Fear

R

Released Apr 12, 1996

1 hr. 36 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

46%

39 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When 16-year-old Nicole Walker (Reese Witherspoon) meets 23-year-old David McCall (Mark Wahlberg) at a Seattle nightclub, she falls in love. David is exciting and charming, and despite the wide age gap, he wins over Nicole's family -- except for her workaholic father, Steven (William Petersen), who's suspicious of David from the start. His concerns are realized when David turns out to be a violent sociopath who sees Nicole as his possession, and her family home a fortress to be invaded.

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Critics Consensus

Fear has an appealing young cast, but their efforts aren't enough to consistently distract from an increasingly overblown - and illogical - teen stalker story.

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Crystal S

This is a 90s classic! Reese Witherspoon and Mark Wahlberg play a young couple experiencing first love but when one gets possessive and the other leaves things turn deadly. It’s worth watching.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/22/24

Full Review

Mary S

Loved it!!! Well written, well acted and good story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/09/24

Full Review

Michael S

This film was pretty frustrating and had a ton of moments that made no sense. It isn't terrible though. Mark Wahlberg was pretty decent as a villian and Reese Witherspoon was fine so hey, there was some effort there.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

Full Review

J M

Great film from the 90's.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/15/24

Full Review

Audience Member

I can’t wait to get my pussy fingered on a roller coaster! Have an orgasm while everyone watches! What fun!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/14/24

Full Review

Lori B

I don't know why all the bad reviews on this. A young Reese Witherspoon and a young Mark Wahlberg were very good actors, and this movie Was scary! They definitely could have used cell phones if they had been around. 😊

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/13/24

Full Review

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James Foley

Director

Mark Wahlberg

David McCall

Reese Witherspoon

Nicole Walker

William Petersen

Steve Walker

Amy Brenneman

Laura Walker

Alyssa Milano

Margo Masse

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Fear: Official Clip - Wild Roller Coaster Ride

2:09

Fear: Official Clip - All the Time in the World

2:09

Fear: Official Clip - Forever Hold Your Peace!

2:13

Fear: Official Clip - David Apologizes

1:45

Fear: Official Clip - We Have Something That Everybody Wants

2:13

Fear: Official Clip - The Security Guard Is Shot

1:18

Fear: Official Clip - Let Me in the F***in' House!

1:23

Fear: Official Clip - David Kills Gary

2:10

Fear: Official Clip - Nicole 4 Eva

0:37

Fear: Official Clip - Practically Family

1:46

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Susan Wloszczyna

USA Today

For a while, the cast is appealing enough, and the design is House Beautiful enough, to camouflage the Fatal flaws that turn the second half into an overblown, predictable snicker-fest.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network

Aside from instigating a sexual awakening for a generation thanks to the rollercoaster scene, this murky, messy erotic thriller features a bad boyfriend AND a bad dad, a madonna/whore complex and a very savvy younger brother.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 11, 2023

Full Review

Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

Fear is so bad that it's good. It provides no scares, but quite a few laughs.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 22, 2022

Full Review

Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

If there isn't room for a big, dopey teen thriller in your movie-watching life, then the only thing you have to fear is Fear itself.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 14, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

When 16-year-old Nicole Walker (Reese Witherspoon) meets 23-year-old David McCall (Mark Wahlberg) at a Seattle nightclub, she falls in love. David is exciting and charming, and despite the wide age gap, he wins over Nicole's family -- except for her workaholic father, Steven (William Petersen), who's suspicious of David from the start. His concerns are realized when David turns out to be a violent sociopath who sees Nicole as his possession, and her family home a fortress to be invaded.

Director: James Foley
Executive Producer: Karen Kehela Sherwood
Screenwriter: Christopher Crowe
Distributor: Universal Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Universal Home Entertainment
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 12, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.5M
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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