1 / 7
ERA
Did you know
30 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Fear
"Together forever. Or else."
1996 1h 37m EN
👍
6.7
SOLID
★6.7TMDB · 1,141
Thriller
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Nicole Walker always dreamed of being swept away by someone special — someone strong, sexy and sensitive who would care for her more than anything else in the world. David is all that and more: a modern-day knight who charms and seduces her, body and soul. But her perfect boyfriend is not all he seems to be. His sweet facade masks a savage, dark side that will soon transform Nicole's dream into a nightmare.
“Together forever. Or else.”
Cast
Mark Wahlberg
David McCall
Reese Witherspoon
Nicole Walker
William L. Petersen
Steve Walker
Alyssa Milano
Margo Masse
Amy Brenneman
Laura Walker
Tracy Fraim
Logan
Jason Kristofer
Terry
Jed Rees
Knobby
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- James Foley
- Writers
- Christopher Crowe
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by James Foley, shot by Thomas Kloss. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Carter Burwell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor David Brenner shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 7
CAST
Did you know
Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon and William L. Petersen carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 7
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Together forever. Or else.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 7
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0116287 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
Cinephile deep dive
The take
James Foley directs. Thomas Kloss behind the camera. Carter Burwell scores. David Brenner cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 130 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 2Directed by James Foley, shot by Thomas Kloss. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 3Original score by Carter Burwell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 4Editor David Brenner shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 5Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon and William L. Petersen carry the top of the cast.
- 6Marketing tagline: "Together forever. Or else.".
- 7IMDB entry: tt0116287 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 8Classified under 8 themes, including "psychopath", "father", "loss of virginity", "teenage girl".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Thomas Kloss
- Original score
- Carter Burwell
- Editing
- David Brenner
- Production design
- Alex McDowell
- Costume design
- Kirsten Everberg
- Makeup / hair
- Ian C. Ballard
- Sound
- Chris Jenkins
- Stunt coordinator
- Charles Andre
- Runtime
- 97 min · 1h 37m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
- IMDB
- Fear (1996)
Also by
James Foley
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Community reviews
What people are saying
- John Chard★ 7/10
Fear can hold you prisoner… Fear is directed by James Foley and written by Christopher Crowe. It stars Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon, William Petesen, Alyssa Milano and Amy Brenneman. Music is by Carter Burwell and cinematography by Thomas Kloss. One of the number of psycho-sexual thrillers that surfaced in the 80s and 90s, Fear has the narrative hook that it involves teenagers. Witherspoon is the girl who invites drifter David McCall (Wahlberg) into her life, only to find he’s as unstable as unstable can be. Director Foley and his team then produce a film that pretty much cribs from a number of other similar themed movies. All of the key scenes will be instantly familiar to genre film watchers, and unfortunately the plot twists and turns come as no surprise. However, in spite of the lack of originality in structure and narrative thrust, Fear is never dull, not even when Wahlberg is wistfully looking into Witherspoon’s eyes like a love sick puppy. Suspense is on hand for the big finale, which unfolds with kinetic brutality, and it’s also nice here to find that some thought has gone into the characterisations of those in peril. Kloss’ photography around the various Seattle locales is vividly appealing, as is Burwell’s music compositions, while the acting performances are all on the good side of good, with nobody harming the balance of the piece. A teenage Cape Fear – cum – Straw Dogs - cum – Fatal Attraction, but good with it regardless. 7/10
Production companies
Who made it
Universal Pictures
US
Imagine Entertainment
US
Key crew
- ProducerBrian Grazer
- ProducerRic Kidney
- Executive ProducerKaren Kehela Sherwood
- Boom OperatorChris Glyn-Jones
- Second Assistant DirectorBonnie Benwick
- Second Assistant CameraJames 'Spud' Danicic
- Stunt CoordinatorCharles Andre
- Production AccountantDon Orlando
- Unit Production ManagerColleen Nystedt
- Key GripTim Hogan
- Special Effects CoordinatorTim Storvick
- Rigging GripRobin Jobin
- Second Assistant DirectorKim H. Winther
- Set Decoration BuyerElizabeth Patrick
- Property MasterBill Thumm
- Set DresserPaul Jenkinson
- Assistant Art DirectorBridget McGuire
- First Assistant DirectorDavid B. Householter
- Camera OperatorDavid Crone
- Set DesignerIvana Vasak
- First Assistant EditorJulie Monroe
- Foley EditorJulie Feiner
- Extras CastingJames Forsyth
- Camera LoaderStephen Maier
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- psychopath
- father
- loss of virginity
- teenage girl
- psychological thriller
- home invasion
- split personality
- ax
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1996-04-12R
Also known as
International titles
- Pasión obsesivaES
- Fear - Wenn die Liebe Angst machtDE
- Ángel y demonioAR
- MiedoMX
