Bozo Fever is a movie that appears very shallow at first glance, but is actually quite complex.The plot is a little confusing, but after a close look; not all that difficult to get. An artist (Nick Parker) is struggling to keep his job as an art instructor. After a grisly murder at his apartment, he begins to slip slowly into insanity.Henry Thomas was OK as Nick Parker. I think they could have gotten someone else to play him, but Thomas wasn't really bad, so to speak. David O'Hara (The Departed) was really good as Will, Nick's neighbor and new slightly insane, creepy friend. Probably my favorite character. Teri Hatcher was very good as Charlotte Parker, Nick's worried, caring sister. You really sympathize with her throughout the entire movie. Bill Duke (Predator) was also very good as Detective Glass.The lighting was what really set the mood for the film. As Nick's sanity vanishes slowly, scenes tend to be darker. And with a low-tone music score added to it, you have a very dark film.Not a bad film, see it before you judge it. 7/10.

Rigor I was completely unprepared for this surprisingly well made thriller. The films stars Henry Thomas as Nick Parker a struggling painter living in a realistically terrible New York Apartment building. Nick lives at the poverty line, his only income being continuing education classes he teaches at a community college. Early in the film a terrible murder occurs in his building and Nick and the audience spend the rest of the film coming to terms with what may have really happened.The film was written and directed by Alex Winter, most famous as the star of The Bill and Ted films, from this effort he has great promise to become a major director. He works extremely well here with the actors getting good performances from Thomas, Teri Hatcher, Bill Duke and David O'Hara. It is the cinematography by Joe DeSalvo that lifts this film to the level of something truly special. DeSalvo manages to capture shots of the New York skyline that seem unprecedented in American film and his interior work is remarkable evocative and reminiscent of the very best work of Gordon Willis and John Alonzo. Surprisingly this is the last film DeSalvo has made (it is now 2003) I am not sure why this is, but, one hopes he will have a long and prosperous c

pizowell The man behind Bill from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure steps behind the camera for the second time and offers us Fever. A claustrophobic and dark tale of a man who can't sleep and when he does he dreams about his mothers death. Soon he is haunted by a neighbor who lives upstairs and may be responsible for a series of murders. Now Nick Parter (Thomas) must prove that he is not the killer before he loses his freedom and sanity. A great film all the way around. Check it out!!!!!!!!!!

katsy-1 This film is far from average- and quite shocking, when you realize it comes from the mind of Alex Winter. Nobody expects this kind of spooky story from such a light hearted comedic actor (of Bill & Ted fame.) Yet we are pleasantly surprised at the depth of the surface story and the sub plots of this poor, tortured artist. I was engrossed in the story line from the word "go" and enthralled (although it was disconcerting) to be in a constant sense of discovery right along with the main character. Especially gripping are his "sleepwalking sessions" in which you wake up right along with him- a bit in shock as to the new surroundings & sensations.Our little boy has grown up, Henry Thomas' performance as a grown man, dealing with deep seeded emotional issues, far surpasses any role he has played thus far. He is capable of such emotion and range of feeling. I wanted to cry at times, hurting with him as he realizes his lack of control & understanding his dark life. I am anxiously awaiting the world's discovery of his range and capabilities as an actor. He is obviously aware of himself & not afraid of a challenging role.What is next for Alex Winter? Will he stay on the Writer / Director path -- or will he return to the front of the camera bringing all of his newfound skills to life as an actor? His ability to use imagery to convey emotion is frightening, the dark dingy images he shows of New York are a far cry from the glitzy N.Y. that Hollywood tends to portray. He surrounds our main character in darkness as if he is incapable of creating even a glimmer of light in his world. So much symbolism - especially in the portrait on canvas which is never completed, he shows us the painter who cannot paint. Who is the man in the picture? His Father? Himself? The stranger upstairs? We will never know.I was intrigued by the murder plot of course, but at times I found myself wondering if the ending would prove it all to be a "dream" in the mind of our lost confused teacher. How on Earth can all of the overlapping stories come together & make sense? I hate spoilers- so I will not reveal just how... but- he manages to achieve perfect closure- and with such expediency that the audience is left w/ a collective sigh of relief as the credits roll.Certainly worth a theatrical run... will someone pick this film up for a theatrical release after it has already hit the HOLLYWOOD Video shelves? My hope would be yes! Boo Hoo that it isn't the glossy marketable "trash" we see in theatres now- Did I really need another episode of "Dinosaurs on an Island"? Or "SCARY MOVIE 6?" PLEASE PEOPLE!? Big Budget does not mean instant story - Alex proves that with a minimal budget involving very few computerized special effects & we don't even miss them! We are too involved with the story- wanting this poor man to find the answers & find some peace in his soul. Wake up & smell that audiences are screaming for some creativity in movie making and new stories to enjoy! FEVER is certainly a new albeit "surreal" movie experience. I would say rent it- but invite a few friends over too- because you just might have trouble sleeping! (I did)A+ rating: 9 of 10