A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Positive Messages
very little
This movie has very little good to say about the nature of relationships. Nicole is a "good" girl, but she winds up trusting the wrong guy and pays a huge price for it. Margo is a "bad" girl, and she also ends up paying a price for her choices. Aside from Nicole's father, and her friend Gary, the men in this movie are violent and possessive.
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Positive Role Models
very little
Nicole is arguably the most upright character here, but despite a good head on her shoulders, she winds up becoming involved with a violent psychopath, often choosing to believe his lies rather than accepting her family's help. Nicole's father seems to be a good man, but he's often seen working, and/or preoccupied, instead of spending time with his family.
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Violence & Scariness
a lot
The David character beats up a teen, kicking him while he's down, and slaps the Nicole character when she tries to intervene. He murders both offscreen and onscreen, sometimes with a gun, and sometimes with his bare hands (neck-snapping). He also kills the family dog and shoves the severed head through the doggie door. Aside from that, he threatens and intimidates various characters. A fight breaks out at a dance club, and various weapons are used during the climactic struggle (including a power drill to the hand, and stabbing in the back).
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a lot
David and Nicole kiss passionately, and often. He touches her between her legs. They have safe sex in a bed, while her parents are out (a condom wrapper is later discovered). Margo gives a grinding lap dance to her older boyfriend. Later, a horrified Nicole witnesses as David violently seduces her best friend Margo, grabbing her buttocks, and dragging her away for implied, offscreen sex. There's also a brief same-sex kiss and a brief view of a nudie magazine.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Language
a lot
"F--k" is used several times, and "s--t" is heard at least once. Additional words include "boobs," "slu*t," "bitch," and "Jesus" as an exclamation.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a lot
A friend of David's is seen smoking crack. Teen Margo smokes cigarettes, and there is some drinking.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Fear is a "creepy boyfriend" thriller in the Cape Fear and Fatal Attraction mode, but geared toward teens. It's filled with violence, including fighting, use of weapons, murder, and a severed dog head. Teens are seen kissing and exploring in a sexual way, and eventually having sex. Other sexual situations are not so safe. Language is strong, including several uses of "f--k." One minor character uses crack and a teen girl regularly smokes cigarettes. Teens might be interested in seeing younger versions of actors Mark Wahlberg (then about 25) and Reese Witherspoon (about 20), but the material is probably too strong for any but the most mature teens. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
Teen Nicole (Reese Witherspoon) lives with her dad and her stepmom and goes to a normal high school with her friends Margo and Gary. Heading to an sleazy bar for lunch one day, Nicole sees David (Mark Wahlberg). Later, she meets him at a dance club, and they hit it off; he seems gentle and decent, and she begins to fall for him. They kiss and make love, but when David spots Nicole hugging Gary at school, he snaps and begins thrashing on Gary. Nicole tries to dump her new boyfriend, but he's very persistent, and it seems that he has a few dirty tricks up his sleeve. Not to mention that he has a terrifying dark side, and a murderous streak that eventually endangers Nicole and everyone around her.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's violence. In what scenes is it thrilling and in what scenes is it terrifying? How does the movie accomplish these different moods? What would the movie have been like without the onscreen violence?
Why does Nicole trust David? What message does the movie send about relationships? Does it seem an accurate message?
Is there anything more Nicole's father could have done in this situation? Is there any point at which Nicole would have listened to his advice, or did she need to learn this lesson on her own? How can parents protect their kids while allowing them independence too?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 12, 1998
- On DVD or streaming: October 27, 1999
- Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon, William L. Petersen
- Director: James Foley
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Genre: Thriller
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong graphic violence and terror, sexuality, language and drug use
- Last updated: January 10, 2023
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