Fear Is the Key

"In the right hands, fear is the deadliest weapon of all."

1972 1h 43m EN

😐

5.9

MID

★5.9TMDB · 52

ActionThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A deep-sea salvage expert enacts an elaborate plan to infiltrate and take revenge on a criminal organization that dealt him a foul misdeed.

“In the right hands, fear is the deadliest weapon of all.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

Barry Newman
John Talbot
Suzy Kendall
Sarah Ruthven
John Vernon
Vyland
Dolph Sweet
Jablonsky
Ben Kingsley
Royale
Ray McAnally
Ruthven
Peter Marinker
Larry
Roland Brand
Deputy

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Michael Tuchner
Writers: Robert Carrington
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

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 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

54 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Michael Tuchner, shot by Alex Thomson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Ray Lovejoy shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Barry Newman and Suzy Kendall and John Vernon carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "In the right hands, fear is the deadliest weapon of all.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0068576 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 52 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Michael Tuchner directs. Alex Thomson behind the camera. Ray Lovejoy cuts. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

154 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Michael Tuchner, shot by Alex Thomson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Editor Ray Lovejoy shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
4Barry Newman and Suzy Kendall and John Vernon carry the top of the cast.
5Marketing tagline: "In the right hands, fear is the deadliest weapon of all.".
6IMDB entry: tt0068576 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 52 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Alex Thomson
Editing: Ray Lovejoy
Production design: Syd Cain
Makeup / hair: Ronnie Cogan
Sound: Bill Rowe
Stunt coordinator: Carey Loftin
Runtime: 103 min · 1h 43m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Fear Is the Key (1972)

Also by

Michael Tuchner

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Peter McGinn2023-02-26
★ 5/10
I can only assume they changed the story somewhat from the book because I can’t imagine Alastair MacLaine writing a story with so may plot holes and instances where people who interacted with the hero (?) did so many dumb things. It starts with a scene that seems to have nothing to do with the main body of the plot once that gets going, so that is a rather heavy handed giveaway that the scene is in fact a segue containing the explanation for what is to follow, thus giving away to me at least a major plot twist. Ands when the action does begin, it does so with a seemingly endless chase scene involving half of the police cars in Louisiana, the drivers of which apparently didn’t have radio contact as they never coordinated their efforts but just lined up in polite single file to be disabled or driven into deep water. But I will stop describing the plot here, so as not to give too much more away, as well as not to establish the admission that I watched most of this stinker.

Production companies