Movie Information
Overall Rank: 12185
Average Rating: 2.4/4
# of Ratings: 20
Theatrical Release Date: 04/01/1953
Blu-ray/DVD Release Date: 10/23/2012
Language: English
Genre: War, Drama
MPAA Rating: NR
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Actors: Frank Silvera, Paul Mazursky, Kenneth Harp, Stephen Coit, Virginia Leith
Plot: Stanley Kubrik's first, and rarely-screened film: four men survive a plane crash in an unspecified country during war. Six miles behind enemy lines, they must come up with a plan to get back to their own side but complications erupt in the form of a woman who discovers their location and one man's desire to take out an enemy general. -- Chris Kavan
Quick Movie Reviews
Rating of
2.5/4
Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 06/25/2019
Committed Kubrick fans will want to see "Fear and Desire," but it's probably nobody's favorite Stanley Kubrick film.
Rating of
3/4
Unknown - wrote on 02/01/2013
Despite some stiff acting and sketchy editing, at times, it still comes out on top. The quick pace and individual scenes of action/violence are often tense and entertaining. Kubrick fans will want to seek this out.
Rating of
3/4
Chris Kavan - wrote on 11/11/2012
This early Stanley Kubrick film belongs in his anti-war body of work, along with Paths of Glory and Full Metal Jacket. A group of soldiers behind enemy lines kill, kidnap, lose their minds and plan an attack - while it's rough compared to his other work, it still has power and is worth seeing - now that you have a chance to actually see it.
Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
2.5/4
Fear and Desire review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 05/11/2013
"Let's try to remain civilized." A group of soldiers namely Lt. Corby, Pvt. Fletcher, Pvt. Sidney, and Sgt. Mac get stranded in enemy lines. Could have had better editing, history of the antagonist/protagonists and audio in this reviewers opinion. One of the soldiers were covering the lens of the binocular with a pinky finger while looking at the general. The realistic approach was present though there was not a single lead you were enticed to root for. Screenplay despite some inconsistencies had a few provocative lines such as: "Why is your life so precious?" "Well, we have nothing to lose but our futures." and "Nobody ever was. It's all a trick we perform when we'd rather not die - immediately." One of the best openings for its genre - "Only the unchanging shapes of fear - and …
Related Movie Lists
Ranking Stanley Kubrick Movies by Logan D. McCoy
Recent Movie Talk Posts
Alex - wrote on 2012-10-28 11:36
Paths of Glory is great. The Killing is one of the top 100 movies of all time. If you have not seen either of these add them to the top of your list.
Chris Kavan - wrote on 2012-08-28 17:59
I technically can watch Paths of Glory any time - I gave it to my dad for Christmas, I just need to borrow it some time. I'll put The Killing on my list of Criterion movies to watch out for.
Unknown - wrote on 2012-08-28 16:57
I didn't even know about this film.  And I'm a Kubrick fan!  I'll definitely check it out.  Also, Chris, I'd very much recommend that you check out Paths of Glory and The Killing.  I enjoyed them both and consider them to be two of his best films.  If you get the Criterion version of The Killing, it comes with Killer's Kiss (another of his first).  I have yet to watch that one, but apparently Kubrick doesn't consider it his first 'real' film.
Chris Kavan - wrote on 2012-08-28 14:18
Not sure how many big Stanley Kubrick fans are out there, but Fear and Desire, Kubrick's first, and quite rarely-seen film (unless you bootlegged it or saw it at the Kodak archives in Rochester, New York with permission) is going to be released by Kino Lorber films in October.I'm a big fan of the director, but haven't checked out much of his earlier work (I still have to see Paths of Glory and The Killing), but it is interesting that this movie is finally being made available.Fear and Desire
