Pyromaniacal AI, vengeful ghosts, perfectionism taken to the extreme, and more await you in the upcoming sci-fi horror Phobias, a genre-bending thrill ride that feels incredibly fresh without drifting into off-the-wall bonkers territory. And, with a title like “Phobias,” it’s sure to have something to scare just about everyone.

The premise – a doctor, seeking to weaponize fear for the U.S. government, experimenting on a group of felons with terrifying pasts – may sound dodgy (after all, The Batman comes out this year and also features a villain who weaponizes fear) but hear me out. It’s barely even about him. Instead, we follow the newest… “test subject,” Johnny, as he comes to the facility, meets the other subjects, and learns their backstories in flashbacks that, like an anthology movie, are directed by different directors and have distinctly different vibes. Asylum horror is very hard to do right, so I appreciate it not actually being that. While there is a little too much framing device for me to straight-up dub it an anthology, the frame/main plot/whatever you want to call it isn’t everything, either. The biggest gripe I have is that it doesn’t have enough time to fully realize all its story potential.

On their own, the flashbacks tell satisfying stories. But there’s a lot in the main plot that doesn’t get explored. Like, just what kind of world is Phobias set in? Some of the stories are techno-horror, some supernatural, and some fairly down-to-Earth tales that could conceivably happen in the world we live in. And there’s definitely more to Dr. Wright and his project than we get to see. I wouldn’t call the end sequel-bait, but there’s enough material for at least one more movie. Or, maybe, a graphic novel series that explores the origin stories we didn’t get to see. Possibilities!

Another thing that’s important to note: the “phobias” in this movie probably aren’t what you’re thinking of. There are NO:

• Devilish Dolls
• Creepy Clowns
• Spiders
• Snakes

In fact, it would be a stretch to call what’s troubling most of the characters “phobias” at all. “Incredibly traumatic negative experiences”? Absolutely. But that doesn’t make for a great film title, so I can suspend my snark if you can.

Overall, Phobias would be a great movie to watch with a group of friends. With the variety of the stories told, everyone is sure to get a decent scare, and it makes for a decent game of “Hey Look! It’s That Guy!” with names like Leonardo Nam (Westworld), Hana Mae Lee (The Babysitter), and Ross Partridge (Stranger Things) on the cast list. Some plot points may test your suspension of disbelief more than others, but on the whole, Phobias is a fun, original movie that’s worth the 85 minutes it takes to watch it.

7.5 out of 10