Starry Eyes (2014) User Reviews

Requiem for a star

[lnvicta · 7/10 · 25 May 2015]

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.

not for everyone

[reznors_chick · 7/10 · 24 April 2015]

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

Disturbing with Potential to Be Great

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 23 May 2016]

In Hollywood, the Big Taters'waitress Sarah Walker (Alex Essoe) is an ambitious aspiring actress that suffers from hair pulling disorder. Sarah does not respect her boss Carl (Pat Healy) or her job since she believes she will be a great actress and this job is temporary only to pay her bills. She shares an apartment with her roommate Tracy (Amanda Fuller) that frequently discloses her secrets to their selfish friends Erin (Fabianne Therese) that likes to humiliate Sarah and steal her roles; Danny (Noah Segan), who is an aspiring director that likes Sarah; Poe (Shane Coffey) and Ashley (Natalie Castillo) that are indifferent to her. When Sarah is invited to an audition of the film The Silver Scree from the company Astraeus Pictures, their auditioners do not show any reaction to her performance. When Sarah leaves the audition, she goes to the toilet room and has an attack, pulling her hair and crying. Immediately after, the casting director (Maria Olsen) invites her to return to the room and repeat what she did in the bathroom for her assistant (Marc Senter) and she. Sarah is invited again to an audition with the producer (Louis Dezseran) and when he insinuates to have sex with her, she refuses and goes home. However her ambition prevails and she returns to his house and has oral sex with him. He tells that she wants to be famous, she needs to die and reborn. When Sarah returns home, she finds that her body is deteriorating and she needs to murder her friends to complete her transformation. What will she do?

"Starry Eyes" is a disturbing horror film with potential to be great. The story is a sort of gore version of Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray", where the body of the lead actress deteriorates instead of her body, with "Faust". Alex Essoe has a top-notch performance and the gore scenes are impressive. The plot has flaws, without any explanation about the cult or how the deaths could be explained to the police, families and landlords, maybe because of the low-budget. The conclusion does not show Sarah famous but she probably might be. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): Not Available on Blu-Ray or DVD.

"Did You Expect It To Be Painless?!"...

[azathothpwiggins · 24 December 2019]

Aspiring actress, Sarah Walker (Alexandra Essoe) auditions for a part in a horror film. Hoping not only to get her "big break", but also to escape her dismal life, including her job at a bottom-of-the-barrel restaurant, Sarah is quite desperate.

Her interactions with the movie's Producer (Louis Dezseran) and his Casting Director (Maria Olsen) grow increasingly bizarre and uncomfortable. Sarah has no idea what she must sacrifice in order for her dreams to come true. Resisting at first, her life begins to change into a nightmare world of physical and mental disintegration. Sarah finally realizes what she is being compelled to do, but can she do it?

STARRY EYES is an exceptional horror film, and a darkly satirical look at the cost of fame. Ms. Essoe is phenomenal, pretty much carrying the entire movie on the strength of her performance. If you're tired of the same old thing in horror films, then give this a shot...

Eerie, gory and a self-willed movie.

[peterp-450-298716 · 7/10 · 4 May 2015]

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 day to day (sleeping in a van in someone's garden) and give the impression as if they walk around constantly drunk or high and party all the time. A group of hedonists, but with envy and hypocrisy just around the corner.

"Starry Eyes" won't be appreciated by everyone. On the one hand, it 's sometimes quite bizarre to observe. The two people at the table during the audition at Astreus Pictures and the manager of Big Taters are a living proof of that. Bizarre characters who undoubtedly deserve a place in a mental institution. On the other hand the slow transformation that Sarah undergoes isn't exactly appetizing to look at. The reward that she gets by meeting certain requirements that were asked by the producer Astreus Pictures, is preceded by a period in which Sarah deteriorates both physical and psychological. She slowly turns into an unreal individual with psychopathic tendencies resulting in a bloody final piece. The way Alex Essoe gives shape to the character Sarah, is at times brilliant. The final transformation leaves an overwhelming impression and shows the natural beauty she possesses. Hopefully we'll see her again as a leading actress in another movie. Also Fabianne Therese as the fake girlfriend who's constantly trying to undermine Sarah's confidence and the eccentric Taters boss (Pat Healy) were enjoyable. And finally Mary Olsen and Marc Senter as the casting director and her assistant fitted perfect in it.

