So in keeping with my gregarious and generous nature, I very kindly got my younger brother a copy of 'A Fantastic Fear of Everything' on BluRay for Christmas. I know, I am too kind sometimes. And no one would doubt my intentions for saying this, but I was pretty keen to check this film out myself. But luckily not a whiff of ulterior motives at all, so it is a win win situation. Especially for you, as you get to read my ramblings on another film of modest public exposure.
So as you may or may not know, this film is produced by and starring our very own homegrown Mr Simon Pegg! Now he pretty much is the film, so you are going to have to be a big Pegg fan to enjoy this film. I essentially follows the life of an newly agoraphobic writer, who after ditching children's books to write about something a bit more gritty, has found himself closed off from the world in his flat through fear of being assassinated by anyone of the Victorian murderers that he has been researching for his new dark materials.
Due to this particular personal foible, this means that 90% of the screen time is just us, Pegg and his paranoid narration, jumping and screaming at any shifting shadow or creaking door. Luckily Pegg manages to prove to be a both comedic and sympathetic character, by being able to pull off the look of jumper and Y-Fronts with quiet grace that would rival Beckham in an H&M advert. Sure he is no Adonis, but he wears this outfit with such conviction that this is a perfectly normal attire for a man to be wearing whilst cowering for three weeks in his flat without a shower, that you are rooting for him to make good almost instantly.
Ever accompanied by his trusty bread knife, he even manages to make this a part of his ensemble, to the point that unless there is a gag based around him carrying it (or accidentally having it glued to his hand for that matter) you don't really notice it until it is gone. Like a behind the scenes sidekick noted only by his absence.
Seeing that you only ever experience characters from Pegg's perspective, via a phone call or shouting at people through his letter box, the flat and its contents become as much characters in this piece as the main man. The flat itself is shot in with drawn out dark shadows, filled with hidden corners and subtle eyes of the clippings of killers that he has been collecting. It is shot ion such a way that is far removed from realism, but to help us gain insight into how Pegg's character perceives his world.
And it is not long before you start to join in with the speculation! Being led through this tale by a man with severe paranoias and anxieties, it cannot be helped but to try and figure out the 'clues' with him. An inconspicuous spider broach on his agent's lapel must surely mean something?!?
Having a quick conversation with his therapist though is enough to kick Pegg into action and leave his flat to attend a meeting with a publisher. All he needs to do is pop to the laundrette with a knife glued to his hand, wash his smalls without notice and be on his merry way. But when the title suggests a fear of 'everything', this does not stop at laundrettes, and transpires to be the focal point for all of his fears. Without wanting to spoil the end, the film transpires that his most absurd fear proves to be the greatest he should have had, but by darn does he learn some lessons and get some inspiration for writing along the way!
Shot with a dream like quality and beautifully roaming the world of Pegg's mind, the film could almost look like something by Wes Anderson. But the scripting is clearly something that you can envisage Pegg being involved in. I can't help but being reminded of his 'Spaced' character Tim, but a version who has grown up a bit, and then gone completely over the edge.
As I have said though, for fans of Pegg and for a good bit of quirky British comedy, this film will definitely tickle you funny bone. Especially when they break out some gangster rap and refer to a children's story hedgehog as a "prickly cunt". If you aren't into the Pegg-mania you might want to tread a little more careful if you are thinking about this film. Beats going to the laundrette though...
Happy viewing...
