Filmed in Munich, Fear finds Rossellini returning to the territory of Germany Year Zero a decade later, examining a nation in recovery and still suffering major psychological scars. But where the earlier film was framed in the neo-realist mode, Rossellini had started to produce more traditional genre narratives, in this case, noir.
Bergman stars as Irene Wagner, a married woman carrying on an affair with Erich (Kurt Kreuger). However, Erich's sadistic former flame, Luisa (Renate Mannhardt), finds out Irene's secret and proceeds to blackmail her, turning the woman's life into an escalating nightmare eventually posing a threat to both herself and those around her.
Special features
• Newly remastered presentations • The Machine That Kills Bad People (Roberto Rossellini, 1952, 81 mins): rare Rossellini drama in which a photographer is given the power to rid the Earth of evil-doers, using his camera • Fully illustrated booklet featuring essays by Tag Gallagher and Peter Bondanella, and full film credits
