Fear (1996)

This is our introduction to Nicole. She's taking a shower. No soap, no wash cloth. Just standing under the water and vibes. Happy as a clam. If she only knew...

Nicole's hot stepmom yells up for basically Nicole to conclude her shower so that the hot water doesn't run out before her fat, sweaty father can take his. I feel like this happens in movies/TV a lot: the teen daughter is yelled at to hurry up before she runs all the hot water out before every1 else in the family can wash themselves. Why is this a thing? Why is the hot water running out? Is that a thing that happens? The family in this movie seems like they are pretty well-off, finances-wise, so why is this a concern? Maybe I'm just dumb (almost definitely that's it). Maybe it's not literal, maybe the stepmom is just being a bitch? I think I might be intellectually disabled..

So this scene is weird, but not inaccurate in regards to how families react in general to teen girls/daughters. Nicole comes down wearing a dress, that I personally think is super cute and would wear myself and I'm not even an annoying white teenage girl lol. But anyway, she comes down and her dad is like immediately gawking at her. This whole movie is weird in regards to, specifically, the dynamics between the dad and daughter characters. There's a hint of incestuous vibes bleeding all throughout. I thought it was a little strange... I was not sure what to make of it. Now, Nicole and her father never have any moments, to me, that are outright inappropriate I don't think. Pretty sure this scene where he is like What's with the toddler dress is prob the most criminal-seeming interaction they have and, tbh, it's pretty normal for weird dads to make this sort of commentary. Not saying it's okay. I personally think dads should never comment on anything their daughter is wearing or doing or saying ever lol. Dads should just be quiet and give their daughters money whenever and just nod along at anything their crazy daughters want and never question them. That's my opinion! I still really don't know what we're supposed to get from this scene though, when you consider it within the context of the movie's story. Is it like...a dad just freaking out because his daughter is growing up and becoming sexy? Um..hmm... Why is that, like, the theme? I think that's a pretty odd theme to have for a movie lmao..hmm

I have no proof, but I'm positive this dog is a racist

This is the gross, ugly guy they're going to have Alyssa Milano making out with and hunching on the entire movie. I feel that the entirety of Hollywood should be investigated and brought up on charges of various human rights violations.

Did she just order chocolate cake at a bar? I didn't know you could do that. This is a level of girlboss goblin mode that I didn't even think was humanly possible.

What's likely actually happening though is that they are not in a bar. They are in some weird richie kid 90s teen hangout spot that I'm pretty sure never existed in real life? Or maybe it did but because I was only like six when this movie came out I just kinda missed the boat on these places. Cuz what is even happening? Why are there like gross, old men smoking and drinking beer and playing pool and then also like 16 year old girls in crop-tops ordering chocolate cake? This is hell and I'm so thankful the nineties are dead and buried. What an awful time to be alive.

This is our first introduction to the antagonist of the film, David. Are we intended to view Mark Wahlberg as a hottie? He looks like a mean lesbian who was sent to prison for kicking a child to death but they've just got early release due to overcrowding and now they're living in a halfway house and working the nightshift as a custodian at the county morgue. Is that part of the appeal? Hollywood was such a mistake. I can't believe they made this guy a movie star.

Alyssa's character Margo is incredibly troubled. I'm pretty sure...the movie is aware of what they're doing with her character...but it seems kind of problematic to have this type of character in a movie geared toward teens and never really address what she has going on. Like in this scene she's talking about how amazing it would be to do porn. And she's like: Is it wrong to want validation from men? The most they do is have Nicole respond like "Gross", which is what a normal teen girl response would be, and I guess that's fine for the teen girl audience, but something seems irresponsible about how Margo's character is presented overall. This is a teen-geared thriller, I'm pretty sure. So there should be something that's kind of making it a bit more obvious that a lot of things her character is doing and saying are because of her troubled home conditions and self-esteem issues. They do it way too subtly, imo, but then maybe I'd be complaining if they straight up had a character like the doctor at the end of Psycho giving like a ten minute long monologue explaining her neurosis to the audience or whatever. So not sure what the best course of action would've been. Let's just move on and never talk about this again :)

I like this line where Nicole is talking about a guy (I think a classmate) she's gone on some dates with. She says she feels like she should be paid for babysitting when she goes out with him and I thought that was really perceptive and funny. But then you realize they're having her say that to set up the fact she's going to be dating some old man predator lesbian for the majority of the film and now I am not sure anymore how I feel about them having her say that. Teen boys are definitely immature but that's no reason for a teen girl to have a full blown adult boyfriend who will end up trying to murder her entire family. Like there's gotta be a happy medium idk

He reads this line like he's some off-putting twink who tries to flirt with Pacino's character at one of those scary gay sex clubs in Cruising. He's meant to be the hot and sexy older guy~ a stupid teen girl is moronically drawn to. He doesn't make it make sense why Nicole would be ready to risk it all for him. No one deserves to be on movie screens less than Mark Wahlberg. I will horrifically maim whoever decided to make him a thing. As God as my witness.

