Director Deon Taylor finds confidence in tackling his 'Fear'

Feb. 12—Deon Taylor, like many, was changed by the pandemic.

During his time at home, the filmmaker decided to make his feature film debut, "Fear."

"I'm really excited about the movie," he says. "I wanted to make a film that would entertain an audience. As long as I reach people, that's what I count as successful."

"Fear" is currently playing in theaters across the nation, as well as in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

"Fear" tells the story of a group of friends who gather for a much-needed weekend getaway at a remote and historic hotel. Celebration turns into terror as one by one, each guest faces their own worst fear.

The film stars Joseph Sikora Andrew Bachelor, Annie Ilonzeh, Ruby Modine, Iddo Goldberg, Terrence Jenkins, Jessica Allain and Tip "T.I." Harris.

Taylor says the movie is based on fear.

"I was the most fearful during the global pandemic," he says. "There was a moment where we didn't know what was out there in the air and what people were breathing on you."

He says what worried him was his children.

"I was in a position where if my kids got COVID, I would be devastated," he says. "I was scared. This helped me ask the question to myself, 'What else am I afraid of?' I started writing the script."

As he conquered one fear, many others arose.

Now that the film is screening in theaters nationwide, there's another fear.

"It's come to the point where I stand by my work," he says. "I know we worked hard and made the best film we could. I'm proud of every minute of the film."

Production for the film took 15 days in California.

"These were very long days," he says. "We wanted to capture the energy that the cast brought to the script."

Taylor has one take away for audiences as they see the film.

"I want them to take away faith over fear," he says. "Whatever it is in your life that is stopping you or scaring you, know that you can overcome it."

On the screen

"Fear" is currently playing at Regal Santa Fe and Century Rio 24 in Albuquerque.