Irrational Fear (2017) is a horror film directed by Hunter Johnson, which plays on the concept of phobias taken to deadly extremes. The plot revolves around a group of people who are brought together for a weekend retreat designed to help them confront and overcome their deepest fears. Each participant suffers from a different phobia, such as fear of heights, claustrophobia, or fear of drowning.
However, instead of facing their fears in a controlled, therapeutic setting, things take a horrific turn when the participants’ worst fears start manifesting in real and deadly ways. What begins as a self-help retreat quickly becomes a nightmarish survival situation, as the group is forced to face their phobias in ways they never anticipated. It becomes clear that something or someone is manipulating their fears, turning them against each other and leading to increasingly brutal and terrifying outcomes.
The film uses each characterโs unique phobia to build tension and horror, exploring the psychological aspect of fear while delivering gruesome and terrifying scenes. Irrational Fear blends supernatural elements with psychological horror, making the phobias come to life in a lethal, physical sense.
While it’s a low-budget indie horror, Irrational Fear has gained some attention for its creative approach to the concept of fear. However, it also received mixed reviews, with some viewers enjoying the phobia-driven horror, while others found the execution lacking in character development and overall polish.