Mirada de cristal

Crystal Eyes is a homage/pastiche of the giallo -- not so much the classic '70s movies of Argento, Bava and Martino, but rather the glossy, somewhat tacky '80s music-video-inspired efforts that went straight to video: films such as Too Beautiful To Die, Nothing Underneath, and Fulci's Murder Rock, which were set in the world of high fashion, populated by semi-clad women sporting big hair and bad make-up, swathed in neon and smoke, the action accompanied by a pop/rock synth soundtrack.

Directors Ezequiel Endelman and Leandro Montejano get the aesthetic spot on, and add knowing nods to the classics of the genre to please avid fans. The killer is particularly impressive, dressed as a mannequin and striking model poses whilst pursuing the staff and models working at fashion magazine Atilla. If I have one complaint, it's that the murders aren't very elaborate: they're staged well enough, with plenty of blood (the throat slashings are juicy), but they lack imagination -- at least until the ending, where a woman is impaled by a large crystal bird ornament (geddit?). More of that would have been good.

Definitely one of the better neo gialli. There were a few details that took me out of the time period but overall this felt very true to the 80s, more than most big budget throwbacks, and did a great job recapturing that giallo vibe and style. It's also very interesting that they opted to look back at 80s gialli rather than 70s (although they took cues from several of the latter as well) seeing as how 80s films of that type were usually less highly regarded and the trend was over, meaning less of them were being made. Most neo gialli are set in the 70s so this is definitely something new. It has a very obvious low budget which was a bit disappointing as one of the main keys of the subgenre is lavish and opulent set design but they did a good job nonetheless, going for the art noveau style of argento's most popular period. That last building was the real thing though, and gorgeous.

Think Susperia on a low budget but as Ru Paul runway challenge and you have this movie.

This one is all about its style, even our serial killer is voguing whilist they stalk. For the most part they pull this off. The outfits are great. The set design although low budget, completely ooozes 80's Italian horror and they really did a good job on the use of colour.

The kills and the acting are a bit of a let down. Kind of a stand there and scream whilst you are stabbed. However they do the set up each one really stylish, it's just the final executions that are a bit lame. (Death by wings is excluded from this - that was a goody).

I did find it hard to remember which character was which and I cared more about their wardrobe than their safety.

I loved the aesthetics, the America's Next Top Serial Killer look and turning walking down the street into a runway experience.

Not so keen on the over all story or script - it's worth a watch just to play spot the Suspiria references, but visually it impressively holds it own as well.

If I was an influencer I'd copy its look for my Halloween story, but as a movie watcher and horror fan, I'm glad I saw it but I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again.