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The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
86
Studio and Year: Anchor Bay Entertainment - 2013
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 85 Minutes
Genre: Thriller
Disc Format: BD-25
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 2.35:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Subtitles: Spanish
Starring: Iain De Caestecker, Alice Englert, Allen Leech
Directed by: Jeremy Lovering
Music by: Daniel Pemberton, Roly Porter
Written by: Jeremy Lovering
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: March 11th, 2014
"Have they let the evil in, or is it already there?"
Film Synopsis:
Experience the film being hailed as “chilling, tense, and scary”(Screen Daily). Young couple Tom (Iain De Caestecker of “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) and Lucy (Alice Englert of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES) are driving to a festival in the remote Irish countryside. When they leave the main highway to look for their hotel, they quickly lose their way along the back-roads. Lost and tormented as night falls, Tom and Lucy’s primal anxieties of the dark and the unknown start to take hold. When the couple discovers they are not alone, they realize that their worst fears lay in the road ahead. Allen Leech (“Downton Abbey”) co-stars in this shattering debut feature by writer/director Jeremy Lovering.
My Take:
In Fear had some good press and a bit of buzz from its screening at Sundance. I was excited to check it out as it seemed right in my wheelhouse. The plot is as basic as it gets and revolves around Tom and Lucy who are on their first date traveling to a festival to meet friends. Tom has other plans as he springs on Lucy that he booked a room at a quaint hotel for the evening before the festival begins. Calling him a "Cheeky Bastard", Lucy agrees and the two set out on a detour. On the way to the isolated hotel cell and gps signal fade and they rely on a map and street signs. Of course they end up lost and in a never ending loop that they just cant seem to get out of. As the night falls paranoia sets in as they realize they are being stalked and tormented. With no way out, the two must try to escape, or at the least try to stay alive.
In Fear had a lot going for it, with the casting of Lucy and Tom feeling authentic, the direction and cinematography working to build tension and a simple but effective build-up. However, not to long in, as the films layers shed its weaknesses are revealed. The script, antagonists and ultimate outcome are all a letdown, and any real fear "In Fear" does conjure up ultimately dissipates under an almost non-existent script. The film was mostly improv, with writer/director Jeremy Lovering and crew setting out with a story only. A pretty daring move for producers, especially on a first time director. Looking at it that way the end result is good, but as a fleshed out narrative it does disappoint.
Parental Guide:
Rated R for some disturbing violent content and terror, and for language
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 88
Video: 84
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
In Fear comes to Blu-ray disc from Anchor Bay featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 24.2 mbps and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound with an average bitrate of 3.8 mbps.
In Fear has a moody and claustrophobic look and feel which translated well on to Blu-ray courtesy of Anchor Bay. From bright and clear to dark and grainy, the cinematography is always about the mood and the 1080p/24 image always milks what details are on each frame. Blacks are deep with excellent shadow details, and contrast is stable. Colors are a bit subdued, but this is expected in the films dark feel and mostly night setting. The lossless 5.1 soundtrack was the standout here with some great use of atmosphere to elicit chills, deep bass when called and an always clear front sound-stage.
Bonus Features:
Final Thoughts:
In Fear needed a little more fear, a little more depth a little more plot, or as some movies benefit from, a script. I found that all the parts that had development, also known as the first 30 minutes, worked very well. A sound production and acting make it worth a rental to those interested.
Lee Weber
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS4910 3D 1080p 3D High Definition Front Projector
Screen Innovations Gamma Maestro 4K 1.1 138" 2.35:1 Acoustically Transparent CinemaScope Screen
Da-Lite Pro Imager Projector Screen Masking System
Onkyo PR-SC5509 Pre/Pro
Parasound Halo A51 & A21 7x250
Sony BDP-S790 Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Triad Gold LCR's
Triad Silver Surrounds x4
Triad Bronze Subwoofers x4
Panamorph DC1 Anamorphic Lens
AudioQuest Wires
Panasonic TC-P65ZT60 3D 1080p Plasma
URC DMS-AV Receiver
Sony BDP-S790 Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
MKSound MP-7 LCR's
MKSound SUR-55T Surrounds
Triad Bronze Subwoofer

The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
86
Studio and Year: Anchor Bay Entertainment - 2013
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 85 Minutes
Genre: Thriller
Disc Format: BD-25
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 2.35:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Subtitles: Spanish
Starring: Iain De Caestecker, Alice Englert, Allen Leech
Directed by: Jeremy Lovering
Music by: Daniel Pemberton, Roly Porter
Written by: Jeremy Lovering
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: March 11th, 2014
"Have they let the evil in, or is it already there?"
