Fear


4/4

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon, William Peterson, Amy Brenneman

Rated R for Strong Graphic Violence and Terror, Sexuality, Language and Drug Use

"'Halloween' is an absolutely merciless thriller…"--Roger Ebert on "Halloween"

So is James Foley's 1996 thriller, "Fear."  This is quite simply the scariest movie I have ever seen.

"Fear" has been called a rip-off of "Fatal Attraction," and while the 1987 hit was probably the inspiration for this shocker, it is so much more than a mere copy.  And it is unquestionably better than Adrian Lyne's film.

Nicole Walker (Reese Witherspoon) has been living with her mother for most of her life, but a year ago she moved to Seattle to live with her father, Steve (William Peterson), his wife Laura (Amy Brenneman) and her young son, Toby (Christopher Gray).  There is friction in the household, but it is of a normal sort (teenage rebellion, overprotective parents, etc.).  One night at a rave, she meets a guy named David McCall (Mark Wahlberg).  He's hot, sweet and sensitive, and he sweeps Nicole right off her feet.  But she soon realizes that David has got a temper…and his love for Nicole quickly turns into an obsession.

What makes this film so scary is that David is totally unpredictable.  He is capable of anything at any time, and he is a skilled manipulator.  His new squeeze is young and naiive, and he knows just how to get her to do what he wants.  This guy is clearly inspired from men who abuse their girlfriends.

Likewise, Nicole is an equally compelling character.  On paper, there's nothing particularly special about her.  But she's brought to the screen by Reese Witherspoon, who is one of the most versatile actresses of the present day.  Not only does she speak the dialogue and show emotion convincingly, she uses her eyes to speak volumes about how Nicole is feeling.  What she says isn't always what she feels.

Her parents are no less believable.  William Peterson, who later went on to TV fame as Gil Grissom on "CSI," is terrific as Steve.  He's completely credible as the "every-dad."  He's not perfect, and his daughter is growing up faster than he'd like, but he really wants what's best for her.  The scenes between him and Witherspoon are some of the highlights both because of how they are written, but especially because of how they are acted.  Amy Brenneman is also terrific as Laura, Nicole's step-mom.  She wants to get on her daughter's good side, and that may cloud her judgment as to what the best course of action in a given situation.

The main reason why this film works is because writer Christopher Crowe and director James Foley put time and effort into really developing these characters.  These are normal people, and their responses to the things that happen to them are real.  That's what makes this move so compelling.  Not only is this film a superior thriller, it is also a dead-on portrayal of teenage sexuality and modern family dynamics.

James Foley is no hack director.  He's made a number of good movies, like "Glengarry Glen Ross" and "Confidence."  But this is easily his most impressive piece of work.  He draws us into these characters lives with no melodrama, and slowly increases the tension to unbearable levels.  The way he chooses to film the material isn't flashy or sophisticated (in fact, it's quite plain).  But you'll realize his skill when you begin screaming an hour before the movie is over.

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