Of course, some will say that the final story is not too original, and it eventually became a typical horror with some gore clichéd images. But for me this was a successful and impressing film that after a patiently build up beginning, bursts out into a climax. Perhaps the macabre character of this film and the quirky way of elaboration made it into a memorable one. The only thing I was slightly disappointed about was the total lack of background information about the satanic (if you can call it that way) sect. It remains a bit mysterious. However, I am sure this film left that monstrosity called "Muck", effortlessly behind. A fascinating film!

More reviews here : http://opinion-as-a-moviefreak.blogspot.be

Be careful what you wish for in LA - "I'd do anything to make it"

[ArchonCinemaReviews · 7/10 · 20 December 2014]

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.

Check out our website for all the horror releases reviewed in FULL.

Beware ambition ...

[parry_na · 7/10 · 18 January 2016]

Alexandra Essoe plays Sarah, whose demure nature masks a desperation to become a successful actress. She is surrounded by snide wastrel friends, and there are moments when her ambition suggests she is probably just as contemptuous of them as they appear to be of her. After another unsuccessful audition, she is caught throwing a violent tantrum by one of the casting directors, and her outburst sparks interest. When she eventually meets the producer, things take on a mysterious and very sinister turn.

In the pivotal role of Sarah, Essoe excels at every opportunity. The viewer is lead to feel every beat of the humiliation she suffers, either at the hands of her friends, or in the job she abhors. Her transformation throughout the film is believably handled throughout, which is just as well because what happens to her is … bizarre. The gore effects are very impressive, especially for a low-budget picture, although she does appear to barely be able to move in one scene, only to become a rabid killer in the next.

There are questions. In fact, the whole thing ends with a massive question – none of Sarah's victims seem to be discovered, there is no evidence of any police investigation. In fact, the whole story takes place in a kind of elevated isolation where no outside influences are present. And of course, who are the people behind it all, and just what does Sarah become? 'Starry Eyes' results in being a highly enjoyable, gruesome picture where the journey is a lot more entertaining than the destination.

I wanted to like it. It wouldn't let me.

[hilbertjl · 4/10 · 5 April 2015]

Four stars positive for a fairly innovative score and Argento-esque visuals, plus some pretty solid acting by the lead and one or two supporting actors. Beyond that, I have to admit, I watched the entire thing (resisting the urge to turn it off many times) because I wanted, hoped for, the ending to bring everything together in some redeeming way. Instead, I was disappointed. The movie was difficult to watch all around but not because of horror elements - it's hard, for one thing, to feel invested in a story when you can't empathize with its protagonist - admittedly there are exceptions to that but this isn't one of them. I also felt like some of the plot devices relied on clichéd, negative stereotyping (can't say more without spoilers) and that the end just didn't make sense in any narrative or metaphor driven way. I'm sure there are some who'd argue otherwise, and they are welcome to their opinions, but overall, Starry Eyes was just a huge letdown for me.

Better Than Expected

[Necroambulant · 8/10 · 12 May 2015]

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.

Lacks subtlety but packs a visceral punch

[brchthethird · 7/10 · 5 January 2015]

Most people have ambitions of some kind or another, and others merely want fame. The destructiveness of the blind pursuit of fame is a subject that's been done before film, and honestly better than this, but where this film lacks in originality and subtlety it makes up in shock value and being a rather compelling watch. The story is about Sarah, a waitress at a cheesy/sleazy fast food joint who aspires to be an actress. However, the two lifestyles severely conflict with each other as she's constantly checking her phone for callbacks and going off to audition after audition in hopes of landing her breakout role. She also has a group of friends around her who are into the same lifestyle, but they are more relaxed about it and mostly do it for fun. However, when Sarah auditions for a role in a movie called "The Silver Scream," her life (and appearance) begin to change drastically as she discovers how far she'll go to secure her place among the famous. Without delving into spoilers, I will say that the film is rather predictable in the way the narrative unfolds. Yes, Sarah basically sells her soul for fame, and that is essentially the film's major statement. What sets it apart is the way it makes literal this metaphor about the cost of stardom and degree to which it goes for shock value to hit the point home. This approach will probably not go over too well with some, who either appreciate more subtlety or aren't big fans of extreme violence and gore (of which this film has some), but it worked for me. True, I would have appreciated a little more subtlety but a lot of times you take what you can get. And, for an indie film this wasn't half-bad. Performance-wise, everyone did a good job. Aside from one actor (whose name I still don't know, but he was one of the leads in CHEAP THRILLS), I didn't recognize anyone. Still, they did fine with the material and approached it like the satire this was intended to be. As far as technical aspects go, this film also excelled in that area. Visual effects and gore were very well done, especially for being a low-budget indie, and the camera-work was solid in general. The score, however, is probably my favorite aspect. It was an atmospheric electronic score with a driving beat that reminded me of work done in recent Nicolas Winding Refn films like DRIVE and ONLY GOD FORGIVES. So, when all is said and done, is this a sharp, biting satire? Yes and no. 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?

