Robert Englund stars as a doctor whose expertise and study is of fear and how to locate and defeat it so that those suffering phobias can overcome them. Finona Dourif (daughter of the legendary cult actor, Brad Dourif) was one of several who endured trauma after a gunman in black mask walked into a diner and started shooting people. There were others in the diner needing Englund's help including a patient unable to eat (Angelina Armani) and a brain trauma victim (Thomas Dekker) in a wheelchair unable to speak. Friend (Cleopatra Coleman) of Fiona's has a fear of bugs, her mind manufacturing back itch, and one of Englund's colleagues (Felisha Terrell) was helped to overcome a fear of being buried alive. Englund has created a "fear chamber" that requires patients to lay in them with a face device involved. Englund guides them into a fugue state where they face whatever caused their phobia, having them address their fear and conquer it. However, those "cured" are starting to hallucinate again, returning to Englund for help, realizing that he has become an emotional wreck after one of his patients (Bonnie Morgan) dies while in the chamber.
Gathered together in the fear clinic, Englund starts to recognize what happened to Morgan, and that his fear chamber was "starving" a "fear monster" that thrived on those suffering horrible trauma and phobia. In order to be set free and actually manifest itself from outside the mind/dream, gaining form and becoming an even more dangerous threat, the fear monster needs to "acquire" Englund, cocooning on a wall in a room of the clinic. In order for that to happen, it needs Dekker to remember what happened in the diner the day of the shootings. Fiona is the sturdy rock that Englund will stand in need of in order to combat the fear monster, while Dekker, after a fear chamber visit, has regained brain function lost to the gunshot wound that caused his mental crippling this disturbing to Englund as his machine wasn't built to heal physical brain trauma but assist in curing phobic terror. I think the plot, which is admittedly out there, might be a bit much for some horror fans, but I thought it had a rather compelling presentation. It doesn't altogether work, but there's plenty of abrasive, shocking content to hold the attention.
Englund is very good in a rare sympathetic role, going to battle for patients, rocked by the loss of a patient. Unlike other scientists dedicated in experimental procedure to help cure or offer a breakthrough for patients who might put their work above their subjects, Englund is agonized and melancholy about hurting instead of helping them. The weight of the chamber posing a threat instead of help leaves Englund embattled with guilt and disappointment. Fiona, along with Felisha (his main assistant), tries to motivate him not to stop.
The film also emphasizes the hallucinations caused by the fear monster's phobia. The monster emerging from the cocoon and manufacturing an Englund "face mask", re-introducing to cured patients a "fear loop" that is toxic to their mental state. The diner shooting and the black mask the killer wore "beckoning" to be worn again serving as the catalyst the fear monster uses to gain advantage. Fiona will have to be one step ahead and use something Englund told her (close your eyes) in the hopes of "putting fear in its place". Dekker is equal parts tragic and eerie. Ickiest scene has Cleopatra succumbing to her fear of bugs, a sac on her back shoulder containing black fluid (also vomited by Angelina upon her return to the clinic (the black fluid is an indication to Englund of the fear monster's gain in strength)) sliced open, with spiders spilling out. Corey Bauer and Kevin Gage are employees at the clinic offering their services to maintain the everyday functions of the place, eventually endangered themselves. This has, in my opinion, one of Englund's best roles in years. Armani's deteriorating condition puts a strain on her marriage and clearly indicates the fear monster has a meal with her. A unique take on fear, anchored by good performances.
Gathered together in the fear clinic, Englund starts to recognize what happened to Morgan, and that his fear chamber was "starving" a "fear monster" that thrived on those suffering horrible trauma and phobia. In order to be set free and actually manifest itself from outside the mind/dream, gaining form and becoming an even more dangerous threat, the fear monster needs to "acquire" Englund, cocooning on a wall in a room of the clinic. In order for that to happen, it needs Dekker to remember what happened in the diner the day of the shootings. Fiona is the sturdy rock that Englund will stand in need of in order to combat the fear monster, while Dekker, after a fear chamber visit, has regained brain function lost to the gunshot wound that caused his mental crippling this disturbing to Englund as his machine wasn't built to heal physical brain trauma but assist in curing phobic terror. I think the plot, which is admittedly out there, might be a bit much for some horror fans, but I thought it had a rather compelling presentation. It doesn't altogether work, but there's plenty of abrasive, shocking content to hold the attention.
Englund is very good in a rare sympathetic role, going to battle for patients, rocked by the loss of a patient. Unlike other scientists dedicated in experimental procedure to help cure or offer a breakthrough for patients who might put their work above their subjects, Englund is agonized and melancholy about hurting instead of helping them. The weight of the chamber posing a threat instead of help leaves Englund embattled with guilt and disappointment. Fiona, along with Felisha (his main assistant), tries to motivate him not to stop.
The film also emphasizes the hallucinations caused by the fear monster's phobia. The monster emerging from the cocoon and manufacturing an Englund "face mask", re-introducing to cured patients a "fear loop" that is toxic to their mental state. The diner shooting and the black mask the killer wore "beckoning" to be worn again serving as the catalyst the fear monster uses to gain advantage. Fiona will have to be one step ahead and use something Englund told her (close your eyes) in the hopes of "putting fear in its place". Dekker is equal parts tragic and eerie. Ickiest scene has Cleopatra succumbing to her fear of bugs, a sac on her back shoulder containing black fluid (also vomited by Angelina upon her return to the clinic (the black fluid is an indication to Englund of the fear monster's gain in strength)) sliced open, with spiders spilling out. Corey Bauer and Kevin Gage are employees at the clinic offering their services to maintain the everyday functions of the place, eventually endangered themselves. This has, in my opinion, one of Englund's best roles in years. Armani's deteriorating condition puts a strain on her marriage and clearly indicates the fear monster has a meal with her. A unique take on fear, anchored by good performances.