I'M NOT SCARED.
Directed by: Gabriele Salvatores.
Produced by: Marco Chimenz, Giovanni Stabilini, Maurizio Totti & Riccardo Tozzi.
Written by: Niccolò Ammaniti & Francesca Marciano, based on Ammaniti's novel.
Director of Photography: Italo Petriccione.
Edited by: Massimo Fiocchi.
Music by: Pepo Scherman & Ezio Bosso.
Released by: Miramax.
Country of Origin: Italy. 101 min. Rated: R.
With: Giuseppe Cristiano.

The title is definitely misleading because - to the contrary - I was scared. This well-crafted Italian film is a brilliant and successful thriller, with special acclaim to Italo Petriccione’s superb cinematography and the impeccable acting. Every turn of story will pull you further into suspense; once seated, you will clutch your fists, squint your eyes, and hold your breath until the very end.

Set in the beautiful rural corn fields of Basilicata and Puglia in southern Italy, I'm Not Scared is seen from the eyes of Michele (Cristiano), a 10-year-old boy. Not much occurs in his remote village; and to Michele, life is quite bland. But one day, he falls upon a mysterious boy, pale, thin, and almost dead, secretly held captive in a dark underground hole. Frightened but intrigued, Michele sets out to unravel the boy's identity. Lead by his inherent curiosity, Michele gradually reaches a shocking revelation.

Rest assured, this is no horror movie. There is little, if any, blood or gory scenes. In fact, most of the film is pleasing to the eye. The contrast between the bright golden corn fields and the dark damp underground effectively amplifies the juxtaposition of good and evil. Also, the children, the essence of the film, are to be applauded for their phenomenal performance. They are more than at ease in front of the camera. Touching and horrifying, I’m Not Scared certainly and successfully captivates the audience; I should note there were several moments everyone, young and old, literally jumped in their seats. Hazuki Aikawa, journalist, director of the documentary Yancha
April 8, 2004