Storm Fear Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Storm Fear Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 31, 2015

1955’s “Storm Fear” is introduced as a tale of isolation, but soon surveys unusual intimacies. Scripted by Horton Foote (adapting a book by Clinton Seeley) and directed by Cornel Wilde, the feature holds attention through tremendous characterization, working through the paranoia and neuroses of a tattered family as they’re forced to survive together in a remote location. It’s a classic setting for domestic hostilities, but the production manages to unearth intriguing areas of discomfort, allowing “Storm Fear” to overcome its slightly hammy execution and land a few emotional punches.

In Foote’s imagination, “Storm Fear” isn’t necessarily about a charged reunion between failed writer Fred (Dan Duryea) and his bank-robbing brother, Charlie (Cornel Wilde), who’s wounded and needs attention at his sibling’s mountaintop cottage. There are layers of dysfunction and disappointment to work through, leaving broad acts of pistol-gripping confrontation to the climax. As with most movies from the era, emasculation plays a major part in the psychological makeup of the effort, finding Fred’s wife, Elizabeth (Jean Wallace), and his son, David (David Stollery), figuring into the mix of hostilities and heartache that fuels the family dynamic (Lee Grant and Dennis Weaver appear in supporting roles). Words are exchanged and guns are drawn, but the pain dissected here is abyssal, generating necessary motivation that encourages stronger performances and richer drama.

Storm Fear Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation boasts a fresh appearance for its HD debut. Detail is strong throughout the viewing experience, good with feverish close-ups and location shooting, which delivers background particulars and winterscapes. Interior set decoration is also open for inspection. Contrast is strong and delineation holds securely, permitting frame information and mood lighting to register as intended. Source is in adequate condition, with expected scratches and speckling, along with some debris.

Storm Fear Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix handles period limitations acceptably, marching forward with Elmer Bernstein's heavy score, which delivers a degree of instrumentation when it's not in full melodrama mode. Dialogue exchanges are crisp and direct, managing dramatic heights without slipping into distortion. Atmospherics are satisfactory, preserving interior bustle and exterior weather changes and mountain activity.

Storm Fear Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this disc.

Storm Fear Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Storm Fear" eventually transforms into a chase picture, taking to snow-covered mountains for a special hunt to pay off rising issues of trust and responsibility. The move toward more visceral elements of confrontation isn't nearly as interesting as earlier, more claustrophobic encounters, but it's an understandable escalation, giving the feature a boost of traditional suspense. However, "Storm Fear" eventually settles down again, returning to a position of sincerity that encourages the effort to conclude with tears, not bullets, gifting the movie welcome tenderness where most films of this ilk would rather sign off with violence.