Two years before he let it all hang out in Boogie Nights, former rapper and Calvin Klein underwear model Mark Wahlberg played the psychotic boyfriend in this derivative but surprisingly effective thriller, aptly described ... more »by producer Brian Grazer as "Fatal Attraction for teens." Reese Witherspoon plays Nicole Walker, the unwitting teenager who gets the hots for David McCall (Wahlberg). David only seems like a nice guy until he gets upset by the girl's overly protective father. That's when hell breaks loose and the love-struck Romeo turns into a deadly threat who just won't go away. You'd think this kind of material would be beneath the talents of a fine director like James Foley (whose credits include At Close Range and Glengarry Glen Ross), but Foley gives the film just the right blend of style and tension to match Wahlberg's breakthrough role as an all-too-believable teenage maniac. You might feel silly afterwards, but don't be surprised if you find yourself getting caught up in the expertly manipulative suspense. --Jeff Shannon« less
Ryan | Greenport, New York United States | 11/26/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"When you see a movie edited on tv and you say "I have got to own this movie!" then you know that it is really good. I was afraid to commit to it since it seemed like a CRUSH rip-off and I didn't want it to outstand my beloved favorite movie. It didn't. But, it's still a creepy little thriller about obsession, love and murder. Meet Nicole Walker. A 16 year old girl with sex on her mind. Her father just married a woman and has a new stepbrother. Her girlfriend Margo Masse and her friend Gary decide one day, to be late for school and to go get some food at a gritty coffee shop. Nicole glances at David but doesn't really meet him until a party later that night. When the party becomes a riot, Nicole escapes with David to sit around and talk. It's love at first sight. One night, Nicole tells David that she's ready to have sex. He says he's with some friends and has to do something. She tells him it's alright and to come over after and she tells him the code to the front door. Well, David comes in and they have sex. A day later or so, David goes to Nicole's school to pick her up, he see's Gary hug her. Not good in David's eyes. He goes over and beats the crap out of Gary and in the process, hits Nicole in the face, giving her a black eye. Nicole's father is more than pissed. David seems to give him the creeps. When he confronts David, David says "You know, Mr. Walker-you really aren't a f***ot." Mr. Walker tells David to stay away from Nicole. After Mr. Walker leaves, David starts hitting himself in the chest. He tells Nicole that her father hit him. So she runs off with David, feeling sorry for him. He asks her if she wants to go to a party when he brings her back to her house. She tells him no. But after a few seconds, when he leaves, she decides to drive over herself. She goes there, and looks in a window to see Margo being abused and about to be raped by her "true love" David. She now discovers David's true dark side. She won't talk to him so he "attacks" her in a bathroom at the mall. Mr. Walker's red car gets smashed up with a note on the broken window saying "Now I've poped both your ........!"....Mr. Walker finds out where David and his gang lives and ruins the place. When the group finds the place in ruins, David knows exactly who it is. And by their law "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a ...... tooth" they decide to pay the Walker family a little visit... What worked in this movie was the psychotic attitude of David. He's a soid good actor and a damn good liar. You know he's bad but you really like him. He seems perfect. You try to like him after his accidently hitting Nicole but it becomes harder and harder. RECCOMENDED TO FANS OF:
Fatal Attraction (1987)
The Crush (1993)
The Stepfather (1987) CAST
Mark Wahlberg...........David McCall
Reese Witherspoon....Nicole Walker
William L. Petersen.....Steve Walker
Amy Brenneman..........Laura Walker
Alyssa Milano..............Margo Masse THE MOVIE: 3/4 THE PICTURE QUALITY: 10/10 Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 with only a very very very small amount of grain. Basically, perfect. THE AUDIO QUALITY: 10/10 5.1 surround is perfect for my TV's sound system. No upping the volume for me! There is also a Dolby Surround French track. THE SPECIAL FEATURES: Production notes on the film, cast & crew bios and film credits (Only pre-FEAR movies are shown), a trailer with a lot of grain and Universal Weblinks (basically pointless). SUBTITLES: English and spanish."
There is nothing to fear but fear itself
retrowens | Alabama, USA | 12/22/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Fear" is a horror movie that can seem sort of like a true story of what some people would do these days. Nicole (Reese Witherspoon) starts going out with David (Mark Wahlberg) after they meet at a pool hall and a dance. All seems to be going great until David shows that he's super jealous. Nicole wants to end her relationship with David, but David just won't give up on getting her back and soon he's stalking Nicole and her family.For the most part, "Fear" is a pretty good movie. It's a little slow getting started, but once the stalking and fighting begins, the movie is suspenseful and it's a lot better from that point on. By no means is it a "Scream" ripoff like some people might think it is. As a matter of fact, after I saw the whole movie it seemed to me like it could've been based on a true story because some people get jealous or angry enough to do things like David and the rest of the bad guys did in the movie. If you like good horror movies, I'd recommend at least seeing "Fear." It has good acting by everybody and it's exciting in parts."
Cheesy, predicatable....yet oh so watchable
Michelle Lee | Bloomfield, NJ United States | 08/28/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"You just know when you see photo booth snaps of Nicole and David (Reese Witherspoon and Mark Wahlberg) kissing and snuggling cleverly juxtaposed with David's jailhouse mugshot on his bedroom wall...this won't be a cinematic enigma wrapped in a riddle. Fear certainly doesn't require much thought on the part of the moviegoer.
But it isn't entirely bad though, if you are prepared for predictable teen angst and psycho boyfriend antics. Reese Witherspoon plays the virgin nymphet Nicole Walker, desperately pining for brooding bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks David McCall, deliciously played by Mark Wahlberg. With the help of "gets around" pal Margo (Alyssa Milano), Nicole soon begins to develop a close bond with David, and (surprise surprise) even loses her virginity to him.
But of course, no such plot would be complete without the overprotective father, played by CSI's William Petersen. Suspicious of his daughter's new boyfriend from the start, he forbodes their relationship from the very beginning. That's when things go "psycho"...
David quickly begins to sport the crazy-serious-insane-obssessed face whenever any other guy goes near Nicole or when her father tries to keep them apart. Where does this get everyone? In a whole mess of unbelievable trouble that will leave the moviewatcher saying "hello? this would never happen!" while watching the movie through their hands.
All in all, not a terrible flick. The ending definitely could have had better closure, but you can't expect too too much given the corny plot. Oh, and of course, you get to see Mark Wahlberg without his shirt on. That, in itself, makes the movie worth at least one look. :)"
SOLID THRILLER WITH A VERY GOOD CAST!
! MR. KNOW IT ALL ;-b | TRI STATE AREA | 02/18/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a little known film from the early 90's. The movie takes it's time to flesh out the characters and to build some tension, but when it lets loose, it delivers! Mark Wahlberg gives a very chilling performance as a class 'A' nut job in this above average thriller. It smells like TV, but it's much better than that. Reese Witherspoon and the rest of the cast are very good as well. I rate it 3 1/2 stars."
Can't find the soundtrack!!
Mike | 10/28/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I watched the movie and enjoyed it very much! With that said, I too could not find the soundtrack to this movie but do recall one song from the movie..."Wild Horses" by The Sundays. Hope that helps for people searching for the soundtrack."