FEAR

US, 1990, 98 minutes, Colour.
Ally Sheedy, Lauren Hutton, Michael O' Keefe, Stan Shaw, Dina Merrill, John Agar.
Directed by Rockne S. O 'Bannon.

Fear is an entertaining thriller about a psychic who helps the police to solve serial killer mysteries. The film opens very promisingly with Ally Sheedy as the psychic trying to determine what is happening. The film then shifts to several years later when she is a celebrity, has published several books on her experiences, wants to write fiction but is asked to do one more case. The killer that she encounters is able to play on her own fear and there is a strong psychic interaction between the two. However, there is an element of mystery and one suspects that Michael O' Keefe's young fireman friend is actually the killer. However, this is not the case and the plot ends fairly conventionally, even if excitingly with a confrontation at a carnival, the chamber of horrors and a struggle on a ferris wheel.

Ally Sheedy is persuasive in the central role. Lauren Hutton is her agent. Michael O' Keefe is her boyfriend. In the supporting cast are Stan Shaw and Dinah Merrill as the publisher's wife. The film was written and directed by Rockne S. O’ Bannon.

1.Interesting and entertaining thriller? Police investigations? Serial killers? Psychics and their contribution to police investigations?

2.The American cities, the neighbourhoods, the dangers? The atmosphere of serial killers? Cayce's world? The special blue effect for her experiences? The Henry Mancini score?

3.The title, the focus on fear, victims and their fear? The Shadow Man and his signature "Fear Me"? His preying on Cayce's fear? Her controlling it and conquering his fear?

4.The plausibility of the plot, the person with such a psychic gift? Her experience of it, growing up, communication, seeing and experiencing what happens? Helping the police? The books, the celebrity, television appearances? Her wanting to write fiction? The Shadow Man and his psychic powers, controlling, each of them entering the other's life? The interconnections?

5.The impact of the initial case, Cayce's behaviour, the police, the murder, the car chase? The subsequent books, television interview, contracts? The setting for the thriller?

6.Cayce as an orphan, her mother, the foster parents, her embarrassing experiences? Her study, writing? Her relationship with Jessica? The possibility of contracts, the dinner interview with the Tarrs? Looking forward to her future?

7.The television set showing the interview, the Shadow Man and his killing? The content of the interview? The dead woman, the discovery of the dead woman? The police, their initial reactions? Proving the death of the woman? The police and their investigation, the clues, opening up the case? The Shadow Man and his interaction - and especially his attacking the policeman's family and home?

8.Cayce and the dinner with the Tarrs? Jessica? The Shadow Man taking over, the disturbing experience at the restaurant? Her psychic vision? The terror of the young woman at the supermarket? The brutality of her death?

9.The encounter with Jack, his friendship, his background, work as a fireman? The audience suspecting him? Sharing her experience, talking with her, the laundry experience, the car chase? Helping her to overcome her fear?

10.Cayce and her going on the plane, the Shadow Man entering her mind? The melodrama of her getting off the plane? Jessica, her interest and support, friendship? Good management, the contracts? The confrontation with the Shadow Man and Jessica's death?

11.Jack and his control? The Shadow Man, his mother, Cayce seeing him, getting the advantage of him in contrast with his control over her? The Shadow Man entering into Jack's mind and knowing where she was? Their separating, the confrontation at the carnival, the atmosphere of the carnival with the darkness, the lights? The chamber of horrors and the mirrors? The ferris wheel and the confrontation? His death?

12.The character of the Shadow Man, his personality, his brutality, the killing of people? Entering into Cayce's mind, disturbing her, her going into his room and mind? Their mutual moving in and out of each other's world? His gradually being overcome, his fears, his death?

13.The portrait of the police - the black policeman, the Asian policeman? Their initial scepticism? The proof and the establishment of Cayce's credentials? Sharing the investigation with her, the threat to their families?

14.The film as a psychological thriller, portrait of characters, crimes, situations, psychic and psychological themes?