PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I am not a big fan of British horror. It has to hit me exactly the right way. Call me picky, but I just know what I like. Steph Du Melo’s A Prelude to Fear is a story we have all heard before, but A Prelude to Fear takes abduction horror to the next level. I was a bit let down at first because of how many films focus on this type of story. You have to be different when approaching a dead horse type of film. A Prelude to Fear plays on several different levels. It can be funny, serious, or even scary.
Let’s dive into the review.
Synopsis
Eve Taylor, a gifted cellist, is kidnapped and held in a dungeon-like basement. With three other girls already missing and presumed dead, Police Detective Barnbrooke suspects the same man he’s been chasing for over a decade the elusive psychopath dubbed The Pied Piper. He knows who the killer is… but without proof, he’s powerless. And Eve’s time is running out.
Steph Du Melo directed the film, which stars Francis Magee, Lara Lemon, and Lucy Drive.
The film moves a little slowly, but the story stays interesting. We all have the fear of abduction, whether it’s women, children, or maybe even being abducted by aliens. When movies slowly creep into our minds, they leave us with a feeling of dread and our heads spinning with nightmare fuel. A Prelude to Fear understood the assignment on how to make a proper British horror movie.
It wasn’t too long, and watching it wasn’t painfully boring. I enjoyed the film for what it was. I didn’t have any expectations coming into it because, frankly, I was prepared to see a very basic film full of dry humor. A Prelude to Fear made me a believer that maybe British horror is evolving beyond Dark Shadows and films about poetry by Edgar Allen Poe.
The film uses its set very well; it’s not overdone with a lengthy maze, but much more intimidating. The film touches on the issue of how easy it is to get abducted. Films like this feed our minds with real-life crime stories. I am glad they have it listed as a thriller, because it was way too real to be horror; it is how most of us escape reality. Personally? I like chainsaws, butcher knives, and a bag full of dread being carried around by a clown.I still can’t say anything negative other than petty comments about things that don’t matter.
In The End
In the end, I am happy I gave this film a chance; it didn’t let me down too much at all. Instead, I feel the sadness and fear the characters are going through. It gets so far into your head that you are cheering the final girl on like the good old days. It’s not a movie that leaves no survivors; instead, they make it scarier by watching the torture these women go through. Also, unlike other films, there wasn’t any type of holdup with the police. Everything happened in one smooth cycle: a strong beginning, an interesting story, and a strong finish. I also don’t say this much about British horror, but it’s worth a watch for everyone.
You can find a Prelude to Fear free with ads on most digital platforms.
