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The Eye (2008)
This Eye Is Not My Eye
Directed By: David Moreau & Xavier Palud
Starring: Jessica Alba, Alessandro Nivola, & Parker Posey
MPAA Rating: “PG-13” (for violence/terror and disturbing content)
Starring: Jessica Alba, Alessandro Nivola, & Parker Posey
MPAA Rating: “PG-13” (for violence/terror and disturbing content)
If you have seen the 2002 film Gin gwai (The Eye) from the Pang Brothers, then do not even let this American remake darken the doorway of your Netflix Queue. There really is no point; this is a carbon copy of the film I described as “what horror looks like when it is used as an art, not as a gimmick.” In fact, if I was judging it based on originality, it would receive a failing score, hands down with no questions asked. Did they even write a new script? However, what The Eye (2008) lacks in creativity, it makes up for with its slick and polished look, technically-impressive special effects, and a sympathetic performance from Jessica Alba. This is not the terrifying horror opus that was the Pang Brothers’ film; it is the Americanized version of it. Depending on a multitude of factors, that could be a compliment or an insult.
Sydney Wells (Alba) is a beautiful violinist who has been blind since the age of five. Now, at the persistence of her sister (Posey), she has a cornea transplant that will hopefully allow her to see again. However, soon after, she begins to see dark shadows that should not be there and seem strangely menacing. In a particularly noticeable episode, she sees one of the specters take another hospital patient away only to discover the next morning that that patient died in the night. Soon, she is seeing full-fledged horrific images that are downright violent at time. As the situation grows far more desperate for the ailing woman, she decides to hunt down the original owner of the eyes in order to uncover their terrifying past.
I was a big fan of the original film. I felt that it was a beautifully-told film that worked both as a nail-biter of a horror film and an intense psychological drama. Apparently, so did the producers behind this film, because they attempt to recreate it in every aspect. Unfortunately for those of us who have seen it, this means that the film lacks necessary suspense and intrigue. The only time they ever deviate from the original is at the conclusion and the results of that are mixed (I didn’t particularly enjoy the change). All of the various scenes that could be considered scary have been lifted directly from the 2002 film, but to a lesser degree of fear. The elevator sequence is a prime example of this; the original scene was frightening and almost maddeningly so, while this one comes off as something you could see in limitless American horror efforts today.
So, basically, if you have seen the original, skip this one and do not worry about missing anything new. But, what about those of you who have not seen the original? Well, what you will find in The Eye (2008) is a semi-generic, but very well-made film. Moreau and Palud (most famous for the French horror film, Ils) bring a certain visual charm that makes the film attractive to look at if nothing else. The special effects, especially in the finale, are quite a treat and the creature effects, though they are often masked in shadows, are still creepy. The casting, aside from the awkward pairing of Alba and Posey as sisters (how about...close friends?), is far better than one would expect from a movie like this. Alba is a sympathetic and likable lead, more than capable of carrying the movie. When all was said and done, Gin gwai was still the movie for me, but I did enjoy The Eye (2008) for what it was. After so many remake debacles, it was a relief to see one as solid as this. After all, I still have nightmares about One Missed Call (2008).
Sydney Wells (Alba) is a beautiful violinist who has been blind since the age of five. Now, at the persistence of her sister (Posey), she has a cornea transplant that will hopefully allow her to see again. However, soon after, she begins to see dark shadows that should not be there and seem strangely menacing. In a particularly noticeable episode, she sees one of the specters take another hospital patient away only to discover the next morning that that patient died in the night. Soon, she is seeing full-fledged horrific images that are downright violent at time. As the situation grows far more desperate for the ailing woman, she decides to hunt down the original owner of the eyes in order to uncover their terrifying past.
I was a big fan of the original film. I felt that it was a beautifully-told film that worked both as a nail-biter of a horror film and an intense psychological drama. Apparently, so did the producers behind this film, because they attempt to recreate it in every aspect. Unfortunately for those of us who have seen it, this means that the film lacks necessary suspense and intrigue. The only time they ever deviate from the original is at the conclusion and the results of that are mixed (I didn’t particularly enjoy the change). All of the various scenes that could be considered scary have been lifted directly from the 2002 film, but to a lesser degree of fear. The elevator sequence is a prime example of this; the original scene was frightening and almost maddeningly so, while this one comes off as something you could see in limitless American horror efforts today.
So, basically, if you have seen the original, skip this one and do not worry about missing anything new. But, what about those of you who have not seen the original? Well, what you will find in The Eye (2008) is a semi-generic, but very well-made film. Moreau and Palud (most famous for the French horror film, Ils) bring a certain visual charm that makes the film attractive to look at if nothing else. The special effects, especially in the finale, are quite a treat and the creature effects, though they are often masked in shadows, are still creepy. The casting, aside from the awkward pairing of Alba and Posey as sisters (how about...close friends?), is far better than one would expect from a movie like this. Alba is a sympathetic and likable lead, more than capable of carrying the movie. When all was said and done, Gin gwai was still the movie for me, but I did enjoy The Eye (2008) for what it was. After so many remake debacles, it was a relief to see one as solid as this. After all, I still have nightmares about One Missed Call (2008).
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