StyleSk8r
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Aiden Melton
The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.
Taha Avalos
The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.
Robert J. Maxwell
For most of its length, "Fear" is a teen movie. Nice sixteen-year-old blond girl from bourgeois family (Witherspoon) is doing well enough except for a bit of irritation because her father (Peterson) objects to her school dress one morning. And it has to be admitted that she looks like a little girl's doll with a mini-skirted frock, white bobby sox, and Mary Jane shoes. I know I'm getting these terms all mixed up but bear with me. There is also her stepmother (Brenneman) whom Witherspoon resents. Witherspoon's best female friend is Alyssa Milano, whom every high schooler should have -- or have had -- as a close friend, especially me. Milano is mischievous but fundamentally sound.Enter handsome bulked-up Mark Wahlberg, experienced, soft spoken, silky, full of concern for Witherspoon, and a raving maniac underneath all that muted politesse, but that comes later. This gracious young man comes home with Witherspoon to "meet the family," a necessary step in ordinary courtship, but Dad doesn't like him, not even at first meeting, when Wahlberg shakes Dad's hand and calls him "sir." Later, after Peterson intuits an outburst of violence from the kid, he REALLY perks up, his Darwinian points quivering.Witherspoon too, sporting a black eye, tells Wahlberg she wants nothing more to do with him, but Wahlberg's apology is passionate and seduces her. That's before he gets her off on the roller coaster, sneaks into her bedroom, and deflowers her. That sets the tone for the rest of the teen movie section. Two, or maybe three more times, he violates her trust and she forgives him tearfully until finally it's over for good. I sobbed like a baby.Now, the rest of the movie -- say, the last twenty minutes. Peterson happens to be an architect and has built his home with enough safety features to make Castle Machrae pale with envy. And Wahlberg, barred admittance, rounds up half a dozen hooligan buddies and attacks the fortress. If you want to see it done horrifyingly right, catch "Straw Dogs" or even "The Birds." Or, if you want the entire floor plan laid out before you at feature length -- louche man threatens and attacks one of those imaginary happy families -- try the 60s version of "Cape Fear." The most impressive thing about the movie is how YOUNG everyone looks. Scarcely a wrinkle in the entire cast. Wahlberg gives a decent performance and so, surprisingly, does just about everyone else. Amy Brenneman is memorable as Witherspoon's perceived rival for Peterson's affection, and she has virtually nothing to do but stand around and bystand, offering occasional suggestions and comments that do no more than reflect common sense.
Screen_Blitz
A love story between two teens turns into a horrific nightmare in this romantic thriller directed by James Foley. Reese Witherspoon plays Nicole Walker, an average 16-year old girl in high school with great friends and loving parents. While attending a party with her best friend Margo (played by Alyssa Milano), she meets a handsome young named David McCall (played by Mark Wahlberg) who gives Nicole a ride home after the party. Nicole eventually develops a relationship with the seemingly heartthrob guy, much to the dismay of her overprotective father Steve (played by William Petersen) and their starts off fairly well. However, when David's love for Nicole soon grows into an obsession, a violent incident at school leads Nicole to believe that David may not be innocent as he appears to be. Nicole soon learns that David does not take "no" for an answer and will stop at nothing their relationship together, even if it involves harm of the ones she loves."Together forever...or else" is the tagline for this film, and it definitely resonates well with the film's plot as it deals with a young man's obsession with a beautiful girl that turns into deadly before she knows it. This teen version of the classic erotic thriller 'Fatal Attraction' puts Mark Wahlberg in his first role after his departure from the rap group Marky Mark and The Funky bunch, as a high school boy with a charming personality that masks his violent, sadistic nature. While his performance in this role is competent, he seems a bit miscasted. He doesn't look very threatening enough as the antagonist, even during the climax towards the end with the home invasion. As a result, his portrayal as the violent, obsessive young man doesn't feel very convincing. His performance as David McCall only feels believable when he and Reese Witherspoon begin their relationship and when they are sharing romantic moments together before his violent persona takes flight. After all, Wahlberg is only for portraying heroic roles in his films. On the bright side, the movie does manage to deliver some solid thrills and a few suspenseful moments to carry the dark atmosphere, while borrowing a few elements from other erotic thrillers. And the romance between Wahlberg and Witherspoon during the first half works fine, steering away from cheesy dialogue that many romance flicks are notorious for. The film doesn't offer much new to the table or anything to leave an worthwhile impression, but carries some entertainment value at least.Fear is a fine romance thriller that may appeal to teens as well as some adults, but nothing truly original nor overly clichéd should be expected here. This definitely isn't the most memorable in the resumes of the two main leads, but it is one worth checking out.
