Os Olhos da Cidade São Meus

This movie reminded me of many others at some points but at the same time seemed original. It was fun to watch and even though there was a lot of gore, I could stand it since I was so puzzled by the exact plot and motives. The movie inside of a movie plot worked wonders here and the appearances of Zelda Rubinstein made me want to give this an 8, since they made the characters seem as though twirling their hair would take too much intelligence.

I have just watched "Angustia" for the fourth or fifth time, now on DVD, and I do not get tired of this original, bizarre and surrealistic cult-movie, very underrated in IMDb. I am a fan of Bigas Lune, and in my opinion "Angustia" is his masterpiece. The story is simple, but tense, with a soundtrack that recalls Dario Argento's movies. Michael Lerner, in the role of the mad ophthalmologist; Talia Paul, in the role of a scared viewer that becomes impressed with the film she is watching on the screen; and Ángel Jovè, in the role of a lunatic killer, are perfect. Zelda Rubinstein, with her weird tune of voice, completes the lead cast of this gem with a great performance. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Os Olhos da Cidade São Meus" ("The Eyes of the City Are Mine")

Note: On 28 November 2022, I saw this film again.

ANGUISH is the sort of film where you must walk into it blindly. Read nothing about it, no reviews, or even the back of the video box. This is by far one of the best films you've never heard of! Average horror film fans who flock to see SCREAM and SIXTH SENSE, (if they can really claim to enjoy good horror films) will probably dislike this one. It takes a true love for the genre to realize the beauty of ANGUISH. I've said to much already, see this at once!

I was surprised to see some of the reviews of Anguish (Angustia). I had the opportunity of playing an L.A. cop in the film - it must have been 100 years and 25 pounds ago! As the film seems to have elicited some interest, I'll volunteer some background information.

The film was mostly shot in.... Barcelona, on an obviously shoestring budget. I was initially "signed on" as an ambulance attendant, but either my "delivery" or size turned me into a cop with a couple of lines, learned the same day as the shoot.

The exteriors for the "new movie" sequences were shot on a street created in a large parking lot in the "Zona Franca" of Barcelona. Apparently a stock background depicting Culver City Ca. was shipped to Spain, and a good portion of Barcelona's American cars were used to create the traffic background.

Did I mention the shoestring budget? Most of the scenes I participated in were shot at least twice - from different angles - because only one camera was used.

I don't say this as a criticism - if anything it is a tribute to Bigas Luna, who was able to create a piece of America on the Mediterranean, and to make a number of non-actors seem credible even with speaking roles (including yours truly).

While the movie was a disappointment, I (like many viewers I'm sure) was stunned by the cameo of the young actor, John Shelly, who played Patti's father. While he was only in the film for about 15 seconds, WHAT AN AMAZING 15 SECONDS IT WAS! Mr. Shelly (no relation to me - my name has an e before the y) in his all too brief moments on the screen indeed ran the gamut of emotions, from a deep brooding, DeNiro-like pathos (though DeNiro pales in comparison) at the thought of his daughter's near brush with psychopathic mayhem, to a charming whimsicality (a devilish smile reminiscent of Gable) when he realized she was in safe hands with the doctor, lacklusterly played by a journeyman actor who beat out Mr. Shelley for the part - no doubt due to directorial malfeasance - AND ALL THIS RELAYED TO THE AUDIENCE MERELY BY HIS REPEATED BLINKING. Through research I have discovered, to my endless bewilderment, that Mr. Shelly did not pursue his acting career, this despite a clamor from Hollywood and the repeated pleas of Copolla, Scorcese, Spielburg, and an endless parade of agents and stars (Meryl Streep apparently camped outside his door for a week before he could get a restraining order). Who can fathom what personal demon made him turn his back on this God-given gift, but the movie-going public has been denied a great star, one who could have brought the peoples of the world together in a ringing affirmation of their common humanity. God Bless You, Mr. Shelley, wherever you are!