I stumbled across Fear Clinic while searching for Fiona Dourif films, the reviews were so terrible I almost didn't bother watching. I noticed a lot of the other users said things like "terrible b- movie", "disappointing" and "pretty lame" but wondered why the great Robert Englund would participate in such a bad film so I decided to check it out despite the comments...I was so GLAD I did, this movie rocks!! I am proud to call myself an extreme horror buff and having seen almost every horror film ever made I can be a harsh critic, this film easily deserves 7 out of 10 stars. Not only does it star Mr. Robert Englund himself, it also showcased the fantastic acting skills of Fiona Dourif (daughter of the one and only Brad Dourif, the voice of Chucky himself) and Slipknot's Corey Taylor in his first movie role. I'll admit I was weary of Taylor's acting skills but remained optimistic, as it turns out he does not disappoint and the film even included his music and a Slipknot related Easter egg in one of the diner scenes, you'll know it when you see it. The special effects were great quality and the story line kept me hanging on until the very end. If you gave this film a bad review you should probably stick with Disney movies and leave the horror to the true fans of the genre, I strongly recommend giving this flick a chance and I assure you that you wont be disappointed.

Robert Englund stars as a doctor whose expertise and study is of fear and how to locate and defeat it so that those suffering phobias can overcome them. Finona Dourif (daughter of the legendary cult actor, Brad Dourif) was one of several who endured trauma after a gunman in black mask walked into a diner and started shooting people. There were others in the diner needing Englund's help including a patient unable to eat (Angelina Armani) and a brain trauma victim (Thomas Dekker) in a wheelchair unable to speak. Friend (Cleopatra Coleman) of Fiona's has a fear of bugs, her mind manufacturing back itch, and one of Englund's colleagues (Felisha Terrell) was helped to overcome a fear of being buried alive. Englund has created a "fear chamber" that requires patients to lay in them with a face device involved. Englund guides them into a fugue state where they face whatever caused their phobia, having them address their fear and conquer it. However, those "cured" are starting to hallucinate again, returning to Englund for help, realizing that he has become an emotional wreck after one of his patients (Bonnie Morgan) dies while in the chamber.Gathered together in the fear clinic, Englund starts to recognize what happened to Morgan, and that his fear chamber was "starving" a "fear monster" that thrived on those suffering horrible trauma and phobia. In order to be set free and actually manifest itself from outside the mind/dream, gaining form and becoming an even more dangerous threat, the fear monster needs to "acquire" Englund, cocooning on a wall in a room of the clinic. In order for that to happen, it needs Dekker to remember what happened in the diner the day of the shootings. Fiona is the sturdy rock that Englund will stand in need of in order to combat the fear monster, while Dekker, after a fear chamber visit, has regained brain function lost to the gunshot wound that caused his mental crippling…this disturbing to Englund as his machine wasn't built to heal physical brain trauma but assist in curing phobic terror. I think the plot, which is admittedly out there, might be a bit much for some horror fans, but I thought it had a rather compelling presentation. It doesn't altogether work, but there's plenty of abrasive, shocking content to hold the attention.Englund is very good in a rare sympathetic role, going to battle for patients, rocked by the loss of a patient. Unlike other scientists dedicated in experimental procedure to help cure or offer a breakthrough for patients who might put their work above their subjects, Englund is agonized and melancholy about hurting instead of helping them. The weight of the chamber posing a threat instead of help leaves Englund embattled with guilt and disappointment. Fiona, along with Felisha (his main assistant), tries to motivate him not to stop.The film also emphasizes the hallucinations caused by the fear monster's phobia. The monster emerging from the cocoon and manufacturing an Englund "face mask", re-introducing to cured patients a "fear loop" that is toxic to their mental state. The diner shooting and the black mask the killer wore "beckoning" to be worn again serving as the catalyst the fear monster uses to gain advantage. Fiona will have to be one step ahead and use something Englund told her (close your eyes) in the hopes of "putting fear in its place". Dekker is equal parts tragic and eerie. Ickiest scene has Cleopatra succumbing to her fear of bugs, a sac on her back shoulder containing black fluid (also vomited by Angelina upon her return to the clinic (the black fluid is an indication to Englund of the fear monster's gain in strength)) sliced open, with spiders spilling out. Corey Bauer and Kevin Gage are employees at the clinic offering their services to maintain the everyday functions of the place, eventually endangered themselves. This has, in my opinion, one of Englund's best roles in years. Armani's deteriorating condition puts a strain on her marriage and clearly indicates the fear monster has a meal with her. A unique take on fear, anchored by good performances.

