The
Fear Of 13
(2015/Dogwoof/First Run DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: C Film: B-
David
Sington's The
Fear of 13
(2015) is a beautifully edited and engaging documentary film
centering around a Death Row inmate named Nick Yarris, whom petitions
the court asking to be executed after spending over decades behind
bars. Nick's intense and dramatic tale involves drugs, murder, his
loss of freedom, a love of literature, and loneliness and mayhem in
prison. At the same time, the film is something of a love story
where we discover that his human condition is what keeps him going
despite his misfortunes.
Some
of the film's incredible cinematography and editing easily brings you
into the piece and stands out in terms of style. One example of this
is that the film starts out with Nick giving a monologue of sorts and
then switches to a more personal, dead on, camera addressing approach
that effectively raises the intensity. Similar in a way to some of
the shows you see on late night cable that center around prisoners
and inmates (like Locked
Up on
MSNBC). This film crafts a story that will make you happy to not be
in this man's shoes and will make you question his logic but
sympathize for him as well. This is definitely a unique way of
telling a story using documentary filmmaking and I would suggest
giving it a watch it if you are intrigued.
Presented
in standard definition with a 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio and a
lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track. While the film looks fine on DVD, a
high definition edition will most certainly outshine it in terms of
texture and detail. No digital copy included.
The
only extra is a Q and A with David Sington and Nick Yarris.
Interested
in hearing a true modern day tragedy told from a unique perspective.
If so, then definitely give this one a watch!
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