FlashCallahan
When she and her best friend, Margo, go out to a party one night, Nicole meets mysterious David, who she ends up getting together with. After a couple of weeks, Nicole realises that David is becoming possessive and gets very jealous when she talks to other men. David beats up one of Nicole's male friends because he's seen walking Nicole home. When she ends up breaking up with David, he's not happy, and does everything to try and get her back, when that doesn't work, he and his friends break into Nicole's home.......When this film was first released way back in '96, i thought it was a great thriller. After all, it was the nineties, and we'd been spoilt with these psycho type films earlier on in the decade, and hadn't had a decent one since Unlawful Entry.Well, my movie tastes have diversely changed in nearly twenty years, and I wanted to see if it held up as much as I'd hoped. Well it has, and it hasn't. Wahlberg and Witherspoon are an age away from this, and unfortunately in some scenes, Wahlberg is laughably wooden rather than sinister, his David just isn't edgy as I thought he once was, more autonomous.But it's suitably silly, looks really good, and you could stick a pin in the film the moment when you, Petersen and everyone else knows that David is a bad egg. It's one simple line.'Nicole, get me a coke'Cue the dramatic incidental music, and the look from Petersen, as if to say 'he didn't say please!!!!!! Good heavens Nicole.....Fear for your life!!!!'But, with all these shortcomings, its a lot of fun, Petersen is brilliant as usual, and it gets very Nast in some scenes.If you've seen the majority of these nice people turning psycho movies, then you know what's going to happen, when it's happening, why it's happening, and how it's going to end.And I wouldn't have it any other way....
MoviesReviews101
Story: When teenagers fall in love we all know that nothing much will come of it when one part turns into a bit of a psycho. We do get to see the highs of the relationship and how in love the couple are, but we also see the dark side once they start to break up. We see how one man snaps once he can't get what he wants and will go to great lengths in his mind games against the family before things get out of hand. It turns from a dull school girl romance into a home invasion psychological thriller. (7/10)Actor ReviewMark Wahlberg: David the charmer with a dark side because when love takes over he will stop at nothing to get his girl, disposing of whoever gets in his way. Good performance here showing his darker side and range early on in his career. (8/10)markReese Witherspoon: Nicole the sweet sixteen year old who falls for bad boy David, not noticing that he could have a darker side and wonders why he gets mad when she just stops seeing him, very naïve young girl. Good performance from Reese showing she was going onto bigger and better things. (7/10)reeseWilliam Petersen: Steve the architect father of Nicole who becomes suspicious of David early on but gets drawn into his mind games. Good protective father performance showing he always had the authority role down to a tee. (7/10)petersenDirector Review: James Foley – Good direction mixing genres as the film unfolds. (7/10)Thriller: Once the slow romantic story first finishes the thrills really start. (8/10)Settings: Some good isolated locations leaving the family trapped while the invasion happens. (7/10)Suggestion: This is one to try, fans of the actors should go back and see their early work and it is a solid thriller. (Try)Best Part: Wahlberg is frightening in the lead villain.Worst Part: Slow starting.Kill Of The Film: School friend.Scariest Scene: The dog scene.Believability: People can become that obsessed but I think this is a bit too far. (3/10)Chances of Tears: No (0/10)Chances of Sequel: NoPost Credits Scene: NoOscar Chances: NoBox Office: $21 MillionRuntime: 1 Hour 35 MinutesTagline: He's dying to date youOverall: Solid Thriller About A Lost Love
