BLOT: (23 Mar 2014 - 02:30:58 PM)
In Fear [2013 Psychological Horror]
cast and crew. Starring Iain De Caestecker, Alice Englert, and Allen Leech. Written and directed by Jeremy Lovering. Soundtrack by Roly Porter and Daniel Pemberton. Produced by James Biddle and Nira Park.
gist. Tom and Lucy are on the way to meet friends at a festival when he springs a surprise side-trip to a hotel on her. Trying to find their way proves problematic, as backwoods roods crisscross and signs pointing to the hotel end up contradicting. Then something starts toying with them and Lucy sees a man out in the woods in a white mask [don't worry, this is not a Slendercopy]. When they come across Max, things turn for the worse, and someone or something, for some unknown reason, is playing a game of no certain rules nor outcome.
review. The first half of In Fear, which I would argue is the better half, is an indefinite thing ostensibly about a young not-quite-a-couple stuck down backwoods roads trying to find a hotel where lovemaking and safety can commence, and is partially a horror tale and partially an allegory about the tribulations of young love facing an uncertain future. Tension is built up without a release valve. The latter half, in which the movie turns much more run-of-the-mill, shifts it instead into a cat-and-mouse game with people who do not quite know each other, but who try and work together, facing off against a surprisingly omnipotent and omniscient opponent who works best when off camera and fails as a known thing. The camera-work and sound design and general interplay between Tom and Lucy are strong enough that you can nearly forgive any faults, at least. If only, you might say, they had played a slightly different puzzle with the heart. As for the ending, it will upset some and delight others, and is mostly worth discussion as to how it connects to the whole.
score. 5/8, +1 for those who like tight, claustrophobic shots, -1 for those who are irked by either improbable red herrings or too little conclusion..
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OTHER BLOTS THIS MONTH: March 2014