Director(s) – Crispian Mills and Chris Hopewell
Starring – Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Star Trek), Alan Drake (Blackwood), and Clare Higgins
Release Date – 2012
Rating – 4.5/5
Tagline – “Jack’s a writer with a dark secret. But now his demons are taking over, unless one man finds the courage to fight back.”
It is not often that I watch a movie and fall in love with the cast. However, when it does I am a fan for life. When I was in high school the world’s first rom-com-zom was released. That film was Shaun of the Dead and starred the comedic duo Nick Frost and Simon Pegg. This was the first time I saw Pegg and Frost but it was damn sure not the last time.
After that I followed their career pretty closely grabbing every movie of theirs I could find but for some reason Pegg worked on a film in 2012 called A Fantastic Fear of Everything and the film was released without me knowing about it. I was watching movies on Netflix when I came across the film. I had to watch it and after I did I had to share this beautiful film with everyone!
**Spoiler Alert**The film follows recluse Jack (Pegg) who is a writer. He is mostly known as a children’s author but this is something he plans on changing with his new book on serial killers. However, his research on serial killers has made him more than paranoid. He now believes that a serial killer is stalking him in his apartment ready to strike any minute. One day he goes out to lunch with a friend and learns that an American screen writer wants to meet with him. This freaks Jack out because his name is funny. Jack is excited and scared. However, Jack decided to meet him anyway and decides to do laundry so he can look his best.
He is afraid of laundrettes and thinks he can wash his clothes in the kitchen sink and dry them in the stove. While they are drying he panics and super glues a window shut and inadvertently glues his hand to a kitchen knife. While trying to remove his hand from the knife he forgets about his clothes and burns them to a crisp. He then dons a large coat to conceal his weapon and heads to the local laundrette where he meets a beautiful young woman but accidentally reveals his weapons to the patrons causing a stir and the police is called.
Once the situation is cleared he leaves to go prepare for his meeting and is knocked unconscious. He awakens in a basement next to the beautiful young girl and learns that the cop is actually an aspiring serial killer with Jack set to be his next victim. It is now up to Jack and his story telling ability to save him and the young lady from the half-wit murderer.**Spoiler Alert**
I love when a film tries to be dark but is able to to keep a playful tone throughout. The most common of these films are the ones made by Tim Burton in the late 80s and early 90s. These films were dark in subject matter but filmed in such a light tone that any age could watch and appreciate them. His films Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, and even scenes in Pee Wee’s Big Adventure demonstrate this.
These films have a rather dark subject but are so tame that a child could watch it. That is one of the reasons I loved this film so much. The film could easily be a horror flick or tweaked a little more to be a children’s movie. The film is also able to throw in some amazing animation that flows well with the film in the same style that we are accustomed to with Burton.
The acting in this film is phenomenal and Simon Pegg knocks it out of the fucking park. Talent oozes from him in every scene and carries this film. The remainder of the cast is good as well but no where on Pegg’s level. The story for this one is simple and very effective. The film was definitely written to showcase Pegg’s talent with a majority of the film taking place with just Pegg in his apartment. One would assume it would be boring and claustrophobic but you would be dead wrong. The film was fun, funny, and full of life.
Finally, this dark comedy lacks on screen kills and special effects but makes up for it with rich story and an amazing performance. Fans of family oriented horror and Tim Burton films will love this film! If you have Netflix then do yourself a favor and watch this film!
