Not Much is Done to Bring Out the Fear (2023)

Title: Bring Out the Fear

First Non-Festival Release: January 3, 2023 (Digital/Streaming Platforms)

Director: Richard Waters

Writer: Richard Waters

Runtime: 87 Minutes

Starring: Ciara Bailey, Tad Morari, James Devlin

Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here

For many people who have been in relationships, there comes a time when the bonds that tie a couple together are tested in a significant way. You only know a person so well until you are stuck in a bad situation with them.

That is exactly what Rosie (Ciara Bailey) and Dan (Tad Morari) are contending with after going for a leisurely walk in the woods. On the rocks from some untreated wounds caused by Rosie’s infidelity, the pair hopes to take the hike as an opportunity to enjoy each other’s company and heal. The forest has other plans. When they decide their trip is over, they begin to head back and discover the path has changed. What starts as mild annoyance turns to desperation as they search for a way out of the ever-changing woods.

Plodding supernatural horror mystery Bring Out the Fear struggles to make sense of its muddled plot and stale characters.

As soon as the couple realizes something is wrong, Bring Out the Fear does its best job to continually show the most expected route to take when lost in the woods. Once the woods begin to change, altering Rosie and Dan’s reality, the film doesn’t do much to develop their environment or add dynamics to the conflict. Bring Out the Fear is dead set on relying on its leads to shout and writhe on the forest floor rather than anything else. The images are slightly unsettling, but their presence adds up to little in the end with how much they impact the choices the couple make.

The most frustrating aspect of Bring Out the Fear is that it keeps viewers on the journey for so long without knowing its destination. Sure, there is both a central and underlying conflict, but the ensuing arrangement of scenes does nothing to further either. Dan and Rosie wander through the woods while feeling the physical effects of their environment. Other than coming across a few strange sights and some gradually escalating hallucinations, not much happens with the duo. Then, the film seemingly runs out of steam and plays into some of the worst cliches and storytelling techniques to bait-and-switch the audience. 

Poor characterization adds to the mix where little is learned or observed in Rosie and Dan’s journey in the woods. The narrative focuses on Rosie’s hesitation to accept Dan’s proposal, and Dan trying, and failing, to understand her needs and concerns. Unfortunately, there is little work done with these characters to discover much more about their dynamic. As they succumb to various audio and visual hallucinations in the woods, their fears arise but why they appear in lieu of others is absent from the film. There is plenty of material to give these blank canvases and it is a disservice to the story to not play around with their growth more and make them fuller, more realized characters.

Thanks to its stripped-down story, Bring Out the Fear can tackle the technical aspects of bringing its world to life. One of the bright spots of this indie film is that it knows its limitations. Instead of vying for something unreachable, Bring Out the Fear tells a story that is personal yet relatable. The shots of the forest are generally beautiful and some interesting editing choices allow the film to shine when it reaches its more horrific parts. Perhaps its imagery is its strongest present to the horror fans who watch it. A few memorable set pieces allow Bring Out the Fear to be a passable ride despite its so-so script.

By playing it safe, Bring Out the Fear is a passable supernatural horror film that doesn’t bring anything new to the table. Its flat story and unrealized characters make the story unengaging for viewers. Its production values do punch up and allow the film to marinate in its creepiness far above the level the story alone can produce, which is certainly a win for the creators. There are worse films to stumble across on Tubi in the horror section. While Bring Out the Fear isn’t going to win any awards, if you are wanting to embark on a familiar and easy-to-watch journey, it might just be for you.

Overall Score? 4/10