Eight Eyes is a 2023 American horror film in which a mysterious local crashes a couple’s vacation through former Yugoslavia, pulling them deeper into his web of psychic rituals.
Directed by Austin Jennings from a screenplay co-written with Matthew Frink.
The movie stars Emily Sweet, Bradford Thomas and Bruno and Veljanovski.
Reviews:
“there are thematic elements of Srdjan Spasojevic’s 2010 movie A Serbian Film here (and not just the shared geography) but it also leans towards 1970s ‘coven’ films and a whole lot more besides. Perhaps the best thing in this is Sweet as Cass; initially all city girl squeamishness, but who finds a whole different character when things get tough.” Bloody Flicks
“Even though Eight Eyes pays homage to so many sub-genres – Giallo, exploitation, grindhouse – and comparisons can be made to a plethora of films – Hostel, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, a range of Italian titles and even Videodrome – it’s amazing to see how fresh, original and compelling it is. Jennings blends folklore, mysticism and occultism perfectly into one frenzied and disorientating nightmare.” 4 out of 5, Daily Dead
“Well-honed performances and a directorial approach that will keep you constantly alert to what you’re not seeing keep this uncomfortable thriller taut and believable even at its most absurd. It mixes the exotic and the day-to-day with confidence which continually reminds viewers that they are the tourists here, that it is their perspective that is out of place.” 4 out of 5, Eye for Film
“For his debut, Austin Jennings shows promise as a filmmaker as he expresses his warts and all love of exploitation in the film. It may not set the world on fire as it is the kind of film we’ve seen dozens of times before but it is a fine bit of homage. He shows great dedication in his world-building and the atmosphere he tries to create that overcomes the shortcomings in the script and pacing.” 3 out of 5, The Fright Club
“Eight Eyes is a throwback to exploitation cinema of the past with a supernatural spin, although it stumbles in its mystical revelations. Jennings captures the fear of traveling to unfamiliar territory and the horror locked behind closed doors with a protagonist willing to fight tooth and nail to survive the ordeal, but it lacks the blood-curdling terror of its inspirations.” 2 out of 5, Guy at the Movies
“The gritty and grainy realness of the film image blurs the line between reality and fiction. Eight Eyes’ potency and eventual viciousness conjures thoughts of snuff movies. It’s a very uncomfortable sensation, but one that sells Jennings’ story perfectly. A strange and surreal film, Eight Eyes is grim, grimy, gory and oddly gratifying.” 4 out of 5, The Hollywood News
“The first part is less convincing. There is little character development or explanation of their motivations. For its part, the dangerous Saint-Pierre is difficult to follow […] However, the second part is quite simply pleasurable and thoroughly distressing. It feels like a Serbian re-reading of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre…” 4 out of 5, Horreur Québec [translated from French]
“The final act explodes into an absurdly gritty and intense fight for survival that’ll have you feeling like you’re at an Eastern Bloc Sawyer family reunion. It would be easy to compare bits and pieces of Eight Eyes to many other films from different eras, but it’s plain to see that these are Jennings’ odes to films and the genre that he loves. Great gore, solid performances (especially Bruno Veljanovski as Saint Peter), and an ambiguous enough ending to leave you pondering the film for some time after.” 4 out of 5, Jason Widgington
“The message that rests under the surface of Eight Eyes is one cemented in Saint Peter’s persona; one that reveals the ignorance of the West, laid bare. As a genre film it works, but — as with most exploitation vehicles — has more to say; an allegorical tale that remains transparent (to a degree)… yet Jennings laces the film with enough metaphysical influences for audiences to continue scratching at once the credits roll.” Rich Pieces
“The climax of the film, while visually pretty cool, didn’t land for me and its mind-bending turn felt weird for the sake of being weird rather than serving the plot. Perhaps I am just way too desensitized because I can’t help but think the film tried so hard to be edgy but watched like Hostel-lite sprinkled with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre…” 2.5 out of 5, The Scariest Things
” …this film carefully mesmerises both its intradiegetic and extradiegetic viewers, before finally delivering a full-on Seventies freakout – a cheesily lo-fi light show that we can only hope is not having the same influence on us as on Cass […] a heady love letter to Seventies exploitation cinema, while showing that all the paranoia and xenophobia, sexism and violence of that period die hard.” SciFiNow
Release:
Eight Eyes was shown at the Fantasia Festival and is being screened at the 2023 FrightFest in London on August 25, 2023.
YouTube reviews:
Trailer:
Currently unavailable.
Film facts:
To attain a vintage look, Eight Eyes was shot on both 16mm and 8mm including animated shots and sequences that were all captured in-camera using a reflected-glass process.
