A Problem with Fear (2003)

Director:

Gary Burns

Writers:

Donna Brunsdale (writer)
Gary Burns (writer)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A young man in Calgary, Alberta is multiphobic: nonetheless, he believes that he is the cause of the fear which is killing people around him. |

Plot Keywords:

Anxiety | Doppelganger | Elevator | Escalator | Female Frontal Nudity

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Paulo Costanzo	...	Laurie
Emily Hampshire	...	Dot
Willie Garson	...	Erin
Camille Sullivan	...	Michelle
Benjamin Ratner	...	Alan
Keegan Connor Tracy	...	Vicky
Marnie Alton	...	Daphne
Donna Brunsdale	...	Wanda
James McBurney	...	Bill
Peter Strand Rumpel	...	Jerry
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gregory D. Alvas	...	Stylish Young Man
Michael Matthew Barker	...	Business Man
Rita Bozi	...	P.A. Announcer
Lee Cameron	...	Businessman #1
Gillian Carfra	...	Global Safety Saleswoman
Jennifer Clement	...	Tina
Vanessa Couturier	...	Egg Girl
Erika D'Alessio	...	Tiger Girl
Joyce Doolittle	...	Old Woman in Mall
Marty Hanenberg	...	Businessman #3
Gail Hanrahan	...	China Shop Customer
Carey Lees	...	Crying Secretary
Daniel Libman	...	News Anchor
Sarah Lind	...	Nerd Girl
Anita Matthys	...	Receptionist
David L. McCallum	...	Irate Business Man on Subway (as David McCullum)
Kristin Nowosad	...	Naked Girl
Bagenstos Rachelle	...	Teenaged Girl
Jeremy Raymond	...	Security Guard
Luigi Riscaldino	...	Robber
Meg Roe	...	Bonny
Lorna Sandberg	...	Sandy Hansen
Brian Stollery	...	Global Safety Salesman
Frank Takacs	...	Car Victim
Leigh Ann Taylor	...	Young Mother on Subway
Brian Wrench	...	Businessman on Subway

Also Known As:

Parano (Canada: French title)

Runtime:

Canada:94 min (Ontario) | Canada:92 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Burns Film Ltd.

Goofs:

Shots in the Montreal subway's were clearly done at night as newsstands in the main station are closed while it is supposedly a normal work day.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Walking Lizard

Refreshing, hilarious and Well-Constructed

I'm surprised by the lack of enthusiasm that has greeted Gary Burns' fourth feature, A PROBLEM WITH FEAR. Reminiscent of his previous film, WAYDOWNTOWN, FEAR utilizes the insular setting of Calgary's enormous shopping mall and urban life. With an absurdist tone, and hilarious dialogue, Burns examines the culture of fear in which we live. The story is well-constructed, building around Laurie's whose many fears are starting to happen to people around him. FEAR explores similar ground to that which Michael Moore did in BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, but with a sharp, fantastic story. And once again, as in WAYDOWNTOWN, Burns wraps his story up with a surprisingly touching finale.