Unseen

This could've been a really decent movie if they stuck to one genre. It felt like they tried to make two completely different films and then somehow forcefully fit them together.

The main idea was not incredibly original, but it worked quite well. A seriously visually impaired woman is stuck in a dangerous situation and is trying to get help from a stranger through a video call. That part was mostly well done, with some forgivable flaws. (Characters making silly decisions just because with a logical step the movie would end after 20 minutes, or the fact that they tried to show the main protagonist's bad vision through an eye shaped "cutout" while nobody's vision is like that.) It had tension, it was engaging, it captured one's attention.

The connection between the two main female characters was also good, their shared journey was nicely done.

What sort of ruined it all more and more as the movie went on was the addition of the minor characters at Sam's work. At first they were just rather overdone and one dimensional. But later on they progressed into truly over the top burlesque, with zero connection to reality. And that's where the movie split into two. That sort of absurd comedy can work, but not paired with a fairly realistic thriller/drama. I get that they wanted to add obstacles, excitement on Sam's side as well, but it was really poorly done.

It's still a watchable movie, but it could've been a whole lot better with a revised script that kept the two sides more in balance.

When I opted to sit down and watch the 2023 thriller "Unseen", I had actually never heard about the movie. But the movie's synopsis sounded interesting enough, and the cover definitely was an eye-catcher. So yeah, of course I opted to sit down and watch what director Yoko Okumura had to offer.

And color me impressed. I wasn't really expecting such an entertaining movie. The storyline in "Unseen", as written by Salvatore Cardoni and Brian Rawlins, was such a refreshing approach to the stalked-in-the-woods type of movie. I really enjoyed the whole aspect of Emily (played by Midori Francis) having poor eyesight and having to rely on the eyes of Sam (played by Jolene Purdy) through video call on a battered mobile phone. It was quite a nice way of adding a very modern element, and a very well-functioning element I might add, to the movie.

I wasn't familiar with leading actresses Midori Francis and Jolene Purdy, but they really carried the movie quite well with their performances. I definitely was impressed with what I saw on the screen. The movie also has a nice appearance by Missi Pyle, whom was the only familiar face on the cast list for me.

Visually then director Yoko Okumura makes good use of distorted and blurred lenses to illustrate Emily's vision as she stumbled through the forest, depending on the eyes of Sam on the other end of the video call. "Unseen" is not a movie that uses an abundance of special effects, nor does it need to do so, as "Unseen" is a well-functioning psychological thriller. And it sort of gets under your skin and makes you feel like you're right there in the forest alongside with Emily.

I was genuinely surprised with the entertainment level from "Unseen", and it is a movie that I warmly recommend you to sit down and watch. I was genuinely and wholeheartedly entertained from beginning to end of this movie from director Yoko Okumura.

My rating of "Unseen" lands on a well-deserved seven out of ten stars.

Would have been good with just one story-line but this movie is made even better with the absolute Bat nuts crazy second story-line they decided to throw in there.

Made even better by the split second scene at the very end of the film (right before the credits) that made it the cherry on top of a very bizarre Action drama. No spoilers but look for the business card at the end and pay attention to what it says on it - both sides.

The characters in the first story-line are your average characters that you would expect in any ol' movie and it's done well. A little over the top for the male lead but good. Now the second set of characters are a hoot I tells ya. An absolute over the top performance by everyone involved and it's weirdly wonderful..

If you want a movie that's your normal affair then probably not for you but if you like the weird than this will please.

Was going to give it a 7 but that end scene bumped it up to a 7.5 - 7.8.

Unseen is absolutely ridiculous. But like a bad car wreck, you cannot stop watching, well some of us anyway. My friend couldn't take it. No spoilers, but all of it was highly improbable, unrealistic, and silly. Good for entertainment while you are folding clothes, brushing the dog or doing anything where your full attention is not required.

It could become one of those cult classics. But I just would not watch it again. Once for me is enough.

The movie seemed long and drawn out and I lost interest at times. It is never a good sign when you cannot wait for a movie to end.

A lot of the usual tropes present, but you can see for yourself.

Stylistically, Unseen is a pretty decent film.

It's got a bit of a cult vibe to it.

And the idea is pretty cool - a legally (though, not fully) blind woman, having been taken hostage by her psychopathic ex boyfriend, escapes, and gets lost wandering aimlessly in the woods, while trying to find her way to safety.

But conceptually, it's inherently flawed.

Mainly, because...if you were trying to escape from someone in the woods...the first rule of survival would to be as quiet as humanly possible.

Not talking incessantly on your phone at full volume, shooting the shizz with the random convenience store clerk you accidentally called to help you navigate your way back to civilization.

Humourously, most of the tension arises from the banal issues the convenience store clerk must deal with- in her bid to help save her new friend- as opposed to the situation the woman actually fleeing for her life finds herself in.

While, ironically, it's the psychopath stalker who ends up taking the brunt of the physical punishment.

The fact that everything is flipped on it's head, makes for quite a fun and engaging film.

So you quickly forget about it's more fatal flaws - like how her phone still works after falling into the river.

And just roll with the punches.

Because it's more rewarding to focus on what works...than dwell on the bits that don't, because they are completely implausible.

No matter which way you look at it, however...you've got to admit...it's pretty damn entertaining.

With lots of action, a decent amount of tension, and some truly hilarious scenarios.

So if you can go into it with an open mind, you're sure to enjoy yourself.

And leave knowing...that not all heroes wear smocks.

But some do.

5.5 out of 10.