Aspires to be more than it is......

[s3276169 · 2/10 · 13 March 2016]

Starry Eyes is a b grade flick that aspires, much like its lead character, to be more than it is and fails.

Simply put, Starry Eyes does not know what it wants to be and, instead, tries very hard to be any number of dispirit things. The result is a horror film on a bad acid trip, with psychedelic overtones, that simply clash with one another, in a head-ache inducing way.

Its cause is not helped by, at times, cheesy narrative, that tries far, far, too hard, to be clever.The acting, such as it is, is acceptable but not especially memorable either.

That's not to say there are not some creative and original ideas, on offer, in Starry Eyes. If only one of those creative concepts had been chosen and a cohesive, articulate story, constructed around it.

Regrettably, that was not to be. What you get, instead, can best be described as a muddled, cinematic mess. Two out of ten from me.

It has the XXX Factor

[mungflesh · 9/10 · 26 August 2014]

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.

Think ALL ABOUT EVE via ROSEMARY'S BABY if you will and look more for Essoe as a star on the rise worth checking out in future endeavors.

[george.schmidt · 7/10 · 2 November 2014]

STARRY EYES (2014) **1/2 Alex Essoe, Amanda Fuller, Noah Segan, Fabianne Therese, Shane Coffey, Natlie Castillo, Pat Healy, Nick Simmons, Maria Olsen, Marc Senter, Louis Dezseran. Affectively chilling yet relatively predictable horror flick about a naive young actress in Hollywood (Essoe gives a tremendous performance out of a tricky role) whose blind ambition gets the best of her when she is offered a too-good-to-be-true role of a lifetime (and then some) with horrific end results. The somewhat scattershot screenplay (does it want to be a quasi-satire/metaphor about careers in show biz or a nifty demonic monster movie?) by filmmaking team Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer has a hit-and-miss factor namely the expendable (yawn-worthy) supporting cast of characters (the actors do the best they can in paper-thin cookie cutter archetypes: i.e. the ponderous filmmaker wanna-be; pretentious poetry slam hipster; the bitchy frienemy) yet arguably makes up for it in spades in the final act with some gruesomely awesome graphic violence (kudos to the make-up and visual effects of Hugo Villasenor and Matt Falletta, respectively) and a spooky score by Jonathan Snipes. Think ALL ABOUT EVE via ROSEMARY'S BABY if you will and look more for Essoe as a star on the rise worth checking out in future endeavors.

Started off well...

[rocknrelics · 4/10 · 13 January 2019]

This looked like it was going to be an interesting film, and started well, but they seemed to just decide to ditch the plot they'd been building up nicely, and turn it into a gore film. Could have been quite an intelligent film if they'd developed the original storyline further. Disappointing.

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

[DareDevilKid · 30 November 2014]

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.

Relies too heavily on the grotesque

[azcoppen · 6/10 · 4 January 2015]

"Selling your soul" is a fairly clichéd trope, but where this film gets it right in the gory details of the contract. The solid performance of the lead carries the whole thing, as the supporting cast are entirely forgettable. The make-up is horrific and visceral as Sarah's transformation occurs, and all in all, it's a great starter movie on a smaller budget that delves into a very nasty idea.

Saying all that though, you can't help but think the writer(s) would have done well to indulge themselves in a good study of Faust or Paradise Lost to add sophistication to what is, in itself, a Satanic version of "The Fly". The curiosity is *why* fame is so important to the person that they would do anything, even if they are just shallow. The alluding to a sadistic side here and there is a nice touch, but no explanation is given to why Sarah is specifically chosen. Faust is bored, and espouses all the worst in scientific nature, claiming Mephistopheles as his servant to have all upside until the consequences come - the deal is more of a credit card loan deception that needs to be paid in blood, giving a degree of ambiguity that is fascinating; the intoxicating reward comes first, hiding the true cost.

