Be Afraid

The subject for this one isn't quite overused, I do like the approach, bold, but the only thing standing in its way was clearly the budget.

Perhaps with more funds they would have been able to produce something far better, a horror for the masses, like this tho it shall remain mostly unknown and unappreciated. Quite the shame because the people involved did a good work and if you do watch it, you'll see that is an OK indie production.

Is it recommendable? I don't think so. You won't be afraid, but you will forget about it in a few days top. With more money, Be Afraid could have delivered far better. Overall 4 stars out of 10 from me. Do not look for horror here. Just a pretty good written story.

Cheers!

A solid story, good acting and sufficiently spooky!

I just want to chime in here and say that if you watch this movie then PLEASE do not try to do CPR the way the Doctor in the movie did it. Go get yourself trained by the American Red Cross, you can do it online. At least look it up on Google or something. The way it was done in the movie would actually kill somebody, pressing on the neck like that!

Took too long getting to the point and then didn't bother to explain anything. Could have been really good. Had decent acting, etc just not enough meat to the plot. If it came on TV and you're looking to kill a couple hours, it's decent but I wouldn't pay to rent or stream it.

Saw 'Be Afraid', being fond of horror regardless of budget (even if not my favourite genre) and being intrigued somewhat by the idea. Being behind on my film watching and reviewing, with a long to watch and review list that keeps getting longer, it took me a while to get round to watching and reviewing it.

Giving 'Be Afraid' a fair chance with being interest and apprehension, it turned out to be far better than expected. Won't say that 'Be Afraid' is a great film because it isn't and the potential, while not wasted, is not fully lived up to. Considering the large number of films seen recently being mediocre and less and wasting potential, was expecting worse and was relieved that while wanting in a fair few areas it was actually one of my better recent low-budget viewings.

'Be Afraid' started off quite well, the first twenty minutes or so starting the film off on a promising, unsettling and atmospheric note that really does intrigue.

Production values did have some eeriness and nowhere near as cheap as expected, and the music, which not the most memorable in the world, didn't detract from the atmosphere.

The setting is effectively spooky and the acting was better than average all round. There are spooky and suspenseful moments and it isn't dull. The direction doesn't feel phoned in.

However, the story was severely wanting. It is very disjointed and after the promising start the final third especially loses atmosphere, one loses interest and things start to not make sense. Too much of the film is vague and doesn't explore some elements and story strands enough, some dropped soon after being introduced, go nowhere or serve much point.

Ending is unsatisfying, on top of feeling hasty there are too many loose ends hanging in the air. Got the sense that the writers didn't know how to end the film. Would have liked much more tension and suspense, scares could have been more consistent and some weren't surprising enough.

Found too the script to lack natural flow and with a bit of cheese going on, and the characters bland with some adopting some annoying and not always logical decision making.

Overall, better than expected but not great still. 5/10 Bethany Cox