2013 / 85m - UK
Horror
3.5*/5.0*
In Fear poster

Watches

March 10, 2014

3.5*/5.0*

In Fear is the kind of genre film making that you don't see too often. It's one thing to want and make a pure genre film, it's something entirely different to make a good one. Genre films have a bad name because of the many terrible, lazy and amateurish attempts of untalented directors hoping for a break, yet Lovering demonstrates that there is still a lot that can be done even when working exclusively with genre clichés.

The premise is the same one as hundreds of like-minded films. It starts with a car, two young kids and a journey to a festival. And of course they're taking a detour, of course they end up lost and of course someone is after them. That's what a true genre film is, a collection of clich&eactue;s that is known to work. In the end, the execution is what really matters with these kind of films.

From the start it's clear that Lovering's direction is a little out of the ordinary. The combination of the dark cinematography, quick and sharp editing and brooding soundtrack make for an eerie atmosphere that transcends the clichés and puts them back in working order. The first 45 minutes of the film are gripping, even when there isn't anything new or original to be seen.

Once Lovering starts to reveal parts of the mystery the film inevitably loses some of its charm, as is often the case with these kind of films, but there are some neat twists that keep the atmosphere tense and chilling. Lovering doesn't try to explain too much, leaving a lot to the imagination of the audience, but it's safe to say that most of the mystery is resolved during the second part of the film.

If you're in a "well, that's a silly thing to do" know-it-all mood it's probably best to avoid this film altogether, but if you're looking for a genre film that cherishes the genre clichés yet moulds them in a gripping and effective way then In Fear is a pretty safe bet. Looking forward to Lovering's next film.