A Problem with Fear (2003) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A fear-haunted clerk confronts prophetic accidents and a consumer culture that turns danger into absurdity.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Mall Built On Fear

Laurie works in a Calgary mall where accidents involving technology and commerce define his everyday reality. His premonitions and dependence on Michelle establish fear as both a personal and social condition.

Key Events

• Laurie Works At Mall — Laurie works as a small shop clerk in the local Calgary mall. Characters: Laurie Location: Local Calgary mall
• Fear Shapes Daily Life — Laurie's world is dominated by fear of accidents involving technology and commercial spaces. Characters: Laurie Location: Calgary mall
• Elevator Plunges — An elevator plunges thirty stories as part of the film's catalogue of tragic accidents. Location: Mall elevator
• Scarf Caught In Escalator — A woman's scarf is caught in an escalator, strangling her. Location: Mall escalator
• Car Strikes A Man — A man is struck by a car immediately before Laurie's warning premonition. Characters: Laurie Location: Crosswalk
• Laurie's Premonition — Laurie experiences a premonition telling him not to cross. Characters: Laurie Location: Crosswalk

Safety Against The Storm

Michelle's work at Global Safety Inc. introduces products designed to anticipate danger and respond to fear. These solutions contrast with Laurie's continuing prophetic experiences and the city's recurring accidents.

Key Events

• Dependence On Michelle — Laurie's fear-filled life includes dependence on his less-than-sympathetic sister Michelle. Characters: Laurie, Michelle Location: Laurie's personal world
• Michelle Leads Product Development — Michelle heads product development at Global Safety Inc. Characters: Michelle Location: Global Safety Inc.
• Fear Storm Mission — The company aims to provide products combating the city's continuing fear storm. Characters: Michelle Location: Global Safety Inc.
• Early Warning System — The PDA-like system warns users about danger ahead of time. Characters: Michelle Location: Global Safety Inc.
• Safe Bracelet — The bracelet senses fear and allows its wearer to beep for help. Characters: Michelle Location: Global Safety Inc.

Absurdity Takes Over

The mall becomes increasingly strange through unexplained announcements, a dwindling population, and mass classroom hiccups. Commercial slogans and Dot's clothing survey turn fear and consumer culture into satire.

Key Events

• Prophetic Powers Persist — Laurie's prophetic powers continue alongside the unending accidents. Characters: Laurie Location: Calgary
• Mall Announcements Repeat — The mall announcer repeatedly requests a speaker of an unexplained foreign language. Location: Calgary mall
• Mall Population Dwindles — The mall population slowly dwindles until the space is virtually empty. Location: Calgary mall
• Classroom Hiccups Spread — An entire classroom population is simultaneously accosted by hiccups. Location: Classroom
• Laurie Repeats Commercial Refrains — Laurie comforts himself by repeating commercial refrains such as the Rice-A-Roni slogan. Characters: Laurie Location: Calgary mall

The Uncertain Escape

Laurie's attempt to conquer fear provides the film's central dramatic purpose. The ending leaves the achievement of that goal deliberately doubtful.

Key Events

• Dot Conducts Clothing Survey — Dot conducts a survey about how clothing defines people, despite both detesting and obsessing over it. Characters: Dot Location: Calgary mall
• Fears Become Satire — Absurd accidents and consumer rituals frame the characters' fear-filled social environment. Characters: Laurie, Dot Location: Calgary
• Laurie Attempts To Conquer Fear — The pretextual plot centers on Laurie attempting to conquer his fears and those around him. Characters: Laurie Location: Calgary
• Uncertain Resolution — By the end, it remains doubtful that anything has changed or been achieved. Characters: Laurie Location: Calgary

Story Breakdown

• Mall Of Dangers — The Calgary mall introduces Laurie and the commercial technologies that surround his fears.
  • Laurie's Clerk Routine — Laurie works as a small shop clerk in the local mall.
  • Commercial Accidents — Elevators, escalators, and cars become sources of tragic danger.
• Prophetic Fear — Laurie's premonitions make ordinary movement through the city emotionally hazardous.
  • Crosswalk Premonition — Laurie foresees danger before a man is struck by a car.
  • Endless Predictions — His prophetic powers continue alongside repeated accidents.
• Strained Family Support — Laurie's dependence on Michelle reveals a difficult personal relationship beneath the surreal events.
  • Sister Michelle — Michelle is identified as Laurie's less-than-sympathetic sister.
  • Emotional Dependence — Laurie relies on Michelle despite the tension between them.
• Corporate Safety Solutions — Michelle's professional world responds to the city's fear with commercial technology.
  • Warning Device — The Early Warning 2 Safe System predicts danger ahead of time.
  • Fear Bracelet — The Safe Bracelet senses fear and signals for help.
• Consumer Absurdity — The film transforms familiar commercial and social behavior into unsettling comedy.
  • Repeating Slogans — Laurie uses commercial refrains to comfort himself.
  • Clothing Survey — Dot studies how clothing defines people while both detesting and obsessing over the survey.
• Vanishing Social World — The surrounding community becomes increasingly strange, empty, and difficult to interpret.
  • Unexplained Announcements — The mall repeatedly requests a speaker of an unexplained foreign language.
  • Collective Hiccups — An entire classroom experiences hiccups simultaneously.
• Uncertain Confrontation — Laurie's attempt to overcome fear leads to an intentionally unresolved conclusion.
  • Conquering Fear — The pretextual plot centers on Laurie confronting his fears.
  • Doubtful Achievement — The ending questions whether anything has changed or been achieved.

Directed by

Gary Burns

Key Cast

• Paulo Costanzo — Laurie
• Emily Hampshire — Dot
• Willie Garson — Erin
• Camille Sullivan — Michelle
• Marnie Alton — Daphne