Shadow of Fear (2004)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Rich Cowan

Writers:

Matt Holloway (written by) &
Art Marcum (written by)

Release Date:

14 July 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

Once trapped inside, it's murder to get out.

Plot:

When a young man accidentally kills someone, he is plunged into a rich man's world of blackmail, betrayal, adultery and ...murder. |

Plot Keywords:

Blackmail | Murder | Accidental Killing | Congressman | Independent Film

Cast

Matthew Davis	...	Harrison French (as Matt Davis)
James Spader	...	William Ashbury
Aidan Quinn	...	Detective Scofield
Peter Coyote	...	Congressman Henderson
Robin Tunney	...	Wynn French
Alice Krige	...	Margie Henderson
Lacey Chabert	...	Allison Henderson
Sarah Ann Schultz	...	Genie Bloom
Robert Miano	...	Mr. Davis
David Selby	...	Mr. Steve Palmer
David Andriole	...	Mr. Sawgrass
Andrew Harris	...	Chris Henderson
Shirly Brener	...	Janey Sawgrass
Holly Houston	...	Marcy Stewart
John Grant Phillips	...	Chief Webb (as John G. Phillips)

Also Known As:

Main Line (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief violence, sexuality and some drug issues.

Runtime:

88 min | Argentina:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:12 | Iceland:12 | Australia:M (original rating) | Netherlands:12 | USA:PG-13 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Spokane, Washington, USA

Company:

Nu Image Films

Quotes:

Detective Scofield: You are going to be late because you are being questioned for murder!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Commune (2005)

Conspiracy of the dunces

Rick Cowan's "Shadow of Fear" showed up on cable recently. The only thing that attracted us to watch it was the presence of James Spader, Peter Coyote and Aidan Quinn, perhaps the best known actors in the cast. This film written by Matthew Hollaway and Arthur Marcum, will test even the most patient viewer's patience! First of all, the screen play is vague in explaining what we are watching.

The opening sequence shows us Harrison sitting near the table where his father-in-law and his cronies, presided by the creepy William Ashbury are discussing things that probably Harrison can hear, yet, he is not invited to participate in the discussion. He is given a drink, but when he goes to pay, the waiter shows him that it's already been paid by Ashbury. He then goes home on a rain storm. The moment he gets distracted, he hits the man standing in the middle of the road. What to do? Call the police? No, instead Harrison disposes the body not too far from the road, a move that will carry terrible consequences for this young man.

This being said, sounds like the premise of a good mystery film, but instead, the writers have complicated the story in such a way, that at times, one wonders with incredulity all the twists and turns in a plot that doesn't ultimately prove anything at all. By not making clear the activities of the group, we start losing interest in the film, and nothing that is done later on to explain why everything happened makes sense.

James Spader doesn't add anything to his otherwise excellent career in the movies. Ditto for Peter Coyote, Aidan Quinn, and the rest of the cast. Matthew Davis who is at the center of the story appears to be miscast for the role of Harrison. Perhaps with a stronger lead could have made more sense.