Fear (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
A teen girl's ex-boyfriend turns into a menacing stalker in 'Fear', a suspenseful thriller directed by James Foley. Nicole Walker (Reese Witherspoon) is our lead; a typical 16 yr. old girl who has recently moved in with her dad, Steve (William Petersen) , & her step-mom, Laura (Amy Brenneman - ubiquitous in 1995-96). Nicole, like most teen girls, is interested in boys & hanging out with her friends; her best one being the adventurous Margo (Alyssa Milano). It is with Margo that Nicole meets David McCall (Mark Wahlberg), a stud who absolutely sweeps her off her feet with his seemingly kind & chivalrous ways. They start dating and, he eventually wins-over the rest of the family; that is, except for Steve ... who has a bad gut reaction to the guy.
Soon enough, Steve's uneasy feeling proves to be right on the money; as a combative David shows that he'll do just about anything for Nicole. This includes beating up innocent Gary (Todd Caldecott), a good friend of Nicole's, to a pulp. Why? All because David thought that Gary was interested in her. Nicole finallllly starts seeing the light, and wants out of their relationship. But a ballistic David simply won't let it go. In due time, he starts stalking her. Steve will do anything to protect his daughter & his family ... but little does he know the danger that lurks inside of David.
As directed by James Foley (of At Close Range, After Dark & Glengarry Glen Ross), 'Fear' is not a subtle movie and, in fact, it is very similar in vibe to 1987's Fatal Attraction; where a spurned lover {David, here} stalks their former love & attacks in the end; to prove their love. The climactic attack from outside AND inside the Walker household is absolutely terrifying to watch unfold. David is almost like an intractable force and, you don't know if he can even be defeated. Mark Wahlberg - known back in 1996 as rapper Marky Mark, and underwear model - is petrifying as the initially calm, sweet-talking, cool boyfriend-type ... until his true colors come through. To call him a combustible, raging psychopath is putting it lightly.
Witherspoon makes for the perfect cute, blonde girl who is a little more rebellious than we initially think, but also doesn't deserve ANY of what comes her or her family's way. And she exhibits sexy chemistry with Wahlberg; there is a carnival Ferris wheel ride scene that is very tantalizing. And William Petersen excels as the overbearing, overprotective father who ends up taking the law into his own hands in the most effective way possible. Nothing about this movie screams prestige, originality, or high quality sophistication, but it IS a tense, slick, effective little thriller to pass the time.
Soon enough, Steve's uneasy feeling proves to be right on the money; as a combative David shows that he'll do just about anything for Nicole. This includes beating up innocent Gary (Todd Caldecott), a good friend of Nicole's, to a pulp. Why? All because David thought that Gary was interested in her. Nicole finallllly starts seeing the light, and wants out of their relationship. But a ballistic David simply won't let it go. In due time, he starts stalking her. Steve will do anything to protect his daughter & his family ... but little does he know the danger that lurks inside of David.
As directed by James Foley (of At Close Range, After Dark & Glengarry Glen Ross), 'Fear' is not a subtle movie and, in fact, it is very similar in vibe to 1987's Fatal Attraction; where a spurned lover {David, here} stalks their former love & attacks in the end; to prove their love. The climactic attack from outside AND inside the Walker household is absolutely terrifying to watch unfold. David is almost like an intractable force and, you don't know if he can even be defeated. Mark Wahlberg - known back in 1996 as rapper Marky Mark, and underwear model - is petrifying as the initially calm, sweet-talking, cool boyfriend-type ... until his true colors come through. To call him a combustible, raging psychopath is putting it lightly.
Witherspoon makes for the perfect cute, blonde girl who is a little more rebellious than we initially think, but also doesn't deserve ANY of what comes her or her family's way. And she exhibits sexy chemistry with Wahlberg; there is a carnival Ferris wheel ride scene that is very tantalizing. And William Petersen excels as the overbearing, overprotective father who ends up taking the law into his own hands in the most effective way possible. Nothing about this movie screams prestige, originality, or high quality sophistication, but it IS a tense, slick, effective little thriller to pass the time.