Fear X is a psychological-thriller that focuses mostly on atmosphere. Harry, a security guard, tries to discover the true circumstances surrounding the murder of his wife. He also sees visions, that act as psychic pointers of sorts.
Very well directed, Fear X has some of the eerie ambiance of the films of Atom Egoyan, a bit of the distorted wonderland feel of the films of David Lynch, and some of the enigma of Antonioni's Blow Up. What is lacking is the meaning cultivated in the works of the afore-mentioned directors. There simply isn't much meaning apart from the rather simplistic notion that Harry should get on with his life.
This doesn't mean that there aren't interesting themes floating around the film. They just aren't explored thoroughly. One theme is the constant monitoring, which is then magnified and abstracted to a point of paranoia. As a security guard, Harry monitors the shopping mall he works in. His co-worker friend also monitors the place via multiple cameras, from which then he gets the tapes and hands them to Harry. At home, Harry obsessively watches the tapes assembling an abstract mosaic of suspects and motives.
Another theme is the mystique lying beneath what seems an ordinary everyday-life existence: the investigation by the police seemingly carrying some secret meaning, the prostitution ring in the hotel, Lieutenant Peter Northrup operating in a secret society of sorts etc. Sadly, the metaphysical aspects in the ending are obscure and unclear, but Harry seems to be moving on with his life (if he's not dead, which again is not clear).
In general, the atmosphere makes up for the anemic meaning.
Very well directed, Fear X has some of the eerie ambiance of the films of Atom Egoyan, a bit of the distorted wonderland feel of the films of David Lynch, and some of the enigma of Antonioni's Blow Up. What is lacking is the meaning cultivated in the works of the afore-mentioned directors. There simply isn't much meaning apart from the rather simplistic notion that Harry should get on with his life.
This doesn't mean that there aren't interesting themes floating around the film. They just aren't explored thoroughly. One theme is the constant monitoring, which is then magnified and abstracted to a point of paranoia. As a security guard, Harry monitors the shopping mall he works in. His co-worker friend also monitors the place via multiple cameras, from which then he gets the tapes and hands them to Harry. At home, Harry obsessively watches the tapes assembling an abstract mosaic of suspects and motives.
Another theme is the mystique lying beneath what seems an ordinary everyday-life existence: the investigation by the police seemingly carrying some secret meaning, the prostitution ring in the hotel, Lieutenant Peter Northrup operating in a secret society of sorts etc. Sadly, the metaphysical aspects in the ending are obscure and unclear, but Harry seems to be moving on with his life (if he's not dead, which again is not clear).
In general, the atmosphere makes up for the anemic meaning.