Film Synopsis:
Experience the film being hailed as “chilling, tense, and scary”(Screen Daily). Young couple Tom (Iain De Caestecker of “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) and Lucy (Alice Englert of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES) are driving to a festival in the remote Irish countryside. When they leave the main highway to look for their hotel, they quickly lose their way along the back-roads. Lost and tormented as night falls, Tom and Lucy’s primal anxieties of the dark and the unknown start to take hold. When the couple discovers they are not alone, they realize that their worst fears lay in the road ahead. Allen Leech (“Downton Abbey”) co-stars in this shattering debut feature by writer/director Jeremy Lovering.
My Take:
In Fear had some good press and a bit of buzz from its screening at Sundance. I was excited to check it out as it seemed right in my wheelhouse. The plot is as basic as it gets and revolves around Tom and Lucy who are on their first date traveling to a festival to meet friends. Tom has other plans as he springs on Lucy that he booked a room at a quaint hotel for the evening before the festival begins. Calling him a "Cheeky Bastard", Lucy agrees and the two set out on a detour. On the way to the isolated hotel cell and gps signal fade and they rely on a map and street signs. Of course they end up lost and in a never ending loop that they just cant seem to get out of. As the night falls paranoia sets in as they realize they are being stalked and tormented. With no way out, the two must try to escape, or at the least try to stay alive.
In Fear had a lot going for it, with the casting of Lucy and Tom feeling authentic, the direction and cinematography working to build tension and a simple but effective build-up. However, not to long in, as the films layers shed its weaknesses are revealed. The script, antagonists and ultimate outcome are all a letdown, and any real fear "In Fear" does conjure up ultimately dissipates under an almost non-existent script. The film was mostly improv, with writer/director Jeremy Lovering and crew setting out with a story only. A pretty daring move for producers, especially on a first time director. Looking at it that way the end result is good, but as a fleshed out narrative it does disappoint.
Parental Guide:
Rated R for some disturbing violent content and terror, and for language
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 88
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency extension:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
Video: 84
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black level/Shadow detail:
- Color reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
In Fear comes to Blu-ray disc from Anchor Bay featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 24.2 mbps and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound with an average bitrate of 3.8 mbps.
In Fear has a moody and claustrophobic look and feel which translated well on to Blu-ray courtesy of Anchor Bay. From bright and clear to dark and grainy, the cinematography is always about the mood and the 1080p/24 image always milks what details are on each frame. Blacks are deep with excellent shadow details, and contrast is stable. Colors are a bit subdued, but this is expected in the films dark feel and mostly night setting. The lossless 5.1 soundtrack was the standout here with some great use of atmosphere to elicit chills, deep bass when called and an always clear front sound-stage.
Bonus Features:
- (HD) Behind The Scenes
Final Thoughts:
In Fear needed a little more fear, a little more depth a little more plot, or as some movies benefit from, a script. I found that all the parts that had development, also known as the first 30 minutes, worked very well. A sound production and acting make it worth a rental to those interested.
Lee Weber
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS4910 3D 1080p 3D High Definition Front Projector
Screen Innovations Gamma Maestro 4K 1.1 138" 2.35:1 Acoustically Transparent CinemaScope Screen
Da-Lite Pro Imager Projector Screen Masking System
Onkyo PR-SC5509 Pre/Pro
Parasound Halo A51 & A21 7x250
Sony BDP-S790 Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Triad Gold LCR's
Triad Silver Surrounds x4
Triad Bronze Subwoofers x4
Panamorph DC1 Anamorphic Lens
AudioQuest Wires
Panasonic TC-P65ZT60 3D 1080p Plasma
URC DMS-AV Receiver
Sony BDP-S790 Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
MKSound MP-7 LCR's
MKSound SUR-55T Surrounds
Triad Bronze Subwoofer