Search - Naked Fear on DVD

Jefferson N. from BLAIRSVILLE, GA
Reviewed on 11/26/2011...

Naked Fear is an update of the story The Most Dangerous Game, with the addition of a gorgeous naked woman. From what I've seen, this is based on the story of a real-life serial killer that hunted women in Alaska, but I haven't really read up on that in-depth, so I can't say much about it. At any rate, the basic story is about a hunter in New Mexico who cruises the sleazy strip joints around his area, kidnaps women (possibly raping and torturing them...it's hinted at but not seen) and turns them loose naked in the wilderness and hunts them. Diane (played wonderfully by Danielle De Luca) is his latest captive and she must use every means at her disposal to try to get away from this psychotic madman. Strangely enough, although this sounds like one of those low-budget sleaze-fests that exist only to show a woman being demeaned by a psycho for voyeurs pleasure for an hour and a half, this actually has a plot and keeps moving along at a brisk pace. Yes, there are stripping scenes and the lead actress is naked for half of the film, but it doesn't look cheap, you actually feel for the character, and you want to see this scumbag guy get done in. The actors and actresses all do a great job...even the least bit characters come across as really professional. And the lead actress, Danielle, does a stunning job. Not only is she absolultely, drop-dead gorgeous, but she does an awesome job in what must have been a very trying role. She never comes across as just a piece of meat to be tormented for sleaze fans satisfaction. Rather, she brings a great deal of emotion to the character as we see her first brutalized and then grow into a strong woman who will do what she needs to to survive. This movie is brutal in a lot of spots and may be hard to watch for some. But for fans of suspense-thrillers, this is a great one. Just a step or so away from Silence of the Lambs. I was tempted to give this one just three stars as average, but I can't give it that low of a score in good conscience, since everyone gave so much to make this a good film. Especially Danielle De Luca.

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Not Bad For A Direct-To-Video Release

Dr. O'Boogie | 11/29/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Like most direct-to-video releases, the low budget really shows. But the unique premise of the film makes up for that. Here we have a rather unusual serial killer who kidnaps strippers and prostitutes, takes them out into the New Mexico wilderness, strips them naked and let's them go with a head start so he can hunt them down. One woman ends up with a lot more wits on her than the killer expected and gives him a good run.

The story is loosely based on real-life serial killer Robert Hansen, a resident in Alaska and big time game hunter who did indeed kidnap and hunt down about 20+ women throughout most of the 70s and into the early 80s before finally being caught.

Productionwise, the film was done pretty cheap, looking like it was shot on video. Joe Mantegna provides the only star power in the film playing the small town sheriff investigating the disappearances of these women. But the plot does hold you pretty good and keeps your attention. Nudity is plentiful, but not in an exploitive way, so it is justified given the premise.

All in all, not a bad way to spend 1 1/2 hrs on. Worth a rental at least."

A bravura performance by Danielle DeLuca...

Franco Jesse | Pittsburgh, USA | 01/08/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Other reviewers have pretty well described the good and bad of this flick, which is evidently based on a real serial killer who enjoyed hunting and killing young women he captured and released into the wilderness. What could have been a routine B-movie is elevated a notch by the amazing performance of Danielle DeLuca as one victim who decides to fight back. DeLuca must spend a great deal of the movie trekking naked over rough terrain. Her character experiences a progression of emotions--terror, frustration, panic, determination and finally anger--and Danielle pulls it off very well (no pun intended). I could have done without the tacked-on ending, but some may find it satisfying. Regardless, if you check this one out, I guarantee you'll never be the same again."

"It's different than I expected."

J. H. Minde | Boca Raton, Florida and Brooklyn, New York | 12/29/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"All things---including its low budget, shot on video quality, direct-to-dvd release, and cast of unknowns---considered, NAKED FEAR is far better than it deserves to be, due in large part to actress Danielle DeLuca and to its storyline, which is based on the story of serial killer Robert Hansen.

Like Hansen (who operated in the Alaskan outback), the fictional Colin Mandel (J.D. Garfield) preys on strippers and prostitutes whom he hunts in the wilds of New Mexico after first drugging them and setting them free, utterly naked and defenseless.

Joe Mantegna, the only star power in the film, plays a curiously obtuse small-town sheriff. Aware of illegalities in the local strip club, and bedeviled by a lengthy "missing persons" caseload comprised entirely of young, pretty girls, albeit strippers and prostitutes, he refuses to put 2 and 2 together, does nothing, and is apparently more concerned with angering the oddly popular weirdoes in his town, than in solving crimes.

Diana (DeLuca) is an innocent girl from Texas who takes up a benefactor's offer to work, good money guaranteed, in that same small town in New Mexico. When she arrives, she's put up in a flyblown motel with a heroin addict for a roommate. She's then told that she's expected to work as a stripper, obligated to pay back the money laid out for her travel expenses, food, and lodging, "plus interest . . . and it compounds," as she is told by her sneering benefactor-turned-slavemaster, who takes most of the money she earns. When she complains, he tells her to "lose the thong," which she does, only to be heavily fined by the club owner, who is complicit in the enslavement scheme. With no money to give her "benefactor" that night, he threatens her, but then suggests she privately "entertain" a few customers. Desperate to escape what is obviously a horrible and never-ending situation, Diana agrees. Spotted by the trolling Mandel, she agrees to have sex for money but then tries to put him off, only to belatedly discover she is more a prisoner than ever. Mandel, armed with rifle and crossbow, would seem to have all the advantages.

DeLuca, a staple of recent "B" slasher films, is pretty and vivacious, and utterly convincing as the bewildered Diana. DeLuca carries a large portion of this film on her petite shoulders by her lonesome and in the altogether nude, playing the hungry, bruised, dirty and terrorized Diana with a realism that is disturbing to watch.

NAKED FEAR is a gem of its genre, and is well worth the 90 minutes you will give to it."