Watch Fear

Ingrid Bergman stars in the 1954 suspense thriller, Fear. The film draws heavily from Alfred Hitchcock's techniques of psychological manipulation and uses them to captivating effect. Bergman plays Irene Wagner, a married woman who stumbles upon an old flame, Erich Baumann (Mathias Wieman), while on a trip to Berlin. Irene's infatuation is apparent to Erich, who sees an opportunity to manipulate her for his own purposes. Erich, a former Nazi, is now a successful businessman with a powerful reputation.

Erich's first move is to entice Irene to lunch, using her momentary loneliness as his chance to ingratiate himself as a symbol of comfort in her life. Gradually, Erich's attention becomes more intense, and Irene begins to fall for him once again.

Initially, Irene resists Erich's advances, but he's unrelenting in his pursuit to win her over. Meanwhile, Irene's husband, Albert (René Deltgen), is suspicious of her behavior and increasingly paranoid over her emotional state.

The movie's tension builds throughout as the audience follows Irene's dilemma – whether to follow her heart and stay with Erich or remain loyal to Albert. Adding to this dilemma is the risk of exposing herself and Erich's past as a Nazi that could ruin his business reputation.

The film's director, Roberto Rossellini, employs a range of techniques to heighten the tension and suspense. He uses clever camera movements to create an off-kilter sensation of impending doom, which audiences initially find frustrating but are ultimately satisfying. The bleak and austere settings also add a sense of uneasiness to the movie as Irene's fragile emotional state is tested by the darkness of her surroundings.

Ingrid Bergman's performance is outstanding as Irene. Her innocent appearance and charismatic presence make her the perfect actress to lead this thriller. Mathias Wieman provides a good foil to Bergman’s character with his well-timed delivery and intensity.

The film's themes are grounded in those common to Hitchcock's work and this era of suspenseful thrillers. The tension is thicker than the plot, serving to create an atmosphere of suspicion and unease, and there's a suggestion that not all is as it seems.

Overall, Fear is an elegantly crafted movie that builds tension and suspense through a cast of excellent performers and an accomplished filmmaker. Although it can take time to warm up, the final payoff is worth it, packing a punch that leaves you thinking long after the credits roll. It's undoubtedly one of Ingrid Bergman's best performances and a worthy addition to a classic cinematic era.