Directed by:
Nicolas PesceScreenplay:
Nicolas PesceCinematography:
Zach KupersteinComposer:
Ariel LohCast:
Kika Magalhães, Will Brill, Diana Agostini, Paul Nazak, Clara Wong, Olivia Bond, Joey Curtis-Green, Flora DiazPlots(1)
One of the most disturbing horror films of 2016, The Eyes of My Mother lingers with you long after the final credits roll. The film follows Francisca, a young, lonely woman who becomes consumed by her deepest and darkest desires after tragedy strikes her quiet country life. Raised by her mother, a former surgeon from Portugal, trained in anatomy and taught to be unfazed by death, young Francisca’s idyllic life is shattered with the arrival of a mysterious visitor whose actions deeply traumatize the girl, but also awakening unique, disturbing curiosities. Though she clings to her increasingly reticent father, Francisca’s loneliness and scarred nature converge years later when her longing to connect with the world around her takes on a dark form. Shot in mesmeric black and white, The Eyes of My Mother bucks traditional horror tropes to create what could be considered a new style of American Gothic. Magnificently horrific Nicolas Pesce’s debut feature is a deliciously gorgeous nightmare that simultaneously seduces and abhors. (Monster Pictures)
(more)Reviews (3)
I wouldn’t search for any artistic depth here, but as a short, twisted trip to the viewers’ discomfort zone, The Eyes of My Mother is interesting indeed. And effective, very effective.
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An interesting film that cleverly masks its low budget with black and white cinematography, but it's a pity that the director didn't have the balls to go off the rails like the director of Human Centipede II. Every time something that might have been pleasing to the eye was about to happen, the director just plain and simple shits on it. At times, I felt like I was nakedly tied up in bed in the presence of a female stripper and after a long and teasing dance, the woman would just slam the door behind her, which is probably the worst thing a woman could ever do. In this case, the director is to blame. The ending is also very awkward – I really hate it when the whole film relies on the viewer's imagination. If this is what the director revels in, next time he'd better publish a book. It's a great pity, but there is a certain amount of perversity here after all. 55%
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The American film The Eyes of My Mother is actually not quite a classic film about how the human soul can become twisted and disgusting, even if it looks innocent at first glance. The film also shows how we are shaped by what influences us, but also by what comes from within and what we simply cannot control. As a study of the fall of man, it's actually not bad at all.
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