Then there's the comparison to "Rosemary's Baby", which isn't equitable. Polanski's epic was profound because it was a normal couple in an everyday setting, where the evil was completely hidden inside the American dream: the horror was in the normality of the circumstances. "The Fly", in turn, was a tale of obsession, ethical violation, and man's madness with technology, which parallels the grotesque prosthetics. Each of them feature some form of nobility or higher idea (academic learning, scientific advancement, happy family life) corrupted by something inexplicably horrifying. All of the comparisons are, at best, superficial: Starry eyes sadly doesn't have that layered depth, and calls in a debt without spending the reward first: a deal with the devil is a deception/con that appears to have no downside; otherwise no-one would make one, even in desperation.

As a satire, it works when you consider the ugliness of what is happening on the outside reflects the shallowness of the inside - but for that, you need a glimpse into the external world of Hollywood and the person's relationships. A little more exposition on the cult itself, the ritual/mechanism taking place, and the end result would have been useful to understand the story, because as it stands, it's a character study with her scalp rotting away.

Why don't her friends notice and get her to a doctor? Where are her parents, and what is the cause of her emptiness? Is she dying like a vampire? Is she giving birth to something? How do the weird cloak people get around in LA without being spotted, doing weird auditions, or wearing pentagrams to photo-ops? Who are the cult members, and why do they choose her? Was it ultimately worth it or was the price unfair? Is it all a hallucination? The story elements don't join up and it's far too much of a stretch to try and put them together.

There's a great way to doing a story like this, but unfortunately only some of it's in there. A perverse take on her "ascent by descent" would be a great theme, and the Polanski "normality" take typically scores - complete with the inescapable debt being called in later a la Faust, combined with a more subtle "rebirth" procedure (that maybe gets Fly-like later). The attention-grabbing grotesque just feels like too blunt an object for such a powerful subject.

The true horror is in the demonic deadness of her face - who can imagine the horror of giving up their beauty, humanity, or very soul to become as damned as the Devil himself? A walking dead haunted body carrying the demonic - no laughter, no love? Would you give up your capacity for joy, compassion, feeling, love, - but why? Imagine attaching/bonding deeply with the character on screen, only to be powerless to lose her to her spiritual death. That's the most painful human button you could press in a film like this, and it feels like the filmmakers brushed their fingers over it - but decided not to push it.

Brutal and downbeat

[Lucabrasisleeps · 7/10 · 27 June 2015]

I would actually say that I didn't like it as much as I think I would. I am not such a fan of the Hollywood Illuminati movies because frankly they don't make much sense to me. I think the Illuminati idea is a convenient scapegoat for everything. Now, as far as the movie is concerned, I am not judging the movie on that basis.

The first movie that came to mind when I was watching this movie was the movie Kill list. For some reason, it constantly reminded me of that movie. But honestly it doesn't have the subtlety and maturity of that movie. There is a difference between the kitchen sink style and the American mainstream horror style I suppose. But this movie does do well on its own in different ways.

Alex Essoe has given a powerful performance as Sarah. This is a movie that depends quite a bit on the lead character, so her performance is the absolute highlight of the movie. The transformation is impeccable. But what I liked was this - she was not a victim. Towards the end, what we see is what she really is. People like to look at the movie as a budding starlet being corrupted by the cult. But I don't look at it that way. Right from the beginning, we see that she didn't fit in there. She was awkward and shy. Most shy people would be able to relate to her feelings at the beginning. For the most part, she is powerless. But one day, she receives the power but for that she needs to sacrifice. The ending is also a sacrifice for her goals. She hated them anyway. Her line in the end where she says "They see the real me" makes sense. She was pure evil. The cult just brings it out of her. It makes her find out who she really is.

The slow burner approach is adopted here but I wouldn't call it subtle. It isn't. But we are not going to see any over the top CGI monsters. But the tone is definitely downbeat and the gore when it appears is certainly brutal.

I do think maybe some of the other acting performances were maybe not up to par. Certain actors who were clearly not good enough were thankfully not utilised much. Especially that guy who was the assistant in the audition. The Producer was not so good either. Their acting seems so cliché and out of place in a movie like this.

Overall I liked it.

7/10

Primarily of interest thanks to a very strong lead...

