Starry Eyes (2014) Reviews

• Requiem for a star

  lnvicta2015-05-25

  Starry Eyes is not for the faint of heart. I've seen many horror movies and this is definitely on the more extreme side so if you have a weak stomach then this isn't for you. However, it's brutally real in telling its story about a girl who wants to be a star and is willing to do whatever it takes to reach that goal. It's darkly comedic at times and horrifically gruesome at others. I cringed and winced plenty of times during this movie. And it's not even solely because of the graphic imagery, which is horrifying enough (but thankfully never crosses into torture porn). It's also because Starry Eyes sheds a dark light on Hollywood and on human nature itself by exploring the most vile, revolting aspects of both. The movie is heavily reliant on atmosphere, and it definitely gives off a David Lynch and Requiem for a Dream vibe throughout. It's watching someone go through a downward spiral, from quitting their job, to abandoning everything and everyone, and the filmmakers don't sugarcoat a thing. It gets genuinely disturbing and hard to watch at times, but what draws you into it in the first place and what really makes you *believe* is the performances. Alex Essoe is absolutely terrifying as Sarah. The supporting cast is surprisingly great too, and it's amazing how quickly we sympathize with Sarah and how we gradually end up sympathizing more for her friends later on. After a while it's like you're not even watching actors - the story comes to life on screen. This is a testament to everything working in harmony: the filmmakers' vision, the actors' devotion to the roles, the eerie retro electronic score, the bleak cinematography. It all comes together to create a powerful, haunting piece of art. This movie had potential to be truly groundbreaking. As I said it's brilliantly written, acted, and directed. What threw me a bit was the ending. I won't spoil anything but they take an odd turn in the final act and you'll know it when you see it. It's not even that it's bad - the movie still left me in utter shock. I just know it could've been much more effective had they gone the deeper psychological route, which is teased at for the first three quarters of the film. Regardless, the journey itself is disturbing enough that by the time the ending comes you're already speechless and exhausted from the experience. It's just that little step that could've made it a psychological masterpiece as opposed to a highly effective insight into the darkness of human ambition. Starry Eyes disturbed me. It really did. If you like Lynch-esque movies that make you think but also make you feel unnerved then you'll definitely get some chills and thrills from Starry Eyes. These filmmakers have proved enough to cement themselves on any horror fan's radar; even if you aren't into the extreme side of the genre you can appreciate what the filmmakers set out to achieve here. This is a movie that sticks with you after the credits roll. It is a wild ride for its brief runtime and certainly worth a watch for any fan of dark psychological horror.

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• Better Than Expected

  Necroambulant2015-05-12

  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.

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• Deep, Dark, Gory, and Insightful, Albeit a Tad Wayward

  DareDevilKid2014-11-30

  Reviewed by: Dare Devil Kid (DDK) Rating: 3.1/5 stars Though It's a tad over-cranked in the final furlong, the sheer energy on display and a devilishly compelling plot ultimately win the day. Not a slow-burner so much as a strong build up, once "Starry Eyes" gets where it's going, the film becomes explosively violent and shocking. The story is not uncommon, but its execution is grand. The movie is harrowing and insightful, unafraid to go to places both dark and deep. It has often been said that Hollywood changes people. "Starry Eyes" disturbingly, unforgettably takes this adage to the literal brink, then pushes far beyond it for chillingly good measure. The film balances Hollywood satire and splattery gore in a way that's both fresh and inviting, taking a typical struggling actress and exploiting her story with everything the horror genre has to offer. Horror fans should also watch out for the Directors, Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer, and especially for newbie, Alex Essoe, who delivers a truly star-making performance (pity it was in an indie that might not bring her just recognition). "Starry Eyes" may take a little while to get there, but once it does you'll realize that this diabolically offbeat journey of debauchery, ambition, and masochism was worth the payoff.

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• not for everyone

  reznors_chick2015-04-24

  This movie was a slow burn, with the feel of an 80's throwback. It will not however be for everyone. By no means is it action packed, filled with cgi or littered with sex scenes. It does pay homage to old school nitty gritty horror that did not reply on all of the aforementioned. The vibe is dark and somewhat quirky, but in a good way. I've read other reviews comparing it to movies such as suspiria, and I can't stand behind that opinion. If you grew up on 80's style horror and have a love for the strange, then this one might just be for you. It does have a slow start, but if you stick with it, surely it will prove to be a rewarding experience. I thoroughly enjoyed pretty much every minute of it. The ending seemed a bit lackluster in comparison to the rest of the movie, but that can be forgiven as I can't quite picture any other ending personally. I immediately found myself rooting for "Sarah." I wanted to see her acquire her goals, but somewhere in the mix of it all I found myself disliking her. Very nice character progression with her. The actors did what I thought was a very striking performance. All in all, I'd definitely say give this movie a go

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• It has the XXX Factor

  mungflesh2014-08-26

  Sarah is an actress who dreams of fast-tracking her career to stardom. She wants fame and adoration and is less in love with her craft than she should be, scoffing at offers of working on indie projects. She also spurns her employer, thinking her day job is beneath her. The dilemma is an all too familiar situation that people in many walks of life face: would you do anything to achieve your goal? Starry Eyes is brilliant and I wouldn't change a thing about it. Alex Essoe gives an inspired performance as Sarah but she's not the only one. Everyone's great and Louis Dezseran, in the relatively small part that he has, is very unsettling. The mood borrows from elements of Rosemary's Baby and Eyes Wide Shut but the setting is in a much more realistic environment, which works to great effect as the story progresses. A word of warning to those who think this is going to be a drama with edge - it's not. The movie gets pretty twisted in places and you might be advised not to eat whilst watching! One of the best films I've seen in a while.

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