He looks like he wore a helmet to school. Unserious casting.

I like the way this scene was filmed. It's like we're in Nicole's POV and we get to be afraid of climbing down the ladder, which I thought was really cool, and then there's another layer of FEAR where it's kind of like, should Nicole trust this random weird man she literally just met one entire second ago. I don't think this movie is bad at all. It's just kind of problematic and also it has Mark Wahlberg. I don't think any movie can be considered flat-out "good" if it has Mark Wahlberg, and I stand by that. But I don't think it's bad, either, and there are some pretty good scenes occasionally lol

Nicole's stupid slut friend just ditching her when they arrived at the club together. Hate when they have characters do this, but probably it's realistic, especially for a character like Margo (trying not to say too many slurs because she's a child and also like I'm adult enough to understand that she is troubled lol starting to wonder if the movie is problematic or is it just me. It's giving why not both vibes idk)

Pretty sure Nicole just called him retarded. What - are y'all gonna cancel her?? It's the nineties, that was okay then!

I'm convinced David genuinely believes he possesses the ability to magically turn back time. I think he might be mentally challenged. The movie does not address this. But then, maybe they're doing it subtly. They're like, We'll cast Mark Wahlberg, then the audience will know without us having to spell it out for them. I think the makers of this film might be secretly genius?

Why the fuck is he sucking on her face? I know Reese Witherspoon was fixin' to throw up. It's incredible they watched over dailies and still approved this. He looks slow and like he got something wrong with him, but I'm pretty sure we're not supposed to think that yet, so??

The hot stepmom calls Nicole a slut and it's literally so uncalled for and so out of pocket. It's like the most shocking thing that happens in the movie and I'm not even being hyperbolic because like when David does some crazy shit you're just like yeah sure he's a white boy from the East Coast that's what they do, but Nicole's own family coming for her like that? For NO REASON - it's bananas. She's crazy. Who the fuck are you talking to? That's a child, and your daughter. Like I'm stunned.

Nicole's dad and stepmom are arguing over Nicole coming home late from her date with David. The stepmom has the weirdest energy towards Nicole. I guess it's realistic for a stepmom? She has so much attitude for her, but then I think maybe it's just realistic behavior from a mother figure towards her teen daughter/stepdaughter. The energy feels...idk, targeted. Like she's doing too much sometimes. She's telling her man he should've grounded Nicole for coming home late but it's nowhere near that serious, imo. She tells the dad he basically needs to be a bit more firm with Nicole or whatever and the dad is like oh, is that why you called my daughter a slut lmao and the mom tries to qualify it and is like I said she LOOKED like a slut. HUH? How is that any different? And why are you saying your daughter is a slut or LOOKS like a slut in the first place? Why is the word SLUT coming out of your mouth towards a child at all? And the goofy dad don't even do shit. Protect your daughter, clown!

I would whoop that ho upside the head if she called my daughter a slut but idk that's just me

Is this film meant to be inspired by Hitchcock? LMAO

The only time I think Mark Wahlberg's performance is acceptable in this movie is when he does the awkward white people Polite Smile, except in this case I think he was doing it because one of his gangster buddies was sucking face with his girlfriend's vulnerable, underaged friend, so..

Crazy how Nicole was looking at her friend with alarm for making out with that old guy from David's white boy rapist gang only for her to turn around and do the exact same thing with David? How very Girly Teen Girl of her

Nope sure isn't. Call the police.

The ominous music that plays when David yells for Nicole to get him a coke like she's his little slave is *perfection* lol. Perfect moment, but I'm confused. The dad's spidey senses perk up when this happens. Honestly, he's not feeling David from the beginning because, I assume, he observes David is quite older than Nicole. He at least can tell David has aged out of high school and he is like hmm. Then you have this grown man yelling at his teen daughter to get him something to drink like she's a waitress or something and even if she was a waitress, like, there's a far more respectful way to ask for your coke than just shouting like some white trash methhead from like Bar Habor or some shit. Like, have some class. Why doesn't the dad check David? I wonder if it's a white people thing or what? You're not demanding my child get you anything in her own home. I'm so confused why he doesn't say anything. I'll just chalk it up to not understanding White Culture. Or is it a rich people thing? Idk let me know in the comments! (no1 is reading this lol)

*racist Masshole voice* Pleashure tuh meetchu, Mistuh Wahlkeur. Tayke Caiur!