[MrGKB · 7/10 · 26 January 2016]

...this psycho-supernatural portrait of an actor's descent into madness, for the most part tightly written and directed by two rising film-makers, is still worth a recommendation to genre fans of all stripes. Alex(andra) "Passion Play" Essoe is diabolically perfect as the aspiring thespian, Sarah, who willingly sells her soul to be a movie star; her dedication to the role very nearly makes you wonder if this is how she got cast in the first place.

That's a joke, albeit an easy and a poor one, but I suspect many viewers will wonder anyway. The rest of the cast is a somewhat mixed bunch, and perhaps hindered a bit by underwritten characters, but for the most part, folks like Pat "Ghost World" Healy, Noah "Looper" Segan, Amanda "Last Man Standing" Fuller, Fabianne "John Dies at the End" Therese, and even Gene "Kiss" Simmons' kid hold their own fairly well. The triptych of evil characters is a little difficult to accept as "real," but otherwise the three antagonists give consistently creepy performances. Personally, if I'd been in Sarah's shoes, I'd have backed away from that first audition without hesitation, but admittedly I have the advantage of age and experience in that regard.

The story's solid first two acts lead to a somewhat off-key close when the third act unleashes Sarah's aggressive ambitions in a paroxysm of bloody murder, and I do mean bloody. Squeamish viewers will be squeamed significantly.

Various sources have mentioned the David Lynch/Cronenberg influences on the film, and I suppose such argument can be made, but I'm more of a mind that films like Roman Polanski's "Repulsion" and the work of auteurs like Tobe Hooper, Wes Craven, and George Romero were far more the forebears of "Starry Eyes." Adam "Jake Squared" Bricker's camera-wrangling is efficient if un-flashy, while Jonathan "Room 237" Snipes' score sets an appropriate unsettling mood. The film looks great for a relatively low budget affair. Despite the accusations found elsewhere on these boards (many of which I suspect originate from industry competitors), "Starry Eyes" clearly evinces a dedication to the craft, as well as the story being told.

Definitely worth a look-see by genre fans despite its flaws, "Starry Eyes" contains one very satisfying breakout performance by its lead. I can only hope Ms. Essoe doesn't end up stereotyped and pigeon-holed by it.

It can be hard to get by in Tinseltown on just tater tots and friendship.

[punishmentpark · 4/10 · 1 December 2014]

Struggling young actress / Big Taters waitress gets an audition for a production company of some renown, but ultimately must choose to sell her soul or stick with her friends - with room to consider secret (film) societies, porn, modern media, drug abuse and such. A crude version of an age old story that will pop up anywhere near and around high concentrations of power, money, showbiz, what have you. Does it work?

Partly. The cast do a decent job, Alex(andra) Essoe first of all. But of all the many crazy representatives of evil throughout the history of film, Louis Dezseran is not one who leaves a lasting impression. His two casting minions are much better, even if memories of David Lynch' 'Mullholland Drive' and 'Inland empire' immediately come to mind...

The story is supposedly a slow burner (reminiscent of 'The house of the devil', which is much better), but it takes way too much time to my taste to get to its point. On the drama level, it did not get under my skin somehow; the group of friends who want to become actors or otherwise involved in the world of film, are pretty much an uninspiring bunch, I suppose. And to really get (and stay!) connected with the 'wanderings' of Sarah, was yet another problem.

And then there's the gore, which makes the movie what it truly is: a horror movie - but that takes a while. In the end the violence réally takes off, even if there are just a few moments here and there earlier on. The moment where one of the girls falls flat on her face causing Sarah to expose a sadistic side of her, was one of the rare moments that fully worked, actually.

5 out of 10; certainly not the intelligent horror some reviews caused me to anticipate.

Brilliant and refreshing, True horror is back

[lilith136-30-639215 · 9/10 · 29 March 2015]

I rented the wrong movie this evening in error and got peeved, so searched for another and found this and thought...oh OK sounds like my kind of thing. And I was blown away. As other reviewers have mentioned Dario Argento would be proud. This is what a true horror fan wants to see in my view. Great camera shots, great acting from the main lead and the atmosphere was simply creepy and superb. There is no pretense, no all over CGI, it is all about acting and atmosphere and leaving you with what it could be or not be. Well, it is obvious what it is about...or is it? Who is the producer really? And who are they all? I am so going to buy this film and watch it again. This movie tries and succeeds in creating a Suspiria like atmosphere. it makes you wonder till the end what is going to happen. Anyway, i shall stop rambling on. Give it a go if you like true horror :).

