Starry Eyes (2014)

What do you do when you come to the conclusion that the film you just started watching, probably will end up in your top 10 of the most vexing and lousy movies ever? Indeed, swiftly start another film in the hope that it will be a better one. The same happened to me tonight after watching "Muck" for 15 minutes. First there was the rather abrupt beginning where it was immediately clear what acting level I was dealing with (again some selected B-actors). And then the opening credits appeared which were more focused on the silicone attachments of a half-naked, rotating cheerleader who stumbles back and forth in what looked like a swamp. And especially when one of those bimbo's was wondering whether or not there was liquor in the house they saw in the distance. And she was wondering about that in such a way that it looked as if she was planning to start a party with her frolicsome friends, while one of them was bleeding to dead and apparently they left two others behind that were killed. For me that was the moment to grab the remote control and save myself from further suffering. Fortunately, because "Starry Eyes" is of a whole other level and the content is a lot more original. It's equivalent to "Spring", which I've seen recently. Not that the core of the story has never been used in a film before, but its impact and the way it evolves, made sure it was yet again a unique experience.

Sarah (Alex Essoe) is an actress who apparently can't manage to get a role in a film. Every day she consults a website where ads are placed by producers and movie houses that are looking for new acting talent. Mostly these are low-budget and arty film projects. Meanwhile, she works as a "Tater Girl" at Big Taters, a kind of McDonalds run by a perverse-looking manager. He's someone who always brings up some philosophical theory about how they all function as one big family, but ultimately he's more interested in certain curves of Sarah (particularly her perfect butt looks appetizing in her stretchy work uniform). Sarah shares an apartment with her friend Tracy (Amanda Fuller) and in her free time she hangs out with Tracy's friends who encourage and support her. Except Erin (Fabianne Therese) who can't resist to make arrogant and hurtful remarks all the time. Until one day Sarah needs to do an audition for Astreus Pictures and she is willing to do anything to achieve her goal.

In short you can summarize "Starry Eyes" as follows : a sort of "Rosemary's Baby" (but in another sinister way), with the terrifying consequences as in "Contracted" or "The Fly" and this mixed with the better slasher work from horror films in the 80's. The producers of this film have chosen a tranquil development of the story. Therefore it will take some time before it starts to get all gloomy and scary. But the big finale is worth it. The first part they've put enough energy into the introduction of the different characters. Sarah is a fragile and sometimes puny-looking character who's full of doubts. Doubts about her skills, her talent and her appearance. She looks like someone with an eating disorder who snatches hair from her head at stressful moments. According to her so she can concentrate herself again. She's an insecure person full of complexes. Even her smile is uncertain (and uncannily resembles that of Keira Knightley, which gives me even extra shivers). The friends of Tracy, however, is a hotchpotch of libertines who live from

Fmovies: 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.

Amazing Movie 8.5/10, this is up there with Susperia, House of Tears & Rosemary's Baby (Orig) Fantastic rendition to the witch genre!

A great story with rich acting and camera work, the transition of scenes was flawless. Alex Essoe showed absolute brilliance. This is what REAL Horror & Horror Crime enthusiast want! The synthetic 80's /90's music arrangement was awesome which Dario Argento would be proud of!!

Finally not the "a group of friends go to a remote cabin in the woods!" or "Haunted by her/his past" story! With the acting cast looking like they were born with the silver spoon and no life experiences!

I think a star is born as well as a director with an immense attention to detail has emerged as a hart hitting competitor. If you're a Horror Crime & Witch genre fan don't let this slip your fingers! Hire it, download it, borrow it you will not be sorry!

Starry Eyes fmovies. Indie horror can be hit or miss, oftentimes a miss, but Starry Eyes is a surprisingly well acted story that sways toward the "hit" side.

Los Angeles, California – the land where bright eyed beautiful people go to try their hand at stardom. Some are lucky if they get a national commercial or a guest spot on a television series, most resigned to locally produced indie flicks that will only be seen by their inner circle.

Starry Eyes takes the brutally competitive and unmerciful Hollywood atmosphere and couples it with the darkest desire, the blind ambition to seize success. Alex Essoe is Sarah, an aspiring actress engaged in the LA grind: waiting tables, submitting head shots and going on casting calls. After one particularly odd audition, she earns the opportunity for a lead role in a gateway movie. Hopeful for her big break, Sarah grapples with making a deal to enter into the dark and occult world of the elite.

Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer split the dual role of screenwriter/director in Starry Eyes but produce a cohesive vision in their film. It is immediately apparent that Kolsch and Widmyer have been around the Los Angeles block more than enough times. They perfectly capture the pompous, self-serving atmosphere rife with deceptively two-faced phonies who talk more than they 'do'.

Starry Eyes is a surprisingly successful and effective film and horror. The mood is stark and matter-of-factedly vicious. As with any horror, it lulls in the middle as the characters evolve and develop so that they may transform feasibly to the climax. Also the cause for and transformation Sarah goes through is rather standard and obvious.

Alex Essoe's acting and portrayal of Sarah elevates Starry Eyes even further. Essoe subtly transforms from the hopeful ingenue to the ambitiously consumed actress hell bent for greatness. Weirdly poignant and meta, I hope Alex Essoe's performance in this role garners some attention from producers in the right place, for she has talent.

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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.

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