Watch The Fear of 13 For Free

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

hyped garbage

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

A few days before she went on a half term holiday with her family,I asked a friend about what she has recently seen on Netflix. Being a fan of true crime,she told me about a doc on Netflix that I've not heard of before,which led to me finding out how unlucky 13 could be.The outline of the doc:Faced being charged with attempted murder of a cop,19 year old drug addict Nick Yarris decides to make up a story about knowing someone related to the rape and murder of Linda May Craig,a case that Yarris read about whilst waiting to be interviewed by the police. Believing the person he named to be dead,Yarris finds out that he is actually alive,which leads to the police treating Yarris as the main suspect,that would result in him spending 20 years on death row.View on the film:Just filming Yarris sitting in a chair talking about his life for 90 minutes, director David Sington underlines some of the most devastating moments in Yarris's life with a clever use of sound effects of gunshots and shower water that firmly puts the viewer in Yarris's shoes,along with tastefully done minimalism "re-enactments" over Yarris voice,offering a small, blurred glimpse to some of the things Yarris has seen. Staying in the background, composer Philip Sheppard delivers a warm ambient score.Whilst never becoming the focus of attention, Sheppard's score does give the title a subtle background noise to Yarris's monologue. Being the lone voice in the film, Nick Yarris is an incredibly captivating speaker,with Yarris's hand/body motion fully pulling the viewer into the events of his life. Wrongly locked in death row for 20 years, (a large part in solitary confinement,during which he read over 1000 books) Yarris displays in his stark delivery a skill of someone who is well-read that knows what details to give to the listener/viewer,with Yarris and Sington being extremely respectful to Linda May Craig (whose murder has not been solved) and her family.

This is a brilliant documentary. Nick Yarris sits in a half-lit chair for most of his story and was so excellent that I thought he had to be an actor until the final credits! Do not miss this beautifully filmed, heart breaking story of "Justice" at its worst! After watching the film I sent him a short note to his Face Book page (you can Google it up). He lives in England for the most part since his release from prison for the twenty-one years he served for a murder/rape he never committed. At the time he was accused and tried in the 1980's DNA had not yet been "discovered" and only blood type was used to try and match killers with victims In the mid 80's while he is sitting on death row, DNA is discovered and allowed in court! Nick is ecstatic only to learn that the FBI has since "LOST" the evidence that would have exonerated him! It is 21 years of roller coaster riders and there just beginning!

The story of Nick Yarris was completely alien to me before I saw this documentary. The first impression I got when introduced to him was that of great sadness and loss. His face and body looked tired, drained from whatever he had experienced - at the end I understood why. The Fear of 13 does not necessarily tackle new issues; nor does it highlight anything one hasn't seen before. The struggles of convicts, their fight for survival inside a maximum security prison is no new genre. However, this story sucks you in from the beginning and keeps you listening all the way to the end. Stripping the documentary down to the bare essentials keeps it intriguing. Atmospheric music complements Yarris' somber voice with recreated scenes as he opens up about his past. And although the narrative of death row inmates have been shared before, there is an eloquence about Yarris that makes his story unique. There are times when I doubted the authenticity of certain professed anecdotes, but it was hard to disagree with the vigor in which he spoke about them.

SPOILER ALERTI am so used to documentaries like this having horrible endings that I constantly waited for the next horrible twist in this man's incredible story. I say incredible story, but not only is the story incredible, this man is incredible. He has had bad luck beyond belief, fueled by a couple of bad decisions. So when this story ended the way it did, I almost shed a tear, which is a very rare thing. Despite the static, empty and gray environment of his confinement, the horrible treatment he received, the indifference from the legal system, he endured it all, and not only that, he grew to become a better and wiser man at peace with himself. How he managed this is beyond my understanding, and it would be an honor if I could ever shake this man's hand. Hearing him tell his story, aided by highly effective visuals, sound effects and music scores, you are taken on an emotional tour through his life. I can easily say that this documentary has affected me more than any other recent title. I recommend watching this to anyone.