Two films in one

[Oracle-of-Delphi · 6/10 · 29 July 2022]

I watched this film, because a review said, if David Lynch and David Cronenburg collaborated to make a film about cults....this is what it would look like. After viewing it, I'd say I partially agree with that. The first part of the film was well written....there was some great editing and cinematography done during the second audition scene. The lead actor, who plays the wannabe starlet did a remarkable job throughout the film. However, after..."The gates are opened", and her transformation begins...that's when the film turns into something else. Perhaps, it's a little Cronenburgish for a while. But ultimately, we go from an eerie, Lynchian, stylistic film....to a straight slasher film. And, there was no return to the feel and style of the first part of the film. It would've been nice to see what that pay off was for this actor selling her body and soul to...Satanists? I knew what I was getting into, but I felt like they could've pushed beyond the pentagrams and black masks and cloaks cliches. The actor who played the producer/ cult leader was a great casting choice...he had a sinister smile and was very animated. He reminded me of Leland Palmer from Twin Peaks.

I would've loved to have seen her transformation into an actual beautiful, starlet with her face on a poster for the Silver Scream, as the producer promised. Instead, we have to watch far too much footage of her physical suffering and decay, before she randomly decides to murder her friends. Then, she transforms into a woman with glowing green eyes and a bald head, (the skull cap was pretty noticeable). She is given a birthday present, because she has now been reborn....and in the box contains a dress, wig, and necklace. If I went through everything that woman did...I'd expect a lot more than that. I'm giving it 6 stars, because two thirds of the film was really well done, and worth watching for the visuals. Unfortunately, the ending was disappointing. This is an example of a missed opportunity...and it can be traced back to the screenplay. Writers can be experimental and avant-garde, but if you want to give us that....then give it to us all the way. Decide which genre of film you want to make, before you start filming. Not everything can be fixed in post.

Suspense to stupid

[mary-179-677383 · 2/10 · 2 January 2016]

The first part of the movie sees Sarah audition for a leading part in a scary movie. Her audition is with two badly scripted casting agents. The vibe of the audition is creepy, but held my interest. Her female friends are a bit jealous and competitive with Sarah and make some snide remarks. Her male friends are casual and Danny even has a deep and meaningful with her.

Anyways, the movie is just over the top. I like my movies to have more common sense and real life application. I can believe horror movies where the psycho kills people, because this can happen. I like horror movies with supernatural elements, because it explores the unknown. However this movies storyline was too far fetched and I couldn't believe the supernatural element in this movie. Unless you see a lot of movie stars wearing a cult necklace everywhere.

Another disappointment brought to me via Netflix.

Dario Argento Would Be Proud!

[martin-shead · 9/10 · 28 February 2015]

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!

Atmospheric, haunting, kept me watching!

[bvd-13918 · 7/10 · 15 September 2020]

What will Sarah do for fame?... REALLY do? She pays the price, and commits one unforgivable SIN after another. Twisted, violent, and dark.

What's with all the good reviews?

[craigh01 · 2/10 · 25 May 2017]

Comparing it to Rosemary's Baby??? Not even close! Rosemary's Baby had a plot, a REASON, an EXPLANATION, it made SENSE! This movie makes no sense. I'm only giving it 2 stars since it kept me watching until the end, hoping to make some sense out of it.

At the beginning it seemed pretty good. Seemed like it was leading up to something interesting. But then it dragged on and on. Here's the spoiler: NOTHING HAPPENS. Other than the gory murders at the end. And some stupid cult yelling "Hail Astreaus!" (The subtitles misspelled the Greek God I think it was). Sort of like the slightly corny "Hail Satan!" at the end of Rosemary's Baby. Except in Rosemary's Baby they slowly let you learn about the cult, the people in it, what they were doing, what their origins were, and then let it all hang out in the end. Here, nothing. Just leads up to the end with a cult with no explanation, no background, nothing.

If you like to see people's face get smashed into pulp with a dumbbell you can skip to close to the end. It's completely pointless. I don't mind seeing gore like that - I'd rather not - but if it has a point and a plot and makes sense then I don't mind.

One little technical point. It's not that easy to stab someone to death. Especially a small girl stabbing a medium-size man. Normally they would fight back, not just sit there going "why?".

One thing I will say is the lead actress Alex Essoe did an AMAZING job of acting, wow! She was a great actress, even acting being an actor. She was great. Too bad the rest of the movie was worthless.