijimmy101 · 9/10 · 25 August 2023]

I had a very good time with this film. The production value and twists and turns this movie takes you on is top notch. I won't give anything away but the ending was fantastic I didn't see it coming but it left me very satisfied. The filmmakers and talent behind this production should all be proud at this truly unique film that keeps your attention and interest throughout the runtime. I also appreciate the fact that this film isn't overly long, in todays world movies tend to have overly inflated runtimes. Here the runtime is perfect not too short and not too long. The score plays very well and I absolutely recommend checking out this indie gem. I look forward to what comes next from the filmmakers.

A Well-Crafted Psychological Horror Film

[as_per_my_ability · 10/10 · 15 August 2023]

From Shudder to Screambox, indie horror films are not in short supply. Conversely, these films saturate streaming services through a seemingly endless list of pages and titles. While these films serve as a testament to the interest in the genre, unfortunately-which is worse-they serve as bad movies without anything meaningful to say. And Spirit of Fear has something to say.

Spirit of Fear is a film with a unique premise.

The film focuses on an unidentified man who wakes up in a house where he is afraid, alone, and with severe amnesia. As he explores, the man finds that the house contains cryptic messages and a demonic presence hell-bent on tormenting his soul.

Spirit of Fear is a film with a well-crafted narrative.

Not since the days of Alfred Hitchcock have psychological horror films been as well-crafted and executed as Spirit of Fear. The film's narrative implements a limited Point of View filtered through the protagonist's consciousness. This verisimilitude of realism relegates the relationship between the audience and protagonist to a singular or shared reality; a relationship where the audience and protagonist experience every event, moment, and emotion concurrently. As the man explores the house, the audience explores with him. As the man endures the demon, the audience endures with him.

Spirit of Fear is a film with vision and talent.

The creation of a captivating film is as complex as the creation of a symphony. However, when every role-from cast to crew-works in concert, the unimaginable happens. Alex Davidson is no slouch behind the camera. The film showcases his artistic acumen and attention to technical details. Davidson's pragmatic approach to filmmaking and creative vision work in tandem, solidifying the film's cinemanarrative harmony. The acting is top-notch. Christopher Lee Page portrays the story's protagonist, an unidentified man-a daunting role for any actor. However, Christopher's stellar performance holds the film together. Kak Lee's cinematography is on point. The stark contrast of lighting establishes a gritty, brooding, and unsettling atmosphere. The film's score is an unsung hero. Yuichiro Oku's composition is dark, minimalistic, and absolutely fantastic.

Spirit of Fear is a film with flaws.

The biggest weakness-one worth mentioning-is that the film meanders, especially early on. Without action sequences or dialogue scenes, Spirit of Fear spends a good chunk of time showing a man walking about, confused and alone. Christopher's performance mitigates a feasible amount of meandering; however, audiences may find the pacing problem too big to ignore. Objectively, the film's pacing is problematic. Subjectively, the film's pacing is also emblematic, giving it distinction and appeal. While modern movies bend-and often contribute-to audiences' attention deficit, Spirit of Fear asks its audience to be patient and wait. And all good things come to those who wait.

Spirit of Fear is a film with a voice.

The film is more than the sum of its parts. Whether a fan of the genre or not, Spirit of Fear takes you beyond the horizon into a place of dread and discovery. Underneath a framework of conventional horror tropes, Spirit of Fear explores universal themes such as faith, family, and the power of the human spirit. These themes culminate during the film's unexpected and powerful final minutes. When the credits roll and the lights come up, you and your friends will be deep in discussion. Why? Because good films talk when you listen. And Spirit of Fear has something to say.

Not your usual Horror film. Unique experience that I enjoyed!

[sylvialava · 10/10 · 15 August 2023]

It's not a typical horror film with gory or horrifying scenes or just killing for fun. It dives into a men's mental space and how he conquers his fear to fight for what matters.

I enjoy the actor's excellent performance in guiding viewers through all the different emotions interacting with different objects. I love the music used in the movie that is on the spot and create the impact it desires.

The movie makes me wonder and reflect internally, contemplating what matters. It holds the complex truth of being a human. We can all love deeply, be afraid, being hurt, at the same time, we can fight for survival, ego, or values depending on our choice of who we want to become.

I recommend the movie to people who want something different, something that would linger in your mind for a little.

A thrill ride of a film

[idealityentertainment · 10/10 · 1 October 2023]

This is an extraordinary tale, of supernatural horror. It gives credence to the idea of multi-dimensional places. The protagonist is forced to solve a mystery that only he can explain through his paranormal experience. From the moment he finds blood on his forearm and hand; The situation becomes more intense as he discovers more clues as they become more apparent. A young girl, and a woman appear in his suburban home, and he has to clarity to his own involvement in this chilling circumstance. The suspense draws the viewer into this spiritual journey, and the tone becomes increasingly dramatic.

Intriguing indie horror film!

[lbarker08 · 8/10 · 4 September 2023]

Spirit of Fear is a really intriguing horror film. It's a slow burn but the storyline establishes a mystery right away, and it really kept me invested the whole time as the main character uncovers clues and tries to piece everything together. Really well done one location independent film, too. This does so much with one character (for most of the movie) and had me wondering what all the clues meant, almost like I was piecing it together as the character was. It made me question what was real in the story as we got deeper into the film. I started wondering what the demon truly was and questioned whether it was related to mental illness/paranoia instead of an actual monster.