A Problem with Fear

The story unfolds in a contemporary urban landscape where smartphones, safety devices, and brand-driven anxiety shape daily routines. It presents a present-day sense of normalcy punctured by the unsettling promise of prediction technologies. The tone blends satire with melancholy as fear becomes a feature of ordinary life.

Laurie's daily life centers on a Calgary mall that doubles as a stage for fear. The space is bright and consumer-driven, yet ominous as everyday objects become potential threats. The surrounding city mirrors this anxiety, creating a setting where commerce and danger mingle in a satirical, unsettling rhythm.

🧭 Fear & Safety

The film centers on how fear channels daily decisions and how safety tech promises certainty while potentially narrowing human experience. Laurie’s premonitions blur the line between intuition and paranoia, turning precaution into a lifestyle. The narrative investigates whether safety can truly calm fear or simply redirect it into control.

🔒 Technology & Control

Safety devices like the Early Warning 2 Safe System and the Safe Bracelet symbolize a world where data and alerts promise protection. The tech is both a lifeline and a constraint, implying that governance of danger can override personal autonomy. The film satirizes how convenience gadgets become instruments of social control.

🛍️ Consumerism

The mall and its culture function as a satire of brand worship and mass-market reassurance. Advertising, jingles, and trends become emotional ballast for characters trying to define themselves. The narrative suggests that consumer culture can hollow out meaning even as it touts safety and stability.

🤝 Relationships

Dot's relationship with Laurie anchors the story in human connection amid algorithmic forecasting. Michelle's professional ambition adds another dimension, showing how family and work pull against fear-driven living. Together, these relationships explore whether intimacy can endure in a world dominated by prediction and precaution.