“13: Fear Is Real” premieres Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 8/7c on The CW.
“13: Fear Is Real” isn’t a bad reality show but its main draw (fear) is almost non-existent. In this show, the “fear” most definitely is not “real.” Sure there may be a creepy cabin, woods, and a Jigsaw wannabee but none of it is the least bit scary. When the scariest thing about the show is one of the contestant’s haircuts, you know something went wrong.
Let’s start with the show’s concept. 13 people (most of whom are in their twenties) are dropped off in the woods and given instructions by a killer who never shows his face and communicates via cell phones and tape recordings. Their days are spent hanging out in a cabin but by night, they are tasked with challenges in an effort to “stay alive.” One-by-one the players will be “killed off” until only one remains. That person walks away with $66,666 and their body unharmed.
The show’s concept isn’t bad, it kind of reminded me of one of my favorite reality shows of all-time, a little-known mystery/horror show called “Murder in Small Town X.” However, that show was much creepier and had a very fun mystery element that quickly had me hooked. The show only got one season and I’ve been looking for something similar to pop up. Unfortunately, “13″ isn’t it. The show isn’t very creepy but it may have a mystery element (I can’t confirm if it will be a mystery or not because it happened at the end of the episode). I’m hoping they do go the mystery route because the rest of the show is rather lacking. The challenges are on the boring and unimaginative side. In the first episode, the players must simply find their tied up teammate in the pitch dark woods. The two losers from that challenge are then buried alive and tasked with finding a way out.
The challenges may be rather poor but they don’t even compare to the annoying and bland contestants and the Jigsaw ripoff. The contestants fill your various reality stereotypes well (ditzy blonde, the Christian, etc.) but none of them are really that interesting (other than ghosthunter Cody). The Jigsaw ripoff is even worse. The voice is ridiculous (bordering on corny) and there isn’t a thing about him that is original. They might as well have called the show “Saw: The Series.”
In summary, unless you really, really love reality shows or horror films “13″ isn’t worth watching. I’m willing to give it a second episode (and I will cover it on the site) just because I’m hoping it somehow turns into another “Murder in Small Town X.”
