The picture clearly reveals that the men behind it are young, intelligent but alas, inexperienced in catering to the movie public. Kubrick and Sackler deserve, and get, a high mark for effort.

Fear and Desire is a literate, unhackneyed war drama, outstanding for its fresh camera treatment and poetic dialog.

The psychology of the film is inept and immature, characterizations wholly improbable and amateurishly presented. The camera's fascination with the revolting adds nothing to the picture.

Fear and Desire is an unpolished production, full of flaws. But its mistakes are the result of its bold effort to discard old formulas and make a different movie, and in this it has been successful.