Eight Eyes

Caught this tonight on Shudder and really liked it even though I didn't understand the ending, which I will not.spoil for you. It doesn't reach the level of gruesome horror of A Serbian Film or Life and Death of a Porno Gang, but it's in that neighborhood. There's a sense of menace early on and you'll think you know where that ominous feeling Is coming from, but you'll be wrong. The tension is unrelenting and the characters and situations are interesting. The films atmosphere reminded me a little of Hostel but the plots of the two movies are very different, of course. It kept me guessing what was going on. But the ending was so crazy all I could do was shake my damn head and say Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!

Vinegar Syndrome's maiden production, Eight Eyes, is a love letter to horror -- specifically the grindhouse and exploitation films of the 1970s. Although the film is set in modern times, the 16mm shooting gives it a grainy, retro quality which any lover of old school films will undoubtedly appreciate. The occasional glimpses of modern tech provide a jarring (though not in a bad way) reminder that the action is not actually set in the '70s. The retro vibe is not overdone, however, and the film, although paying tribute to many other films, has a voice entirely its own.

For some, the first act will be the more effective. It is relatively slow-paced, building tension with a familiar scenario: an American couple tour the Balkans (Serbia) and meet an enigmatic local. We do not know what lurks behind Saint Peter's apparent hospitality, but we know it is not anything good. Had I stopped watching at this point, I would likely have rated this film only a 6, ot 7 at most. I can appreciate an effective slow-burn, but the second act is (for me, anyway) truly where Eight Eyes' strength lies.

Without giving too much away, it pays clear homage to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, while incorporating a trace of cosmic horror. This is delivered in excellent, jittery technocolour, giving the film a twist that is not only original, but a visual treat. It also boasts some wonderful set pieces. Some things are, however, left to the viewer's imagination, so for those looking for an film that prioritises tight storytelling, this one may lean too heavily towards style over substance. However, for horror fans who want to see a new twist on what we love about the grindhouse era, Vinegar Syndrome has risen to the challenge admierably.

Part Hostel, part Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and part bizarre neon horror.

Eight Eyes might not quite fully come together in the end, and might be an offender of style over substance. But dang, it was still a pretty cool movie.

It looks fantastic, the acting is pretty good, and it doesn't come off as amateur hour, even though I am sure the budget was low. The special effects are great, and while it is a slow burn, I was pretty locked in and engaged. So, it does enough right for me to still give it a full throated recommend and an 8 star rating for Eight Eyes.

Definitely my kind of thing, and I have a feeling this will appeal to fans of the genre.

Despite the good reviews from fans of Eastern European horror flicks, I did not get this one. It was like Hostel but with a touch of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but less exciting than both. It was cliche, and the scenes were all over the place. I cannot imagine how this got so much rave and good reviews. It was underacted and the cinematography was ineffective in depicting the situation. I wished the movie was longer, and the story had so much to offer other than bland horrifying scenes and underwhelming chase scenes. There was a lack of good character arc and the story was linear, so much so that the entire film was boring to watch.

Eight Eyes takes you on a wonderful trip of tension building and release cycles. 16mm film, in camera effects, and the eastern European setting mesh well to create a cohesive art direction for this memorable film.

I was pleasantly surprised by the restrained use of gore. What was there was effective, but never so much or so often as to become desensitizing or tiresome.

The acting was fantastic (especially female lead and the main antagonist) with a solid script. It also includes an interesting story/thematic twist on the genre. So, while the film nailed the genre(s) it was going for, it was also unique and memorable. Definitely worth a watch for anyone into indie or throwback/analog horror.