Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Fear is a "creepy boyfriend" thriller in the Cape Fear and Fatal Attraction mode, but geared toward teens. It's filled with violence, including fighting, use of weapons, murder, and a severed dog head. Teens are seen kissing and exploring in a sexual way, and eventually having sex. Other sexual situations are not so safe. Language is strong, including several uses of "f--k." One minor character uses crack and a teen girl regularly smokes cigarettes. Teens might be interested in seeing younger versions of actors Mark Wahlberg (then about 25) and Reese Witherspoon (about 20), but the material is probably too strong for any but the most mature teens.
Sexual
Content
David and Nicole kiss passionately, and often. He touches her between her legs. They have safe sex in a bed, while her parents are out (a condom wrapper is later discovered). Margo gives a grinding lap dance to her older boyfriend. Later, a horrified Nicole witnesses as David violently seduces her best friend Margo, grabbing her buttocks, and dragging her away for implied, offscreen sex. There's also a brief same-sex kiss and a brief view of a nudie magazine.
Violence
The David character beats up a teen, kicking him while he's down, and slaps the Nicole character when she tries to intervene. He murders both offscreen and onscreen, sometimes with a gun, and sometimes with his bare hands (neck-snapping). He also kills the family dog and shoves the severed head through the doggie door. Aside from that, he threatens and intimidates various characters. A fight breaks out at a dance club, and various weapons are used during the climactic struggle (including a power drill to the hand, and stabbing in the back).
Language
"F--k" is used several times, and "s--t" is heard at least once. Additional words include "boobs," "slut," "bitch," and "Jesus" as an exclamation.
Social
Behavior
This movie has very little good to say about the nature of relationships. Nicole is a "good" girl, but she winds up trusting the wrong guy and pays a huge price for it. Margo is a "bad" girl, and she also ends up paying a price for her choices. Aside from Nicole's father, and her friend Gary, the men in this movie are violent and possessive.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
A friend of David's is seen smoking crack. Teen Margo smokes cigarettes, and there is some drinking.
