Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Know Fear’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Know Fear’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that the possession sub-genre of horror films, has grown a tad stale and incredibly predictable over the past few years. Simply because there are a bevy of films out there that feel quite similar to one another. For they all feature a fairly baseline plot. One where an innocent child or teenager or adult, finds themselves confronted with the fact that some kind of evil has locked onto their purity and wishes to corrupt it, and does so by entering their body to take control of it. Which in turn leads to a grand fight, one that is both external and internal as our innocent person does their best to escape the evil with the aid of someone who knows how to purge it. 
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Which is a structure that does indeed allow for some terrifying moments to take place, since it is always unsettling to watch a good human being transform into something incredibly evil, but that really is a safe way to tell these stories for certain. But while it may bore some, it pleases a great deal of others, which is why this formula persists, to keep folks happy and it likely won’t be going anywhere, anytime soon. But thankfully, once in a while you run into a possession film that is eager to shake the genre up and tell a different kind of tale, one that is indeed unconventional and norm shattering, and it just so happens that a possession horror movie that meets that particular criteria recently hit in the market in Know Fear.

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to a loving couple named Donald and Wendy that are eager to start the next chapter of their life together in a lovely new home. One that sadly, has some secrets. Because well before Donald and Wendy moved in, dark deaths happened in this place, something that they are completely and utterly unaware of and that does them a great disservice. For those deaths were part of a failed attempt to contain a powerful evil, one that has noticed new tenants in its domain, and it is eager to take control of Wendy and use her to find its way back into our world. An act that leaves Donald beside himself when Wendy begins to exhibit strange and twisted behavior, since he knows not how to save her. But thankfully a strange book within the house may hold the key to his wife’s salvation, provided of course… he and his extended family can figure out how to use it. 

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So, at first glance, that particular plot sounds akin to everything predictable that we just lamented a little while ago and truth be told, early on this movie really does feel like the standard fare. After all, Wendy has a good heart, and does good things for others, which clearly is one of the key reasons she became a teacher. And of course, the evil wants to corrupt that purity and takes control of her soul quickly, leaving one to wonder if Donald will seek out an expert in these matters, in order save his wife and the world. But that’s where this movie manages to differentiate itself from the rest of the pack. Because there is no expert waiting in the wings, nor is there is some holy miracle cure within the pages of the book.
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No instead, there is only Wendy’s niece, Jami and her brother Charlie, and Wendy’s teaching assistant Darcy, waiting in the wings to save the day and the only person that seems to have any understanding of what it is going on is Jami. For she is a part time paranormal investigator and is eager to solve this mystery using her knowledge of the spirit world and that leads to a supremely refreshing second half of the film. One where the characters are genuinely on their own and have to figure out how to defeat this evil on the fly and their trials and errors absolutely engross the viewer. Since you find that you are eager to see if they will be successful in their quest to save Wendy and perhaps the world from a great evil that wants nothing more to take over and well, whether or not that happens… we won’t spoil here. 

Simply because there are surprises to be found in the finale of this film, the kind that would be a great disservice to reveal since they need to be experienced firsthand. Which means that in the end, this is a horror film that this reviewer absolutely recommends you see. For not only does it feature a unique and engrossing story, but it also harbors some creepy scares as well. The kind that quite frankly, make this motion picture a throwback horror film in a way. Since it really does do a wonderful job of using shadows and misdirection to bring about the scares, something that has become a lost art form in the modern era. So, if you’re looking for a solid scary story that actually manages to breathe new life into a slightly tired horror sub-genre, then give this one a look.

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