Dread

Clive Barker's tales usually depend on some horrific supernatural element, but in the 1984 short story “Dread” (collected in the second volume of his Books of Blood), the evil is entirely human. Adapted by filmmaker Anthony DiBlasi, this darkly effective psychological thriller stars Jackson Rathbone as Stephen, a film student who pairs up with Cheryl (Hanne Steen) on a joint thesis project examining people's innermost fears. The two receive unexpected financial help from philosophy major Quaid (Shaun Evans), who harbors some nightmarish fears of his own thanks to a horrific childhood experience. The project goes awry after Quaid goads the participants toward increasingly higher levels of revelation, with terrible results. Although the final act is heavy on blood and gore (and the ending is a pretty sick joke), Dread is mostly a solid genre chiller that generates suspense through suggestion and skillful use of flashbacks rather than graphic violence. One of the best screen adaptations of Barker's work yet, this is recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a “making-of” featurette, a conversation between Barker and DiBlasi, and deleted scenes. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an interesting chiller.] (F. Swietek)