The Fear of 13


The Fear of 13 is a 2015 British documentary film. It tells the story of Nick Yarris, who was convicted of murder and spent 22 years on Death Row in Pennsylvania. He was released in 2004 when DNA evidence proved he was innocent of the crime.

Synopsis

Nick Yarris tells his true life story, in the style of a one-man show. In a non-linear structure, he reveals his early life, youthful transgressions, arrest, and time on death row, with several twists and turns. No one else appears on screen. Supplementary footage and sound effects are included as Yarris describes events.
The title refers to the word triskaidekaphobia, one of many words which Yarris learned while educating himself in prison.

Reception

The Fear of 13 premiered at the 2015 London Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Documentary Film. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 94% based on reviews from 16 critics, with an average rating of 7.38/10.
Time Out ranked it with four stars out of five, with the summary "This death row documentary sets up an intriguing mystery that'll keep you gripped until the final moments". The Times also gave it four stars, and praised Yarris's storytelling skills: "The Fear of 13 is riveting and that’s mainly due to its extraordinary subject". Mark Kermode awarded the film three stars, and summarised its themes by writing "Yarris leads us on a labyrinthine journey that has as much to say about the art of storytelling as it does about the iniquities of crime and punishment."

Claims of Embezzlement

During an interview on The Joe Rogan Experience, Nick Yarris told Rogan that the film's director, David Sington, refused to pay him for his participation in the film. This claim has not been verified.