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THE EYE adapts the influential 2002 Hong Kong ghost tale by the Pang
brothers into a star vehicle for Jessica Alba. While it remains
faithful to the original story, this version ups the number of jolts
for thrill-seeking Western audiences. Writing/directing team David
Moreau and Xavier Palud, creators of the popular 2006 French thriller
THEM, make their U.S. debut with a screenplay by Sebastian Gutierrez
(SNAKES ON A PLANE), putting a few new twists on a cult favorite.
Concert
violinist Sydney Wells (Alba) has been blind since she was five, when
an accident involving firecrackers damaged her corneas. Now in her
mid-20s, she has just undergone a transplant, a risky procedure that is
not always successful. When the bandages come off, her sight slowly
returns, and everything she sees is a new experience. A happy occasion
becomes terrifying, though, when she begins to see horrifying visions
of the dead. Fearing that she's losing her sanity, she enlists the help
of Dr. Paul Faulkner (Alessandro Nivola), who uncovers the identity of
the donor of her new corneas and travels with her to Mexico to unravel
the mystery of her horrific visions. Spare and effective, THE EYE
retains the two most startling sequences from the original film--a
truly chilling floating dead man in an elevator and an elaborate,
explosive set piece at the conclusion. Moreau, Palud, and Gutierrez
jazz the story up in other spots, with quick scares, sharp music cues,
and twitchy apparitions reminiscent of those in JACOB'S LADDER, but the
essence remains the same. Alba is fine as damsel in distress Sydney,
and the always-enjoyable Parker Posey is uncharacteristically low-key
as her airline hostess sister. With no gore or anything else
objectionable, the film may also be good choice for younger viewers who
enjoy a good scare.
Credits | |
Cast: | Jessica Alba |
Director: | David Moreau, Xavier Palud |
Producer: | Paula Wagner, Tom Cruise |