New Anchor Bay release, "Fear Clinic" is an unexpected thrill ride that's fun at every turn. It's a low budget horror film …..That doesn't know its low budget."Fear Clinic" is loosely based on the 2009 fearnet.com web series of the same name. It stars Robert Englung (Nightmare on Elm Street, Wishmaster, Urban Legend). The story follows Englunds Dr. Andover who's created a device that attempts to cure people of their worst fears. (Of course, no horror film would be worth its weight without something… going horribly wrong.)The films stand out is Englund himself. Being a horror icon, you'd probably expect a phoned in, overzealous, scenery chewing performance. But that is just not true. He gives a vulnerable, emotional, unguarded and in the end, heart wrenching performance, that's by far, distanced from any other (sans make-up) character he's ever played. To his credit, Englund has little dialogue and utilizes his screen time speaking a thousand words, exuding recognizable emotion with just his eyes: A rarity now a days with all the You Tube instant celeb mediocrity regurgitated daily. It's a trick that only a seasoned actor of Englund's stature can convey. Englund's Andover is a Doctor who truly believes he can help mankind. He becomes so emotionally involved, that he himself is, ultimately corrupted by the same evil force he's trying to cure. Another stand out is actor Thomas Dekker. Dekker is best known for playing a young John Conner in the short lived "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles". Dekker, a veteran of "….Clinic" director Robert Hall's (Laid to Rest), here plays a wheel chair bound Blake, incapacitated and unable to speak. Dekker could have thrown on the cheese and played the character with reckless cliché : Instead, he's fearless here, walking a fine tightrope, inviting us in to share his characters tortured past, peeled back in delicate layers, all leading to a third act twist I defy you to see coming. This is Dekker's best work since playing Smith, the "Chosen Son" in the Canne', Palm Award winning film, "Kaboom" by director Gregg Araki. Other cast stand outs include level headed Sara, played by Fiona Dourif, phobic crippled Megan, played with relish by Cleopatra Coleman, as well as worthy cast member and reluctant victim of Dr. Andover's device, the deliciously devious, possessed Paige, embodied with zeal by Bonnie Morgan (and helped by an outstanding special effects team): All, rising stars waiting to happen. Rounding out the cast are the horror film, "comedy relief staples", personified with glee by Kevin Gage and Corey Taylor. Director Robert Hall, whose original web series the film is based on, returns here, showing his chops by leading his cast down a road of atypical mayhem. The director could have ridden a murder every 30 minute wave that most low budgeters settle for. Instead, he doubles down on the phobias and in turn, with the help of dynamic camera work by Cinematographer, Joseph White and interesting editing choices by Sherwood Jones, the film takes us on a ride with peaks and valleys that are fun and solidly different.If I had to make one critical call I'd have to say my only regret was the over use of colored lighting gels that at times, bordered on annoying. But, if that's the worst thing that happened while viewing "Fear Clinic', I'm in pretty good shape. If you're looking for seen it before, duplicated dreck, check out "Michael Myers: Part 15" or "Jason Voorhees: Part 18". But, if you want to see an unexpectedly original horror franchise villain, waiting to exploit endless possibilities of fear in the human mind, step out of your huge budget comfort zone. Take a leap of faith and give over to the delicate moments of horror fun. Then, watch it again and discover what new interpretations can be discovered in this low budget horror/thriller with each subsequent viewing. A shout out to Sean Evans of "Back to the Movies" (http://bttm.co.uk ): It was through his web site, I was tipped off to this surprising gem. For that…. I am grateful.

The film revolves around a shooting that takes place in a diner that traumatizes a group of survivors who check themselves into the Fear Clinic, a clinic run by Dr.Andover a man who has created a unique way of treating phobia's using a revolutionary new technology called the fear chamber. The fear chamber works by re-animating your worst fears into hallucinations so you can combat your fear face to face. However within the story the fears start manifesting themselves in the real world and this new technology that Dr.Andover has created is slowly opening up a doorway to allow fear incarnate to wreak havoc on the patients of the clinic.Fear Clinic has an incredibly strong cast line up with Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street) reprising his role as Dr.Andover, Thomas Dekker (Heroes) as Blake, Fiona Dourif (Curse of Chucky) as Sara a survivor of the diner shooting, Angelina Armani (Chromeskull 2) as another survivor Caylee and Corey Taylor in his first ever acting role as Bauer a porter at the clinic. Joining this stellar cast are a whole host of other amazing talent including Brandon Beemer, Cleopatra Coleman, Kevin Gage and Felisha Tirrell.The movie as a whole was incredibly strong, what started off as an incredibly slow build up actually built the story up rather nicely and gave us some in depth character building and information, it is rare to see a good character build in indy horrors but Fear Clinic did it maybe even too much at times. Either way the second half of the movie eclipses the first by a long shot, once the story is set the action begins and with Bob Kurtzman and Steve Johnson behind the SPFX team the excitement and effects do not disappoint. As fear incarnate slowly starts to develop in the real world the SPFX team has amazingly brought this character to life taking on a persona that was unsettling to watch (Minus the visible bald cap on Robert Englund's head). The intro to the movie however slow always had a creepy and uncomfortable vibe, almost putting you in the clinic itself, testing your nerves, straining your ability to relax and always putting you on edge for what is about to come. It was a great touch and full credit to the team for drawing it out over the films duration without letting go of that emotion.The film contains deep undertones and emotional depth in terms of people's fears and phobia's but there are some points within the movie that need to be tightened up a bit. Certain scenes need explaining more and as fear incarnate starts to manifest itself the build up and gore is lacking within the story so even thou the creature looks amazing, it doesn't strike fear into the audience which is a shame as now the audience is isolated from the story. Never the less the movie flows nicely and as it stands its a great introduction to a franchise but it does feels quite rushed in places and action is scarce in places as the build up is painstakingly drawn out, hopefully this is tightened up for the DVD release version or Director's cut.Convoluted in places but a movie that stands higher than most Horror's that are being released at the present, a new generation of cerebral Horror. A movie that will make you think rather than spaced out watching the screen, a movie that when finished you'll rewind to make the jigsaw pieces fit. A very smart movie.If you're used to watching Horror movies with a vacant mind then you will be disappointed with Fear Clinic, it's time to engage your brain, the Fear Clinic is open for business.FEAR ON!