Why does everything Mark Wahlberg says sound like a slur? I'm starting to come around on his casting. It actually could be considered an extraordinary selection. My final opinion pending...

Imagine you're Reese Witherspoon and in the script it says Mark Wahlberg has to put his fingers on your lips. The way I would massacre every1 in Hollywood. She's so brave, actually.

The iconic Wild Horses rollercoaster fingerblasting scene. Genuinely unwatchable. Horror movie coded, in fact. And if it were me, I would be pissed that some old guy was trying to finger me while I'm tryna enjoy the ride. How do you even concentrate on your orgasm while on a rollercoaster? Why am I talking about any of this. I need to scrub my life down to the bare bones and just start over entirely from scratch.

This was Looney Tunes coded. David and his magical time-bending skills turns the hands back on a clock in the father's office. I think he does it to buy a few extra hours out with Nicole. The movie makes it seem as if David truly has the ability to turn back the hands of time. I thought they were joking in that first scene... And then, incredibly, it turns out this actually works and the dad loses track of time. It's incredible, you have to see it to believe it. He ends up missing a deadline at work or something because of this. It's truly--you have to watch it for yourself if you haven't, it's amazing. Like, does this dude not have a clock on his computer or anything? A watch he's wearing? It's truly incredible; unbelievable, actually.

Nicole gives her geriatric boyfriend the code to the security system. Everyone in this movie is mentally challenged.

Mark Wahlberg's "acting" is 99% flared nostrils. I think maybe he should've been aborted :/

Why is Nicole wearing a bra in bed? *googles the writer* Ah, a man. No further questions, your honor.

Mark Wahlberg (i feel like if i keep typing his name I'll accidentally summon him) does this thing where he always looks confused. Maybe this is his "bit" as an actor. His edge, or whatever. It makes every performance so...comical, though? Like in this scene he beats the shit out of Nicole's friend and he also elbows her *accidentally* in the eye and Nicole is like crying on the ground and he's like come on let's go but she refuses and screams at him to leave her alone and his confused "what?" just...is too comical for the vibes of the scene. Like, I shouldn't be laughing. I should be scared and concerned. David is meant to be really dangerous but I just can't take him seriously with that thing playing him

Nicole showering again. No soap or wash cloth again, either. But this time, she is sad :(

It's incredible how dimwitted everyone in this movie is. Nicole clearly looks like she is hiding something/lying in this scene but the stepmom just accepts it and is like Ok :) Just...everyone failing this child. And let's not even talk about how no one minds that other kid. I don't even know his fucking name lmao

Can't tell if I think it's insightful or not that this movie compares David to Travis Bickle. Like it's definitely not lmao. It's the verbal equivalent of wearing a Hitchcock t-shirt, I think? Stop reminding the audience of better, more intelligent films lmao like don't put them on to real movies keep them here in the dark, cold, emptiness where the likes of Fear (1996) reside

Something very serial killer coded about David's handwriting. I feel like I'm being too mean to someone who grew up in the foster care system, but he's just so ugly and untalented that it's hard for me to feel empathy, you know?

The white boy reggae-rap soundtrack is a little bit on the nose, dontcha think?

Dem nostrils doing all the heavy-lifting here.

Is the movie blatantly trying to establish parallels between David and Travis Bickle? That can't honestly be what's happening...

Loved Nicole's fit here. Which is kinda inappropriate to sayyy? Like, she's been hurt by her old man boyfriend and I should focus on that, for sure, but she is such a SLAY in this scene and I love how the bruise like matches with her sweater? My god, shout out to costume design, for real!

And by "disagreement" she means that her boyfriend beat the shit out of one of her best friends for no reason and in the process also gave her a black eye...

I agree that it's a fail tactic to approach issues with your children on some bully shit. The dad sees that something is wrong with his daughter, that she is having issues with her boyfriend. She has a black eye and he suspects she got it from the boyfriend. But all he can focus on is the fact that his daughter is having sex and just screams at her on some "my house my rules" type of shit. Um, your daughter is in danger. Or, at least you suspect this. What the fuck is screaming at her gonna do? How does that protect her? All that hollerin is just gonna drive her into the arms of the man you suspect is a great danger to your child. Pretty sure the trash stepmom says as much to him, so I give her a point for that. Mostly the point is because she's hot - I don't even think she says this because she's feeling protective over Nicole, I think she is defending David. She's fallen under his ugly little lesbian-haired spell. She doesn't fool me. Damn ho. Gorgeous tho lol

Here........................... Margo is justifying men beating women by saying that it's just their way of expressing love sometimes.

