Primal Fear goes beyond the innate terror associated with our deepest fears to examine the history, psychology, and science behind what scares us most. Each fear - being burned alive under six feet of suffocating dirt, the strike of a lethal snake, terrorist attacks that can occur at any time - will be explored by looking at its history, the science behind it, and contemporary survivor stories that relate what a near-death experience was like.

Examine the roots of each fear, when the fear flourished, how the fear has changed over time, and how many of these fears have been manipulated to create mass hysteria. Listen in as science experts, supported by CGI, show how the instinctual response to danger of "fight or flight" has been essential to survival throughout history, describe the physiological cause of death on those who didn't make it, and explore the influence of these fears on pop culture and the human condition. Feel your pulse quicken and your muscles tense as this fascinating DVD from History brings our most frightening fears to life.