In Fear

While heading to a music festival in Ireland, a young couple ends up trapped inside a sprawling hedge maze on the way to a remote hotel. Darkness closes in as the car stalls and the hedges seem to rearrange themselves around them. An unseen, malevolent presence torments them with whispers, rustling leaves, and sudden noises that echo through the night. They search for a way out, yet every turn leads to more dead ends and creeping fear. Exhaustion bleeds into paranoia as doubt gnaws at their trust in one another, and the outside world feels impossibly far away. The tension builds steadily, keeping the outcome uncertain without revealing twists or endings. The night stretches on as uncertainty gnaws at them.

Directed by Jeremy Lovering, In Fear arrived in 2013 as a lean British thriller written by Jon Croker. It stars Alice Englert as Lucy, Iain DeCaestecker as Tom, and Allen Leech as Max, with a real time feel that resonates.

Box office data for the film is limited and the release was modest, focusing on select theaters and festival showings. It did not become a major commercial hit, which is typical for intimate thrillers that rely on mood over spectacle.

The film did not receive major nominations or wins, a common fate for smaller British thrillers that prioritize atmosphere and character tension over awards campaigns. Still, it enjoyed screenings at genre-focused festivals where critics noted the performances of Englert, DeCaestecker, and Leech within a tight, suspense driven frame of cinema.

Critics called In Fear a taut, claustrophobic thriller that leans on mood and performances more than splatter or noise. Lucy and Tom carry the suspense, while the maze and the unseen threat probe trust under pressure, exposing fear, isolation, and fragile safety for two strangers trapped inside a fragile night.