Eyes Without A Face

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

A classic horror film I was only vaguely aware of until recently and yet watching it, I can see its influence on many films that followed.

It's a very slow moving film and takes it's time to set up the inevitable. Although the graphic scenes are unlikely to shock anyone today there is still a sense of dread hanging over the whole affair.

It took me a little while but I finally recognised Alida Valli from Suspiria. She's equally creepy here, always accompanied by that fanciful little musical motif.

This is a film, like Psycho, where the audience sees both sides of the law at the same time. We are privy to the misdeeds of villains at the same time as following the police investigations to find them. *SPOILERS* Ultimately the Police get nowhere, making their inclusion in the story somewhat superfluous. I don't know if I love of hate that about it. It certainly makes the ending a little more tense when you know they've given up looking for the kidnapped girl and the villains have gotten away with it. There's pretty much no hope for the poor girl at the end. *END SPOILERS*

Despite the deliberate pacing I enjoyed this one. It's full of some great imagery and has a beautiful tragic monster at the heart of the film, in the same league as Frankenstein's monster. Really great to finally check this film out.