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Reviews
Fever (1999)
A fascinating puzzle of clues - leaving you on your seat till the very end
This film is far from average- and quite shocking, when you realize it comes from the mind of Alex Winter. Nobody expects this kind of spooky story from such a light hearted comedic actor (of Bill & Ted fame.) Yet we are pleasantly surprised at the depth of the surface story and the sub plots of this poor, tortured artist. I was engrossed in the story line from the word "go" and enthralled (although it was disconcerting) to be in a constant sense of discovery right along with the main character. Especially gripping are his "sleepwalking sessions" in which you wake up right along with him- a bit in shock as to the new surroundings & sensations.
Our little boy has grown up, Henry Thomas' performance as a grown man, dealing with deep seeded emotional issues, far surpasses any role he has played thus far. He is capable of such emotion and range of feeling. I wanted to cry at times, hurting with him as he realizes his lack of control & understanding his dark life. I am anxiously awaiting the world's discovery of his range and capabilities as an actor. He is obviously aware of himself & not afraid of a challenging role.
What is next for Alex Winter? Will he stay on the Writer / Director path -- or will he return to the front of the camera bringing all of his newfound skills to life as an actor? His ability to use imagery to convey emotion is frightening, the dark dingy images he shows of New York are a far cry from the glitzy N.Y. that Hollywood tends to portray. He surrounds our main character in darkness as if he is incapable of creating even a glimmer of light in his world. So much symbolism - especially in the portrait on canvas which is never completed, he shows us the painter who cannot paint. Who is the man in the picture? His Father? Himself? The stranger upstairs? We will never know.
I was intrigued by the murder plot of course, but at times I found myself wondering if the ending would prove it all to be a "dream" in the mind of our lost confused teacher. How on Earth can all of the overlapping stories come together & make sense? I hate spoilers- so I will not reveal just how... but- he manages to achieve perfect closure- and with such expediency that the audience is left w/ a collective sigh of relief as the credits roll.
Certainly worth a theatrical run... will someone pick this film up for a theatrical release after it has already hit the HOLLYWOOD Video shelves? My hope would be yes! Boo Hoo that it isn't the glossy marketable "trash" we see in theatres now- Did I really need another episode of "Dinosaurs on an Island"? Or "SCARY MOVIE 6?" PLEASE PEOPLE!? Big Budget does not mean instant story - Alex proves that with a minimal budget involving very few computerized special effects & we don't even miss them! We are too involved with the story- wanting this poor man to find the answers & find some peace in his soul. Wake up & smell that audiences are screaming for some creativity in movie making and new stories to enjoy! FEVER is certainly a new albeit "surreal" movie experience. I would say rent it- but invite a few friends over too- because you just might have trouble sleeping! (I did)
A+ rating: 9 of 10