THE EYE
見鬼
Some things are better left unseen
Directed by the Pang brothers
Reviewed by Deep Red
Not the 2008 remake starring horny Jessica Alba but the original Hong Kong/Singaporean film. The film is mainly in Cantonese so if you don’t like subtitles…. If like me on the other hand you don’t give a Fox’s Glacier Mint than you’re in for a real treat.
Angelica Lee plays Wong Kar Mun, a blind classical violinist who undergoes corneal transplantation and regains her sight. At first she can only see blurry images, then she sees far more, strange figures, altering rooms, and I can assure you the effects do it justice. As things progress, we journey with Wong Kar Mun and her psychotherapist Dr. Wah (Lawrence Chou) to Thailand for answers.
This is what I’m into horror for. Beautiful filmmaking from anywhere in the world, coming together, to form the Danza Macabra.
I liked the Jessica Alba film yes but it can’t hold a candle to this. Gin Gwai, the Cantonese title, is genuinely frightening, masterfully believable and an absolute pleasure to revisit. Watch it alone in a dark room and I guarantee you’ll either be scared or at the very least impressed by its delivery. And if not, well, we’re on very different wavelengths you and I.
Subtlety. There are scenes/situations in this film to rival the best supernatural films you can think of. This film is a lesson in cinematography and control of effects and performances. The Pang brothers understand cinema in the same way Argento or Fulci understood cinema, it has to suck us in, it has to reach us, and then, then we can accept it as an experience that is worthy of our time, and that can be relived. Directing at its best is the ability to connect with the audience. With a horror film it’s the ability, not just to connect, but to awaken fear and curiosity, imagination. Improbable possibilities. Kinda like fairytales did when we were kids.
The Eye is a quiet masterpiece. It has to be emotive in places and the performances, and a wonderful soundtrack, ensure that. Above all, the direction ensures that. A couple of the performances I’d like to mention, that I haven’t already, are Yin Ping Ko as Mun’s grandmother and Yut Lai So as Yingying. It’s just a great film and you’ve got to watch it.
The conclusion still blows me away. I love this film.
I’m gonna give it 90% and I think that’s probably realistic but I’d love to give it 100% as it’s as perfect as I expect of a horror film; it tells its own story and tells it well and unlike so many films I watch it doesn’t mess up in any way that I’m able to recognise, it’s a film I recommend and then some to anyone who hasn’t seen it yet and if you’ve seen the Jessica Alba remake at least go back and see the real thing. It’s very different and a real triumph of supernatural cinema.
