Close Your Eyes (2002)

A hypnotherapist is caught up in the pursuit of a serial killer.

Director:

Nick Willing

Writers:

Madison Smartt Bell (novel), Nick Willing

Stars:

Goran Visnjic, Paddy Considine, Shirley Henderson

5 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shirley Henderson	...	Janet Losey
Goran Visnjic	...	Michael Strother
Miranda Otto	...	Clara Strother
Sophie Stuckey	...	Heather
Josh Richards	...	Keith
John Rogan	...	Francis Paladine
Claire Rushbrook	...	Grace
Lauren Gabrielle Volpert	...	Martha Strother
Sarah Woodward	...	Police Inspector Hilary Ash
Corin Redgrave	...	Chief Inspector Clements
Paddy Considine	...	Elliot Spruggs
Madison Smartt Bell	...	Hypnosis Patient
Stevie Nye	...	Young Boy 1
Joshua McGowan	...	Young Boy 2
Andrew French	...	Police Detective

Storyline

While treating a policewoman for smoking, hypnotherapist Michael Strother has a telepathic vision of a young girl floating beneath the surface of a stream. The escaped victim of a ritualistic serial killer, the girl has become mute, and Michael is called upon by Scotland Yard to unlock the secrets she holds in order to catch a man who believes he has discovered the key to immortality.

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | policewoman | vision | scotland yard | murderer | 

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Taglines:

You won't snap out of it.

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Genres:

Crime | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

First Look Media Deal [France]

Country:

UK France

Language:

English French

Release Date:

5 May 2004 (France)

Also Known As:

Close Your Eyes

Filming Locations:

East Finchley Underground Station, East Finchley, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$21,980, 25 April 2004, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$39,381, 2 May 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, The Film Consortium, Film Council

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Goran Visnjic lived in a rented flat above a pub off Trafalgar Square for three months while filming this movie.

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Quotes

Dr. Michael Strother: Filthy habit, that.
Janet Losey: Oh, yeah? Well, I know this cute hypnotist who can cure me.
Dr. Michael Strother: What? That quack from the newspapers?

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Soundtracks

Vampires Remix
Performed by Simon Boswell
Published by Sunfun Music
Produced by Geoff Foster

User Reviews

Unusual thriller

"Close Your Eyes" is an unusual thriller. The story and characters are not present in your typical entries into this or any genre. And although on that level I recommend the film, it falls way short of greatness due to its pedestrian direction.

A serial killer has been kidnapping and killing young girls around London. One girl named Heather has survived, but she isn't talking. After hypnotherapist Michael Strother cures Detective Janet Losey (Shirley Henderson) of her smoking addiction, he reveals something that she saw under hypnosis: an image of Heather floating underwater. She thinks that Strother can help her with her case, but he refuses. Eventually he relents, and gets pulled into a disturbing mystery involving some creepy science and mysticism.

Thrillers, especially those of this ilk, demand a strong sense of atmosphere. A story can be chilling in its own right, but it's up to the director to put us at an sense of unease so we can get sucked into the story. But although director Nick Willing can boast a few inventive visuals, he can't establish a sense of atmosphere where this unease can build. Films like "The Descent" built up the tension long before the monsters ever showed up, which made the second half downright terrifying; Willing isn't able to accomplish this; in fact, he doesn't seem to be able to try. Worse, he cannot establish a narrative flow. The film is poorly paced, and as a result it seems to start and stop at random moments.

This is especially unfortunate because the film boasts some impressive performances. Goran Visnjic uses his soothing voice effectively (even I was almost hypnotized by his voice), and the celebrated Croatian actor makes for a sympathetic protagonist. Shirley Henderson is rather stiff as the policewoman who believes that he can help (actually, she's the only one who believes this). Miranda Otto is underused as Michael's long-suffering American wife. However, Fiona Shaw and John Rogan are creepy in small but important parts.

This is an okay choice for those who are tired of the usual schtick from "thrillers," but it could have been a lot better.