X
- 2014
- TV-MA
- MPI Media Group
- 1 h 38 m
- 2014
- TV-MA
- MPI Media Group
- 1 h 38 m
Summary Determined to make it as an actress in Hollywood, Sarah Walker (Alex Essoe) spends her days working a dead-end job, enduring petty friendships and going on countless casting calls in hopes of catching her big break. After a series of strange auditions, Sarah lands the leading role in a new film from a mysterious production company. But w...
Directed By: Kevin Kölsch, Dennis Widmyer
Written By: Kevin Kölsch, Dennis Widmyer
- 2014
- TV-MA
- MPI Media Group
- 1 h 38 m
- 2014
- TV-MA
- MPI Media Group
- 1 h 38 m
Starry Eyes
49
6.5
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Summary Determined to make it as an actress in Hollywood, Sarah Walker (Alex Essoe) spends her days working a dead-end job, enduring petty friendships and going on countless casting calls in hopes of catching her big break. After a series of strange auditions, Sarah lands the leading role in a new film from a mysterious production company. But w...
Directed By: Kevin Kölsch, Dennis Widmyer
Written By: Kevin Kölsch, Dennis Widmyer
Where to Watch
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 6 Critic Reviews
49
33% Positive
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
50% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
17% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 6 Critic Reviews
49
33% Positive
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
50% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
17% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Horror fans should keep their eyes on the filmmakers — and Essoe, who gives a star-making performance.
As gory as it is corrosively cynical, a supernatural mood piece that's equally influenced by the arthouse horror movies of David Lynch and Roman Polanski, and the grindhouse-ready Satanic Panic films of the '70s, like "To the Devil a Daughter," and "The Devil Rides out."
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 33 User Ratings
6.5
48% Positive
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
36% Mixed
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
15% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 33 User Ratings
6.5
48% Positive
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
36% Mixed
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
15% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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"Starry Eyes" is a surprisingly good slow-burn about ambition and what for some may be the true price of fame. Taking cues from films like Rosemary's Baby without imitating it too directly, the film exploits the psychological despair of failure well and balances it out with the body horror. I've watched it twice as of this review, and it stands up to repeat viewings.
Alexandra Essoe is fantastic in the lead role of Sarah, letting her sweetness and naivete transform into viciousness and aggression gradually. The fact that Essoe cites "Possession" as a main inspiration for her performance is hardly surprising. Most of the supporting cast do well also, with few really weak performances to speak of.
On the negative side, "Starry Eyes" could have done a little better in the third act. There is certainly body horror and gore, but in the process the film loses the critique of Hollywood culture it built its foundation on. Why Sarah ends up having to do what she eventually does is sort of understandable, but it's a little klunky in how it plays out.
Bottom line: Definitely worth a watch, especially for horror fans and aspiring actresses.
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The film is far less successful once it delves into body horror that makes Sarah's transformation as ghoulishly physical as it is mental.
The degeneration into familiar genre tropes reduces the impact of the wittily satirical set-up, with the result that Starry Eyes fails to live up to its initial promise. But the film indicates genuine talent on the part of its directors/screenwriters, who infuse the proceedings with a dark, gothic creepiness that is further enhanced by Jonathan Snipes' retro, synthesizer-infused score reminiscent of John Carpenter.
Spelling everything out is never recommended, but for a horror movie, in particular, it’s death.
A pretty young actress. A casting call. A private meeting with the lecherous man who has the power to give her the role. Starry Eyes tries to wring a horror movie out of this tired old setup but, halfway in, seems to realize it has nothing new to offer and becomes a mere gorefest.
A dark, introspective study on the vile side of human nature and how far someone will go to get what they want. Starry Eyes is a truly disturbing, profound piece of art.
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I recently watched Starry Eyes and wow this is one messed up movie. The film is basically about Sarah who is a pretty, disturbed young actress who auditions for a role in a movie but has to literally sell herself to the devil to get to where she wants.
The film is worth watching just for the performance of the lead actress Alex Essoe, she does a fantastic job and the supporting actors are good also. The transformation of Sara from her nieve begginings to a her hell bent efforts of **** and the horrific body alterations is very impressive. I wouldn’t say the movie is a slow burner but it does take a while before it truly becomes a horror movie and when it does there are some scenes which are quite difficult to watch.
starry-eyes-movie-alex-essoe-phone
If i was to compare it to a similar type of movie i would say its like RoseMary’s Baby and more recently The House Of The Devil (both of which i think are better then this) just because of the satanic cult elements.
Where this movie fails is in setting up even any loose logic as to why everything is happening. There’s obviously a cult involvement, but there is absolutely no explanation as to what they do, or how they do it.
If your looking for a decent horror movie to watch on the weekend then i would definitely recommend this movie, its disturbing, funny, **** up and quite unsettling. It’s not very original, and initially you might have some trouble getting into it, but it takes a visceral turn that more than makes up for the somewhat shaky foundation set earlier.
If you’re looking for something different, why not check this out?
Full Review @ItsMuchMore
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A statement on the dangers of Hollywood. Aspiring actors come to chase their dreams, and figuratively will sell their souls for a chance at a leading role. This movie takes that ambition quite literally. Alex Essoe is a good leading woman, but the movie itself takes a bit too long to get going.
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When I watched this indie horror movie I had very low expectations. I know indie cinema can be incredible or crap. So I've been watching prepared for the worst. However, this movie is neither excellent nor particularly innovative, looking like an inspiration over Polanski's "Rosemary's Baby". The film ends up being a huge satire around the highly brutal and competitive environment of the American film industry. The script is based on the ambition and lack of scruples of a young aspiring film star, who is willing to do anything to reach success, managing to get an invitation to audition in a large studio. The sarcastic criticism is present in the way her dreams are chewed and ruined, and in the way the film producer abuses her, forcing her to do things she doesn't want. She ends up selling her own soul... well, probably Hollywood should be a soulless environment also.
The cast is led by Alexandra Essoe, a young actress with some talent and who has done a fairly regular job here. Amanda Fuller was good enough also, with a good supporting work. Maria Olsen was well, sinister enough, but her task was only to add some gloomy atmosphere to the film. The rest of the cast did an average performance, doing what was necessary but without adding much more than that.
The film uses some scenes in which the actress appears half-naked, but I don't think this was bad, or a call to the "sex sells" formula. I think it went well the way it was used. It has some gore also, but it's not too heavy, helping to reinforce the tension.
Not being a brilliant movie, "Starry Eyes" delivers what it promises. It's a film that is within acceptable standards, can create a pleasant tension but doesn't frighten or make us feel afraid. In fact, I think I realized more of a certain criticism of Hollywood than a simple attempt to do horror. It's an average movie, worth watching but not allowing it a second time.
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This installment of the you-guys-remember-the-80s-and-the-electronic-stuff-right-horror genre, sandwiched betwixt Beyond the Black Rainbow and It Follows, features a guy doing an almost flawless Patrick Bateman impression and a Requiem for a Dream downfall ending in exactly the same way.
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Production Company
- Snowfort Pictures
- Parallactic Pictures
- Dark Sky Films
- Title Media
Release Date Nov 14, 2014
Duration 1 h 38 m
Rating TV-MA
Tagline She would kill to be famous.
Website
http://starryeyesfilm.com/
Awards
BloodGuts UK Horror Awards
• 1 Win & 8 Nominations
Fright Meter Awards
• 3 Nominations
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
• 3 Nominations