The film stars Iain De Caestecker (Filth) and Alice Englert (Beautiful Creatures) as a young couple fighting to make it through the night when they find themselves trapped in a maze of country roads.
Having spent a number of years directing TV episodes, Jeremy Lovering returned behind the camera last year for his feature directorial debut, In Fear. The result is an impressive horror film, very much British in flavour, the likes of which haven't been seen on our shores in longer than I can remember.
The film revolves around Lucy (Alice Englert) and Tom (Iain De Caestecker), a young couple still easing into the relatively new relationship, going away together for the first time. Their plan: To spend a night in a quiet hotel before going on to meet their friends at a nearby music festival. What starts out with sparks of romance between the two quickly descends into something much more sinister, as they find themselves stuck in a seeming maze with no way out, and a haunting presence attacking their car at every turn.
What separates British horror movies from their Hollywood counterparts is their unique ability to do so much with so little. It is perhaps best encapsulated by the likes of The Blair Witch Project, which has spawned a whole new genre of found-footage horror movies. Whilst In Fear bucks the recent trend of handheld camera footage, it does take a leaf out of The Blair Witch Project's playbook in keeping its cast trapped in a forest as the sun goes down, without any hope of salvation.
And whereas many recent horror films, both British and American, tend to opt for a monstrous presence, In Fear instead stays within the realms of reality, going down the psychological horror route rather than the supernatural, and it is very much to its credit that it remains firmly in that path; it makes the terror that much more real, and thus that much more scary for us as an audience, which is exactly what you ask from a horror movie like this.
As darkness approaches, and their nightmare really starts to sink in, it isn't long before the young couple start to turn on each other, and question just how much they really know about one another. Has one of them lured the other into this neverending situation? Or is it an external force that has them pegged for a terrorising night of mayhem?
The way the film unfolds is truly to Lovering's credit, as both writer and director of the film. Rare is the horror film that will leave you guessing right up until the end, and rarer still is the film that will have such a satisfying emotional payoff. Lovering manages to keep the tension on high throughout, leaving you gripped on the edge of your seat, daring yourself to peep out from behind the cushions of your sofa.
Englert and De Caestecker's performances deserve the utmost praise, and we can perhaps thank the fact that Lovering didn't tell even his cast how the film would end that the tension between them continues to rise, remaining so high throughout.
It's a high-intensity thrill ride that makes the very best of a low budget, and is really quite unlike any horror released in the best part of a decade, and so worthy of your attention. For any and all fans of the genre, if you missed its fairly limited theatrical release last year, I can't recommend it enough now it's out on DVD and Blu-ray. A guaranteed must-see. You won't regret it.
We will publish your review of In Fear [2013] on DVD within a few days as long as it meets our guidelines.
None of your personal details will be passed on to any other third party.
Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play. Driving to a music festival, Tom (Iain De Caestecker, Filth) and Lucy (Alice Englert, Beautiful Creatures) have plans to stay at a remote countryside hotel. But when signs lead them in circles they are soon trapped in a maze of back-roads, with only their vehicle for protection from an unseen tormentor hell-bent on exploiting their worst nightmares. Driving, lost and tormented in the night, primal fears of the dark and unknown become real, as the couple realise they may have let the evil in, or that it was always there. Actors Iain De Caestecker, Alice Englert & Allen Leech Director Jeremy Lovering Certificate 15 years and over Year 2013 Languages English Duration 1 hour and 25 minutes (approx)
British thriller following a young couple whose trip to the countryside takes a nightmarish turn. To celebrate their two week anniversary Tom (Iain De Caestecker) and Lucy (Alice Englert) plan to stay at a secluded hotel for the night while on their way to a music festival. During their journey, however, the road signs lead them astray and as night begins to fall they find themselves lost in the woods. When they face some unsettling experiences that become increasingly terrifying, they realise they are not alone...
This site uses cookies.
More details in our privacy policy
