INTO DARKNESS
The Eyes of My Mother
Review by Ray Schillaci
I find myself compelled to write about this film again after having seen a second screening. I urge those who are fans of visceral, dark horror to do likewise with Nicolas Pesce’s The Eyes of My Mother. I touched upon this film in the Highlights of the 16th Annual Phoenix Film Festival back in April, and noted that it was an Official Selection for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. What I did not convey was how upsetting my first viewing was. A similar effect I had with the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
I found myself seeing all sorts of atrocities, and having a difficult time getting through it. But, the sheer artistry that writer/director Pesce brings to the screen demands a second look, and with that, I discovered a new master of the macabre at work. Just as in Tobe Hooper’s TCM, Pesce conjures up such a sense of dread that much of what upsets us is what we think we’re witnessing, and that’s the power behind Pesce’s vision and cinematographer Zach Kuperstein’s magnificent lens.
Here is a black & white tour de force of the most disturbing nature that rivals Hitchcock’s Psycho and Polanski’s Repulsion. A devastating story, told in near poetic fashion, of loneliness, isolation, and the creation of a dangerous psychotic. Rarely have we seen such a bold vision brought to the screen. But it also comes with a dire warning: only to be viewed by those with an open mind, and not the faint of heart. The Eyes of My Mother stands with such cult classics as David Lynch’s Eraserhead and John McNaughton’s Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, and that’s what makes this portrayal of the dark journey into one very damaged soul so daring to watch. And many of us will find it very hard to turn away.
The opening shot and sound design delivers the uneasy feeling that what we are about to encounter is something very upsetting, and not your ordinary thriller. Pesce does not languish on this scene, but immediately juxtaposes us to a quaint farm, and a kind mother, a retired surgeon from Portugal, relating to her daughter about her views of life and death. It’s a jarring transition that almost has us forget the opening, but we are soon invited into this mother’s world where the animals on the farm are not friends, but uses (as with most farm animals).
The mother relays to her young daughter her views in a very matter-of-fact way (for those animal lovers, this is not the movie for you. There is no torturing of animals, but a cow’s head does end up on a kitchen plate, and its eyeball examined). Everything is told in such a natural way, a glimpse into farm life by those who live on the outskirts of society. It appears disturbingly serene until an unexpected visitor enters their lives, and sets a series of psychotic episodes ablaze. This is done in such a methodical fashion that it ratchets up the tension to near unbearable proportions.
Pesce handles his suspense with such a steady assurance that it heightens our anxiety level and makes us squirm anticipating the very worst. What we don’t see on camera, that is merely suggested, is enough to give most people nightmares, and some will find their gag reflexes acting up.
Of course, all of the technical aspects would not be as effective if it was not for the wonderful actors he has assembled. They are genuine, frightening, and sympathetic. But, the virtuoso in the bunch is star, Kika Magalhaes as Francisca, the daughter. Ms. Magalhaes was originally trained as a dancer in Portugal and performed all over Europe. Perhaps it was this prior training that helps deliver such a commanding performance. Her portrayal of someone who is fragile in spirit yet capable of deadly acts of violence is a human conundrum. She is capable of being both terrifying, sympathetic, eerie and delicate. It’s the kind of acting that echoes a combination of Catherine Deneuve’s Carol in Repulsion and some of the great actresses of the silent era.
Writer/director Pesce takes us on an uneasy journey with this very damaged person, and has us enter a little seen world that is both uncomfortable and fearsome. His vision is our nightmare. But, it is far from in-your-face horror. His brand of fright is one that resides in our mind long after his film is over. His images are indelible, and will cause many discussions as well as arguments. The Eyes of My Mother is a unique thriller that dares the viewer to go deeper with repeated viewings.
The Eyes of My Mother opens in theaters and on VOD December 2nd.
Directed by: Nicolas Pesce
Release Date: December 2, 2016
Run Time: 76 Minutes
Country: USA
Rated: R
Distributor: Magnet Releasing
