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In Fear
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray A - America - Anchor Bay Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Anthony Arrigo (6th June 2014). |
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The Film
 It’s a shame to say it, but coming across truly chilling horror is kind of a rarity these days. Nearly all of the big studio films have been homogenized to the point that a person could bring a checklist into the theater and mark off every expected beat as they occur, sure of what’s to come next. Deviation from that formula is reserved for the few standout hits that squeeze past the Hollywood Standardization Machine, and independents. Low-budget films made outside of the studio system have been among the most highly-lauded by horror aficionados year after year; and many of these films are coming from outside of the United States. One country that’s showing promise as of late is Ireland. They’ve sporadically released horror films for years, only recently picking up the pace and delivering a couple minor gems. “Shrooms” (2007) got a good amount of buzz when it was released, and “Grabbers” (2012) has been recommended to me on more than a few occasions. But if there’s one film people should be watching, it’s “In Fear” (2013). Writer/director Jeremy Lovering has created a simple yet highly effective film that preys upon basic fears and employs a Spartan approach to casting, locations and gore. Quasi-couple Tom (Iain De Caestecker) and Lucy (Alice Englert) are heading off on their first adventure together, destined for a music festival being held in the countryside of Ireland. They have plans to stay at a hotel near the festival grounds, though finding it proves to be a challenge. Road signs point in all directions, and even when followed the two keep winding up back at the same point they were before. At first, it’s a mildly irritating blunder the couple find humor in, but when night starts to fall and they still haven’t made any headway tempers begin to flare. As they wind deeper and deeper into the labyrinthine woods of the country, it starts to become clear that someone is out there messing with them. A window is hit; a tree falls near the car from out of nowhere; a man appears behind Tom as he exits the vehicle to relieve himself; Lucy’s clothes are found strewn about on the muddy roads. Eventually all of this culminates in someone quickly snatching Lucy out of the car and letting her go just as fast. They, understandably, freak the hell out and drive away like mad, nearly striking a man in the road. Tom, worried he might have hurt an innocent person, goes back to investigate and that’s when they come across Max (Allen Leech). He’s got a nasty cut on his forehead, something he claims came from the same man who was stalking Tom & Lucy. His story sounds true, but there’s just something a little… off about Max. “In Fear” manages to strike a perfect balance between horror and humor, claustrophobia and comedy, using only three actors and a tiny car…and the rolling, lush countryside of England, subbing in here for Ireland. Tom and Lucy are believable as a couple of people who are only two weeks into what could be a new relationship. They haven’t passed the stage of pleasantries and maintaining a certain guard; everything about their union seems tenuous, but they do get along. Once the novelty of being lost among the green hills of the country is lost, the fangs slowly start to come out before escalating to a point that would kill most maturing relationships. They become real people reacting to an increasingly frustrating situation. The honeymoon period is officially over. But once they begin to experience creepy unexplained phenomena, the bond starts to reform. As a couple, the two have a great arc here. The terror here isn’t in your face and overt; it’s unexpected and swift, catching viewers off guard just as it does our leading duo. The film excels by first selling the isolation of their predicament, letting it be known that no one is coming to their aid. Secondly, many shots are confined to the interior of the car, which is a small sedan, adding an element of claustrophobia. Lovering starts the torment off small, with little actions that only Lucy seems to notice; Tom is a bit of a thick-headed goof. As the actions escalate, Tom & Lucy feel incredibly vulnerable despite having a vehicle at their disposal. Whoever is messing with them seems to be able to get in anywhere he wants. As they look out, it’s nothing but trees and blackness. Is it a single person? Multiple people? Even when the truth is revealed, the film continues to toy with our protagonists, and it is often done with pitch black humor. “In Fear” is a smart psychological horror film that takes the time to get in your head before exploding with moments of horror that have a real impact. Lovering manages to maintain an air of dread that continues building to an ending rife with the same gallows humor that runs through the film’s second half. Kudos to the film’s triumvirate of skilled actors who deftly sell the material and feel like genuine characters plucked from real life. Few, if any, stupid decisions are made here. Everything about this picture felt like a breath of fresh air, so who cares if the plot isn’t the most original? Horror cannibalizes itself time and again; the key is how you make it work as a filmmaker. If “In Fear” is any indication, Lovering has a solid career ahead.
Video
The film’s 2.35:1 1080p 24/fps AVC MPEG-4 encoded image is quite proficient for the most part. Early scenes feature some gorgeous shots of the green English countryside, full of fields and patches of dense vegetation. As the transition to night is made, contrast begins to slip. Black levels are fairly consistent - never looking quite dark enough yet not hazy or anemic. Color saturation is good, even though there’s never any real “pop” to the hues. Detail is perfectly passable, looking far greater in close-up shots than any other time. An aspect ratio closer to 1.85:1 would have done a better job of selling the tight confinements of the car better, but, then, I’m not the guy who made the movie. This wasn’t intended to be a stunning example of visual flair, and the picture provided here works perfectly for the film.
Audio
“In Fear” features an English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound track that, too, is a workhorse that gets the job done. A few source music moments early on provide some deep, booming bass response that is otherwise absent from the remainder of the picture. Dialogue is clean and discernible, even with the thick accents of our leads (moreso Tom than Lucy). A tree falls at one point and the impact has a real weight to it. The sound design works subtly, panning effects and sound cues at precise moments to provide a greater sense of immersion. The score, from Daniel Pemberton and Roly Porter, uses simple instrumentation to carry the action without detracting from the tension on screen. Subtitles are included in English and Spanish.
Extras
Bucking Anchor Bay’s trend of giving most DTV releases no bonus content, “In Fear” does get a little love in the form of a behind-the-scenes featurette. “In Fear: Behind the Scenes” (1080p) is a featurette that runs for 12 minutes and 50 seconds. The most interesting takeaway from this piece is that the actors worked on this film with no knowledge of how it would end.
Packaging
The single disc comes housed in a Blu-ray eco case.
Overall
Simple, smart and effective, “In Fear” preys upon basic fears and exploits them using pitch black humor. It’s bound to be one of the best DTV titles of the year.
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