Review of A Fantastic Fear of Everything (2012) by Archibald T — 06 Feb 2013

Ever stay up late, enclosed in your tomb of a bedroom, waiting for a serial killer to show up and send you back to the stars? I know I have a few times. Good thing I come prepared. With my trusty butter knife, no killer will stand a chance.

Based on the novella 'Paranoia in the Launderetta' by Bruce Robinson, Jack was once a children's author until the stress of it cost him his marriage. So he decided to write about other subjects. Darker subjects. Criminals of the violent variety. The cruelest of them all: Serial Killers! In his research of Victorian criminals, his psyche became wrapped up in the thought of actually getting murdered one day by a serial killer. He's gotten so paranoid that he walks around everywhere with a carving knife. Best to have around in case you need to make a sandwich.

His paranoia stirs a lot of his inner monologue. His narration of details around him are done in a tone that would remind one of some kind of Hammer Horror movie or Sherlock Holmes episode. It was done quite effective in that it was hilarious. Hell, this whole movie was pitch perfectly funny. It strumps over the cliches of traditional horror/thriller elements for a semicomedic take on the psychological struggle a paranoid writer has in trying to deal with his utmost fear of all: The Launderetta.

Probably the best, and most memorable, moments take place at the Launderetta. His fear becoming increasingly frustrated to the point of misunderstandings as he goes through the process of getting his clothes washed was just brilliant. But poor Jack, though, having to relive the thoughts of abandonment by his mother.

All comes full circle for him in the end when his suspicions turn true and that his only way out of death is by accepting an old friend that first made him famous.