 Fear (1996) Post-Marky Mark but pre-Dirk Diggler, Mark Wahlberg stars as David McCall, the mysterious "babe" that high school babe Nicole (Reese Witherspoon) nabs at a rave. He's polite and kind, and eases her out of virginity like a real pro. This is all way too much for Nicole's daddy, Steve (William L. Peterson, in a performance happily reminiscent of Richard Dreyfuss). He knows there's something wrong with David, regardless of how polite he pretends to be. "He's not a good guy!" he whines at one point to Nicole, who refuses to agree. Well, at least until she witnesses David beating and raping people. The tension builds nicely as Daddy slowly transforms from a wary, old-fashioned, "Father Knows Best" kind of dad into one very angry mothertrucker. Peterson is great, conveying a sense of real powerlessness that eventually gives way to some serious ass kicking. For those fond of filmdom's interesting and myriad connections, Christopher Crowe wrote the excellent thriller Manhunter (the precursor to Silence of the Lambs) which starred none other than William Peterson. Crowe does right by his old pal, giving him lots to do. He has crafted a popcorn thriller with one of the most interesting and chilling climaxes in quite some time, and many other pleasing elements. Including Reese Witherspoon, deliciously innocent, trying to find her way in this place called life. She alternates believably from defiance to fear, from angry teen rebellion to save-me-daddy terror. Witherspoon definitely has a future in this town, by gum. Oh wait, she's already quite famous? Well, fuck. Wahlberg is by no means a brilliant performer, but he doesn't have to be, and Fear makes the most of his slightly menacing, slightly compelling charisma. He plays David as a sort of split personality. When he's polite, it's so contained and precise you know there has to be something else behind it. And there definitely is. He's a classic psycho with all the classic touches, and it is a little silly, since we all know what's going to happen. But it's pulled off with conviction and style, which is always more important than believability. And then there's Alyssa. Milano, that is. As if you didn't already know. Am I the only one here who recognized that she was a serious, serious, serious babe way back when Tony was screaming at her to do her damn homework already, and Mona was begging him to "do" her on the ironing board? Sure, that didn't actually happen, but it very well could have. All I've seen of Poison Ivy 2 is the video store box, but it was enough to fuel my fantasy life for months. Alyssa plays Nicole's sexually promiscuous best friend. Allow me to pause a moment while we all digest that. Alyssa Milano. Sexually promiscuous. Hold it, be right back … … Ah, much better. Well anyway, we get to see Alyssa making out, in a bikini, coming on to William Peterson, flashing a slice of the old bum, getting spanked (!!!!!!!) and, best of all, simulating sex in a bra and panties. Hang on, forgot to "wash my hands," so to speak … … Ahem. So if the Poison Ivy video cover was good for months, this one's easily worth years. And she gave the role some layers, too. The only problem with Alyssa Milano is her frustrating tendency to be merely nearly nude, but somehow that her all the more desirable, like the Chewbacca Collector's Plate I so desperately need but cannot afford. Well, not exactly. But anyway. True story. I know someone who met Alyssa Milano at a party and almost had sex with her. I swear! This is not like my "girlfriend" in Canada, I'm serious this time. It really almost happened. Sex with Alyssa Milano Excuse me, this is so embarrassing, I think I left my keys in the bathroom, really, ha-ha, just a minute … … When Fear came out, I remember thinking, "Finally a thriller where the guy is the evil stalker, not the girl." This after a long string of what used to be called "hot button" thrillers, although I'm not sure why they were called that. Fatal Attraction, Single White Female, A Kiss Before Dying (the absolute worst of them all), The Temp, and The Crush. All of which were grim tales about evil women on the make. None of which were any good. Most thrillers, really, are about building up the nastiness of a bad guy/girl to justify their eventual gruesome murder by the hero/heroine. It's a completely hypocritical philosophy if you think about it. The person who kills and maims without distinction is bad, but the person who kills and maims selectively is "good." Fear doesn't exactly break this chain, but at least it's fun to watch. And truly, there are a lot more men out there stalking and beating and killing women than there are women brilliantly and nefariously sabotaging the lives and careers of men. The climactic battle is something to see. Sitting alone in my apartment with the lights down, watching David and his badass gang trap Daddy, Nicole, Alyssa, Stepmom, Little Bro, and Rover in their secluded house, I was pretty much on the edge of my couch. My neighbor unlocking his front door startled me, a very good sign. I knew what had to happen, but Fear made me curious to see how it would happen. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to "wash my hands" again …
Review by Crimedog |