Starry Eyes

I say sort of because the film has an unnerving and tense momentum, with some truly freaky and horrifying (good horrifying) images and scenes. It's kind of obvious where the film is going though, but it has some clever direction and again, disorienting in a good way in some of its pacing and tone. The lead actress is really good, very unnerving. The problem is that the film also has these weak spots here and there, and I wish the last 15 minutes had at least tries to do a bit more than what we regularly get from horror films like this. Still, it's actually quite a nice surprise in some of the things it does. This is actually recommended.

Since it's still on Netflix, everyone who enjoys horror movies should take the time to watch Starry Eyes. It is a deeply unsettling exploration of ambition and just how far down a horrifyingly dark path that ambition takes the protagonist. Of course this is a god awful extreme and wholly impossible example of the dangers of ambition, with a suitably gory and violent climax; it is, after all, a horror movie. It really is a fascinating story though, complete with a cult consisting of Satanic Hollywood producers, the occult, and murder. There is a lovely meta element to the movie, wherein a movie producer talks about how disgusting and pathetic ambition makes people in the filmmaking industry...which serves as a bit of foreshadowing just before everything goes terribly sideways. I noticed that it was still available on Netflix this afternoon and decided that I should recommend it.

Alex Essoe is a really good actress and she was brilliant in this. This move delves into the sometimes morally vague and downright bad things people feel forced to do in order to achieve their dreams of fortune and fame. This movie is better than most "seedy underbelly of Hollywood" type tales. It is better than The Last Tycoon (starring a young Bobby De Niro) and infinitely superior to the superficially pretty but bland and unrewarding Neon Demon. The plot is sort of predictable, but the performances and direction is really excellent, so that doesn't matter. I really liked it. There are lot of unprofessional and immoral demands on actresses that go unsaid and there should be more films like this.

Four stars positive for a fairly innovative score and Argento-esque visuals, plus some pretty solid acting by the lead and one or two supporting actors. Beyond that, I have to admit, I watched the entire thing (resisting the urge to turn it off many times) because I wanted, hoped for, the ending to bring everything together in some redeeming way. Instead, I was disappointed. The movie was difficult to watch all around but not because of horror elements - it's hard, for one thing, to feel invested in a story when you can't empathize with its protagonist - admittedly there are exceptions to that but this isn't one of them. I also felt like some of the plot devices relied on clichéd, negative stereotyping (can't say more without spoilers) and that the end just didn't make sense in any narrative or metaphor driven way. I'm sure there are some who'd argue otherwise, and they are welcome to their opinions, but overall, Starry Eyes was just a huge letdown for me.

Aspiring actress, Sarah Walker (Alexandra Essoe) auditions for a part in a horror film. Hoping not only to get her "big break", but also to escape her dismal life, including her job at a bottom-of-the-barrel restaurant, Sarah is quite desperate.

Her interactions with the movie's Producer (Louis Dezseran) and his Casting Director (Maria Olsen) grow increasingly bizarre and uncomfortable. Sarah has no idea what she must sacrifice in order for her dreams to come true. Resisting at first, her life begins to change into a nightmare world of physical and mental disintegration. Sarah finally realizes what she is being compelled to do, but can she do it?

STARRY EYES is an exceptional horror film, and a darkly satirical look at the cost of fame. Ms. Essoe is phenomenal, pretty much carrying the entire movie on the strength of her performance. If you're tired of the same old thing in horror films, then give this a shot...