The Eyes of My Mother (B&W horror film)

[wonderer99]

Jury is out for me on this one. It was.......OK. I had two issues with it.

[Show spoiler]Firstly and most importantly the violence, death and nature of the movie just had no grounding in reality. Who are these people and why are they so desensitised to death? Yes we know the family is around the deaths and dissection of animals but that alone is not enough for us to accept what follows. Nor does it excuse any characters actions. We learn nothing about them before the mother is killed and the father just acts like nothing has happened? For a movie to be affective for me I have to feel at least some understanding of the characters. These characters were just weird murderers and we have no explanation as to why.So ultimately it felt like a study in the grotesque and little more.

Secondly although the visuals were indeed lovely it felt a little like the black and white was used just to be more artsy. It felt a little forced, a little "hey look how important I am"

I will definitely give te film another viewing to see what happens. One thing I will say is that it is a film that stays a while with you. I have just yet to decide whether that is a positive or a negative

[darkness2918]

B&W so ill pass. I'm just not a fan of B&W films. I tried to get into a few when I collected Criterions but sold them after 1 viewing since I knew id never watch them again.

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

To quote Roger Ebert, "Color is more realistic, but B&W is more dreamlike and mysterious."

I love the look of B&W cinema. Every time I watch The Mist, I always choose the B&W version on the Blu-Ray. In fact, I don't think I've watched it in color since the theater.

Ive never seen The Mist in B&W and I don't honestly ever intend too.

[kylec123]

I didn't love this, but I thought it was worth a watch. Disturbing, but I agree with what wonderer99 said, there was some lacking in character development that ultimately left me not really caring about anyone. It was a fairly short movie. Maybe if there were more to it I'd have liked it more. Kinda one of those movies you watch and after you are just like.. "hmm ok."

[wonderer99]

Originally Posted by kylec123

I didn't love this, but I thought it was worth a watch. Disturbing, but I agree with what wonderer99 said, there was some lacking in character development that ultimately left me not really caring about anyone. It was a fairly short movie. Maybe if there were more to it I'd have liked it more. Kinda one of those movies you watch and after you are just like.. "hmm ok."

Yeah, and it is not helped by the abrupt ending that just leaves you thinking "what was that all for"? What was the point ultimately, because there was no development in the characters from the beginning to end, they just were. Which is not necessarily a negative on its own, just that these characters were so far outside of what is deemed 'normal' that some form of explanation was desperately needed.

[jacobsever]

This movie is #12 out of the 110 films I've seen this year for me.

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

B&W so ill pass. I'm just not a fan of B&W films. I tried to get into a few when I collected Criterions but sold them after 1 viewing since I knew id never watch them again.

Well...that's pretty silly and close minded.

There is DEFINITELY a difference between Criterion Collection, 1950's black & white, and current modern day black & white.

[BucketheadPikes]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

To quote Roger Ebert, "Color is more realistic, but B&W is more dreamlike and mysterious."

I love the look of B&W cinema. Every time I watch The Mist, I always choose the B&W version on the Blu-Ray. In fact, I don't think I've watched it in color since the theater.

I like The Mist a bit more in B&W too. I've watched alot of stuff in B&W after watching in color & really liked them quite a bit in B&W: Boardwalk Empire, Cypher, Deadwood, Planet Terror, The Thirteenth Floor...

[Impossible]

Looked beautiful and few decent moments, but as a whole...meh!

[willtopower]

Originally Posted by wonderer99

Jury is out for me on this one. It was.......OK. I had two issues with it.

[Show spoiler]Firstly and most importantly the violence, death and nature of the movie just had no grounding in reality. Who are these people and why are they so desensitised to death? Yes we know the family is around the deaths and dissection of animals but that alone is not enough for us to accept what follows. Nor does it excuse any characters actions. We learn nothing about them before the mother is killed and the father just acts like nothing has happened? For a movie to be affective for me I have to feel at least some understanding of the characters. These characters were just weird murderers and we have no explanation as to why.So ultimately it felt like a study in the grotesque and little more.

Secondly although the visuals were indeed lovely it felt a little like the black and white was used just to be more artsy. It felt a little forced, a little "hey look how important I am"

I will definitely give te film another viewing to see what happens. One thing I will say is that it is a film that stays a while with you. I have just yet to decide whether that is a positive or a negative

Saw this last night and I agree.

The movie feels more experimental than anything, like a cinematic "attempt." The ideas didn't get fleshed out and if there was something this movie wanted to say, it didn't come across.

The final act was the most developed imo.

My other issue was its use of black and white. It didn't feel sincere. Plus the movie looked a bit too clean. It felt like it takes place present day but was trying to take place in the past (maybe the 70's or so). It would have benefited from a dirtier look. Ultimately came off to me like it was trying a bit too hard.
That being said, the film A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night looks similarly clean but the b&w totally fit that film. I can't help but feel The Eyes of My Mother took a bit from Girl.

There are a few good scenes and some flashes of potential but does not come together.

I'd give it a C grade. I think this director does have potential.