🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Jeremy Lovering
- Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
- Release year: 2013
- Runtime (length): 1h 25min
- IMDb rating: 5.4/10 (21k votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A couple gets lost on the way to a music festival and finds out that Irish road signs are actually just an elaborate prank by a local who really needs a hobby.
🍿 In Fear: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Romantic Getaway Gone Wrong
Tom and Lucy, a new couple, embark on their first weekend getaway to a remote hotel in the Irish countryside before attending a music festival. Their journey takes a dark turn when they become hopelessly lost on a maze of backwoods roads, setting the stage for a terrifying ordeal.

Trapped and Terrorized
As night falls, Tom and Lucy realize they are not alone. They are being stalked by an unknown tormentor who exploits their vulnerability and isolation. Strange occurrences escalate, creating mounting tension and fear as the couple desperately tries to escape the endless loop of roads.

A Deceptive Ally
While fleeing their attacker, Tom and Lucy accidentally hit a man named Max. Max claims to be a victim of the same stalker, and the couple reluctantly takes him in. However, Max’s true intentions are revealed, turning the couple’s fight for survival into a deadly game of cat and mouse.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Tom (Iain De Caestecker): A young man taking his new girlfriend on a weekend getaway that turns into a terrifying ordeal.
- Lucy (Alice Englert): A young woman who finds herself trapped in a nightmarish situation while trying to get to know her new boyfriend.
- Max (Allen Leech): The seemingly helpful stranger who turns out to be the couple’s tormentor, leading them into a deadly game.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Lucy: “Tom? Tom!” – Lucy cries out, desperate and fearful, after Tom is abducted in the woods, showcasing her vulnerability and panic.
- Max: “You should have left me there.” – Max says this ominously after the couple pick him up, foreshadowing his malevolent intentions.
💰Box Office
- Budget: N/A
- Domestic Gross: N/A
- Worldwide Gross: $274,660
💥 In Fear Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, so “In Fear” messed with me. I was squirming in my seat for a solid hour. The feeling of being utterly lost and then stalked? Absolutely terrifying! The claustrophobia in the car was intense, and those quick glimpses of someone in the dark? Gave me chills! The ending was ambiguous, which I usually hate, but in this case, it just added to the unsettling feeling. I wouldn’t watch it alone again, but I’d recommend it to any horror fan looking for a good scare.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of psychological horror”
- “Viewers who appreciate slow-burn suspense”
- “Those interested in minimalist horror films”
- “Fans of independent British cinema”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Intense scenes of terror”
- “Violence and brutality”
- “Disturbing content”
- “Language”
Professional Reviews
- Rotten Tomatoes: “”In Fear” masterfully uses its minimalist setting to create a palpable sense of dread. The performances are believable, and the constant disorientation keeps you on edge. This is suspenseful storytelling done right, a terrifying ride for anyone who’s ever felt truly lost.
- User Review: “The film is good. Just a simple story, a man and a woman in a car, lost in a maze of narrow roads at the countryside trying to find a secluded hotel they reserved on internet. No two and a half hours of over the top action scenes, no special effects, CGI monsters, ghosts and flying sheets … just a little mystery and healthy dose of suspense.
Audience Reactions
The unrelenting tension and claustrophobic atmosphere kept me hooked from beginning to end!: Most viewers praised the film’s ability to build suspense and create a sense of genuine fear without relying on gore or jump scares.
Overall Consensus: “In Fear” is a low-budget thriller that effectively uses its simple premise and setting to create a suspenseful and unsettling viewing experience.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Alice Englert and Iain De Caestecker were not told what would happen during filming other than the basic setup of the story so that a lot of their shocked reactions were genuine.”
- “The film was shot in sequence to enhance the actors’ sense of disorientation and fear.”
🖥️ How to Watch In Fear?
Currently, “In Fear” is available for rent or purchase on various platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed In Fear, you might like these similar films:
- The Strangers (2008): Deals with a couple being terrorized by unknown assailants in a remote location with seemingly no motive.
- Eden Lake (2008): Features a couple terrorized by locals during a getaway, highlighting social fears and brutality.
- Hush (2016): Focuses on a lone woman terrorized by a masked intruder in an isolated setting, emphasizing suspense and survival.
- Funny Games (1997): Explores the psychological torture of a family by two young men, questioning the audience’s expectations of violence.
- The Hitcher (1986): A driver picks up a hitchhiker and soon realizes he has invited a serial killer into his car.
🛒 In Fear Related Products
- Irish Road Atlas: A detailed road atlas of Ireland to prevent getting lost on your next road trip. Includes updated maps and points of interest.
- Carbon Monoxide Detector: A must-have device to protect your family from the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Detects and alerts you to dangerous levels of CO in your home or car.
- High-Powered LED Flashlight: A durable and bright LED flashlight for emergencies and outdoor activities. Features multiple modes and long battery life.
- Car Emergency Kit: Contains jumper cables, first aid supplies, warning triangle, and other essentials for roadside emergencies.
🎧 Soundtrack
In Fear features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
The film leaves the tormentor’s exact motive ambiguous, adding to the unsettling nature of the story. While some suggest it stems from an earlier pub confrontation, the film primarily focuses on the primal fear of being hunted and the breakdown of relationships under extreme stress.
No, ‘In Fear’ is a work of fiction. However, the film taps into universal fears of isolation, vulnerability, and the unknown, making it relatable to audiences.
‘In Fear’ was primarily filmed in Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, England, UK. The remote and desolate landscape contributed to the film’s tense and claustrophobic atmosphere.
🔥 Bonus Content
Mark Kermode reviews In Fear
Want to know if ‘In Fear’ is actually scary? Mark Kermode, a proper film critic, breaks down what works and what doesn’t. Honestly, his reviews are always spot on – see if you agree with his take on this one!
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