HUH?! Wh--I'm speechless. I don't know how to process this character. I think it's crazy to have her say this and Nicole just looks on not saying anything? Does Nicole agree with his? Pretty sure no? Like when David *accidentally* hits her in the eye she sends him away, so I'm pretty sure she is not on board with abuse within a relationship so like??? I get we're supposed to understand Margo is ~troubled~. They briefly kind of show that her mother is like some high-class escort or gold digger or something so we're meant to infer she comes from a certain kind of background, and maybe we can infer this is the type of nonsense she learned from her ho mama, but again it feels so irresponsible to have her character say this and no one comments "Um, girl, what?", like they just let it hang and then the movie moves on like that wasn't just some crazy shit she just said. Idk, maybe I'm being too middle school by wishing the movie actively commented on what she has going on more...overtly? Maybe it's fine they just let things hang and allow the audience to decide for themselves? Idk

Stepmom so goofy. Fuck you chillin' with your daughter's middle-aged abusive boyfriend for? Smiling from ear to ear looking stupid. Bitch if your gorgeous ass don't file a fucking restraining order against this strong-faced lesbian. Pissing me off!

Hate this bitch! Lmao. Sometimes I think the casting of Donnie's brother is good? Like David is so damn hateable lmao. I think if they got a real actor to play the role maybe it would be a more grey-area thing for me? Like maybe I would actually feel bad that his character was molested at various fosters homes (they never mention this but he just has that look) as a child? So maybe the casting is good. The biggest issue is...I never buy Nicole being so into him. I feel like someone like Ryan Phillippe would make more sense? Like when Reese falls for him in Cruel Intentions it makes sense, but Reese falling for this ugly lesbian ex-con just isn't working for me lol.

The stepmom just brushes off the fact that her daughter's old man boyfriend completely fabricated his backstory? I'm convinced she hates Nicole and wants her to get murdered. Y'all not changing my mind.

One thing I just noticed, tho, is that typically in thrillers and horrors it's usually the woman who is trying to convince every1 of something (of a haunting, perhaps, or, in this case, that someone every1 likes is a violent psychopathic criminal). So I like that this movie has a man (the dad) for a change in that role of like constantly being gaslighted and no1 believing him. Just a nice little twist.

LMAO!

I hate his acting in this scene and the way he delivers his lines. But at the same time, the repulsive acting kind of works? I feel like this movie is breaking me down spiritually.

I hate the way he reads this line. I just want him DEAD!

So stupid, but yet, so iconic. The nineties were a mistake.

Me @ Hollywood for making Mark Wahlberg a movie star

What about this crusty, white-lipped geriatric stud is a simple-minded teenage girl getting wet for? Quickly!

Marky Mark ugly ashell but his hands are gorgeous. Convincing myself it's a hand double so I don't have to feel any positive feelings towards him.

PLEASEE WHY DOES HE KISS LIKE THAT!! Every time he sucks on Nicole it makes my stomach curdle up upon itself. STOP IT!!

He has the textbook look of a low-intelligent criminal mind. Is this what the girly teen girls are into? Perplexed.

Oh, this movie getting a little too dark-sided for me... But how very nineties teen thriller. We need to get back to this! Or, maybe not idk lmao this movie is kind of sickening ngl

God whispering to me as I struggled through the Marky Mark line readings

Those gorgeous, gorgeous hands again. God said: I'll give you beautiful hands, but everything else gotta be disgusting. A spiteful God.

Ok. Do you see the [panting]? There's A LOT of that in this movie. Actors often begin scenes as if they just got back from running a 5k. They complete the race and run straight from there to the studio, stand at their marks, and the director immediately calls ACTION! - no breaks. It's the strangest thing. SO MUCH heavy breathing and panting. Hell was goin on on this set? I don't think it's an intentional directorial choice? Like why are you out of breath making a phone call? Very strange and noticeable. Markus Markus will be doing one of his horrendous line readings completely out of breath it's so funny but I don't think it's supposed to be happening? Normally, people aren't having casual conversations where the whole time they're trying to gasp for breath? Just bizarre. Maybe this was filmed at a high altitude? Idk geography so let's just move on.

