Watch Fear and Desire

Fear and Desire is a 1953 American war film directed by Stanley Kubrick, who went on to become one of the most celebrated filmmakers in cinema history. Despite his later success, Fear and Desire is one of Kubrick's lesser-known works and was actually his debut feature film. It was made on a very low budget, and is noticeably different in style and tone from his later films. But despite its flaws, the film is an interesting artifact of its time that showcases Kubrick's early talent and his interest in psychological themes.

The movie follows a small group of soldiers who are stranded in enemy territory during an unnamed conflict. The soldiers are led by Lieutenant Corby (played by Kenneth Harp), a seasoned veteran who is trying to keep his men alive and focused on their mission. The other soldiers include Sergeant Mac (played by Frank Silvera), a cynical and disillusioned soldier who has seen too much war; Private Sidney (played by Paul Mazursky), a young and inexperienced soldier who is terrified of the situation he finds himself in; and Private Fletcher (played by Steve Coit), a soldier who harbors a secret desire for violence.

The film is divided into two halves. The first half focuses on the soldiers' efforts to survive and escape from enemy territory. They encounter various obstacles along the way, including a river, a forest, and a group of enemy soldiers who are on their trail. During this portion of the film, we see how each soldier reacts to the stress of their situation, and how they interact with each other. Lieutenant Corby remains calm and focused throughout, while Sergeant Mac becomes increasingly cynical and disillusioned. Sidney is paralyzed by fear, while Fletcher becomes increasingly violent.

The second half of the film introduces a new character, a young woman (played by Virginia Leith) who the soldiers discover hiding in the woods. The soldiers debate whether to help her or kill her, and their decision sets in motion a chain of events that leads to a psychological breakdown for one of the soldiers. The woman also represents a primal force that the soldiers are grappling with, a force that threatens to unravel their sanity and their sense of purpose.

Overall, Fear and Desire is a moody and atmospheric film that explores the psychological toll of war. It is shot in chiaroscuro black and white, which gives the film a dreamlike quality. The dialogue is sparse and cryptic, which adds to the sense of uncertainty and disorientation. The performances are a mixed bag: Kenneth Harp is solid as the stoic and capable Lieutenant Corby, while Frank Silvera delivers a memorable performance as the bitter and disillusioned Sergeant Mac. Paul Mazursky's performance as the terrified Private Sidney is less convincing, but it's interesting to see the future director of films like Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice and An Unmarried Woman starting his career as an actor.

Despite its flaws, Fear and Desire is a fascinating film that showcases the early talent of one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. It's a film that raises intriguing questions about the nature of war, the psychology of soldiers, and the primal forces that drive human behavior. It's not a perfect film, but it's an essential one for anyone interested in the history of cinema, or in the work of Stanley Kubrick.

Fear and Desire is a 1953 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 2 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3.