This reality series debuted in 2001 to howls of disgust from critics and snorts of derision from the intelligentsia, but Fear Factor pulled off a feat more impressive than any attempted by the show's contestants: it commanded the attention of people who claimed they couldn't bear to watch it—yet found themselves unable to turn it off. Because American TV had not seen anything like it (although similar fare had been running on Japanese networks for years), Fear Factor briefly became a cultural phenomenon. In this two-disc collection featuring all nine episodes from the first season, host Joe Rogan encourages contestants to lie in pits with hundreds of squealing rats, climb out of cars suspended 150 feet above the ground, board moving helicopters from jet-skis, and crawl through pitch-black drain tunnels. And, of course, there's the show's signature stunt: eating worms, insects, and other things that would gag a maggot. Fear Factor combines both exhilaration and revulsion: yes, there's certainly an adrenaline rush in watching contestants perform death-defying stunts, but a different sensation altogether is produced by seeing them consume buffalo testicles or sheep eyeballs. DVD extras include a preview clip of the second season. Optional. (E. Hulse)
Fear Factor: The First Season
Universal, 2 discs, 440 min., not rated, DVD: $29.98 Volume 21, Issue 5
Fear Factor: The First Season
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: