Watch Fear No Evil
- R
- 1981
- 1 hr 39 min
-
4.6 (1,767)
In Fear No Evil, a chilling horror film released in 1981, high school student Andrew Williams discovers that he is the Antichrist. Andrew, played by Stefan Arngrim, always felt like an outsider, but he never expected to learn that he was the embodiment of pure evil. As he grapples with his newfound identity, he must also battle the forces of good trying to stop him from fulfilling his destiny.
Director Frank LaLoggia crafts a disturbing and atmospheric movie, using a mix of religious imagery, special effects, and surreal dream sequences. The film is anchored by Arngrim's strong performance as Andrew, a conflicted teenager who is simultaneously repulsed and drawn to his dark powers. Elizabeth Hoffman and Kathleen Rowe McAllen provide excellent supporting work as two women who try to help Andrew, though they have their own secrets and agendas.
The movie opens with a prelude set in ancient times, showing Satan's fall from grace and his promise of revenge against God. The film then cuts to modern-day America, where we meet Andrew as a teenager attending a Catholic high school. Andrew is bullied by his classmates, including a group of jocks who enjoy mistreating him. He also has a crush on his classmate, Alison, but he cannot find the courage to approach her.
Andrew's life takes a dramatic turn on the day of his 18th birthday. He faints during a choir performance, and when he wakes up, he finds himself in the presence of a mysterious figure who claims to be Lucifer. The devil informs Andrew that he is the Antichrist and that it is his destiny to bring about the end of the world. Andrew is understandably shocked and scared, but he soon discovers that he has supernatural abilities, including the power of telekinesis.
As Andrew struggles to cope with his new reality, he attracts the attention of two women. Sister Rosa, played by Elizabeth Hoffman, is a nun who becomes Andrew's confidante and tries to guide him towards good. However, Sister Rosa has her own secrets and reasons for wanting to help Andrew. Mary, played by Kathleen Rowe McAllen, is Andrew's mother, who abandoned him as a baby. She returns to his life and tries to get him to embrace his dark destiny. Mary is an enigmatic and mysterious figure, and McAllen gives a great performance as a woman who may or may not have her son's best interests at heart.
The climax of the movie is a showdown between good and evil. Andrew must face off against Sister Rosa, who wields the power of the cross, and Alison, whose love for Andrew may be strong enough to save him. The final confrontation takes place in a abandoned church, with Andrew using his powers to unleash destruction and chaos. It is a gripping and intense sequence, with LaLoggia making excellent use of lighting, music, and sound effects to create a terrifying atmosphere.
Fear No Evil is a movie that raises interesting questions about religion and morality. Andrew's dilemma is not so much about choosing between good and evil, but about figuring out what those terms even mean. He is a sympathetic character, a teenager who is struggling to find his place in the world, and who suddenly learns that the fate of the world rests on his shoulders.
The film has some flaws. The pacing can be slow at times, and some of the special effects are dated. The script also can be heavy-handed in its use of religious symbolism. However, these issues are minor compared to the movie's strengths. Fear No Evil is a unique and unsettling horror film that is sure to stay with viewers long after the credits roll.
Fear No Evil is a 1981 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.6.