Are...we meant to view David as looking high-school age? He just waltzes up into Nicole's school and no one stops him? Are we meant to think it's because he blends in as a Fellow Teen? He looks bout a decade older, at least, than all the rest of the kids, so? And where is the staff? A hoodlum from off the street has just casually walked into the school and is harassing one of your students and you're...where? And mind you, he already beat the shit out of one of your other students a week or so ago? Y'all should have this man's photo up in the office alerting staff to his presence so they can know to call the police if he appears on school grounds again. Hello? Is this just cuz it's the nineties and maybe proper security measures being put in place wasn't as common then? Confused.

[Nicole panting]. She's just standing there?

So here's Margo asking a child when she can have sex with him.

At least she's requesting consent?..

This was kinda sad. Like, I guess the movie does acknowledge what Margo has going on? I don't know if they do it...substantially enough? But they do acknowledge it - okay, FINE.

So much nostrils acting.

Lmao, who is this for? Nigga got a dent in his skull

Marky Mark roll up to a scene nostrils-first. It's a tool in his actor belt. It's something. Some have nothing. I won't say any names...but certain someones could only dream of having nostrils to support them in a scene, and that's all I'll say about that...

What is this. This the shit the dad be spending all his time on instead of fixing his fucked up family? Shaking my head.

PAUSE!

Please, I laughed :(

He just straight up murders someone? Like, bro. Not cool!

The retarded handwriting

So funny when the dad demands his coworker give him his car. The way I would say no and then call the police on the dad for even asking me lmao. White people are DIFFERENT.

Too much nostrils here. Need a 30% reduction on the nostrils in this scene.

David's little altar/shrine to Nicole is genuinely funny. That boy is SLOW. Ok?

Lmao why does David cast himself as the father in this photo? So many implications. So many questions.

Me when I watched The Night Porter

Need a 50% nostrils reduction on this scene. I get it. He's angry and there's no dialogue so the nostrils have to convey to us what David is feeling, but I'm seeing entirely up into his brain and it's very, uh, darkened? For some reason? Think it's maybe not a natural visual for the human eye to process so let's get those nostrils down a bit - thank you!

Chucky Easter egg

Stepmom tryna make herself feel better for failing Nicole by emotionally manipulating her into absolving her of all responsiblity. You are responsible, ho. You're the guardian - you're supposed to be protecting her, and you failed. Nicole just tryna be nice by letting you off the hook and also she want you out of the room but don't be fooled: she never trusting you. Now, bye!

Me when the movie won't end. Please it's only like an hour and a half but it feels like watching two The Night Porters in a row :/

me on my period

Please the little brother just staring at the dead dog. Something going on with him. It's giving school shooter years coming up (too soon?).

So funny how they point out the dad designed their house and it's supposed to be impossible to breach but David and his gang are like just easily breaking windows and tearing up the structure lmao

JUMPSCARE! *screams*. Perfect amount of nostrils in this scene, tho. Ole ugly finally got the hang of it.

What's goin on with the little brother LMAO. The movie does not focus on him at all, to the point that he can barely be considered a character. Maybe he's the little introverted freak of the family and just stays out of it but you know he up in the room etching out that manifesto TRUST. In this scene he's just silently rocking back and forth as David and his white boy rapist gang are attempting to break into the home to kill them all. He's the only relatable character. Barely involved in the plot at all whatsoever, and then when he's forced into the drama he's just zoning out and self-soothing in his little corner. So me-coded, actually.

Laura such a bird. Chose to save her man over protecting her kids. She's so bad mom coded. Honestly probably me if I was a mom lol

This scene was giving Home Alone. Weird little freakish blonde child outsmarting the dumbo adult villains. Only this was less unsettling because at least the child in this movie doesn't give you the impression he can send an entity to spiritually molest you in your sleep.

The little brother just murdered a guy??

Wait, why is the hot stepmom at her hottest when she's tied up and duct-taped? I might need to be put on a list..

Ok, #TeamDavid, but just for this. Hated that guy!

The stupid confused acting was really funny here. Nicole was screaming at David not to kill her father and he's just like *empty-headed, dead-eyed, flared-nostrils expression* What?. Got a laugh out of me, but please understand, you not supposed to be laughing at nothin' in this part of the movie, or, any part of the movie, so :)

We gonna need to get those nostrils back down, brother. Thought our man had it under control, but I'm understanding now it was just a fluke.

Whoa... #pause

This is him being fatally stabbed, btw

Me when the movie finally ended.