I'll start off by saying that this original Hong Kong version of The Eye is MUCH better than the remake that stars the useless Jessica Alba, and is much creepier also.
I'd actually seen the remake before seeing this original version, and while I thought it was OK, I couldn't get into it because of Alba. Having now recently watched this original version, there's no doubt which one I thought was better.
Ringu was good. Ju-on was good. Dark Water was good. The Eye, however, surpasses those, and is definitely the best Asian horror film that I've seen to date. I loved everything about this film, and even the acting was really good (which is sometimes one of the things that ISN'T good about these films). The music score was excellent adding to what was already a creepy atmosphere; the story was intriguing and well written; and the cinematography was well executed, bringing us some great shots especially during the more creepier scenes.
Speaking of creepy scenes, The Eye has some of the best I've seen in a horror movie for quite a while, and I think the only recent movies to match atmosphere and true tension for me was Sinister, Insidious, and As Above, So Below. The scare scenes in this film WILL freak you out. I mean just to name two alone...the hospital corridor with the older woman and elevator scenes. I defy anyone to watch those scenes and not feel at least a little uneasy.
CGI is usually very minimal in Asian horrors, and it's no different in The Eye with the majority of the SFX coming in the last few scenes of the movie. There are the odd moments CGI used for the scarier scenes, but they're really used as "touch up" techniques, so it's not as if this is a CGI-fest, which is good as practical effects can actually be scarier if done right, which they are here.
I honestly can't speak highly enough for this film, and if you enjoy Asian horror, like the films I mentioned earlier, then you (should) enjoy The Eye.
Definitely recommended.
I'd actually seen the remake before seeing this original version, and while I thought it was OK, I couldn't get into it because of Alba. Having now recently watched this original version, there's no doubt which one I thought was better.
Ringu was good. Ju-on was good. Dark Water was good. The Eye, however, surpasses those, and is definitely the best Asian horror film that I've seen to date. I loved everything about this film, and even the acting was really good (which is sometimes one of the things that ISN'T good about these films). The music score was excellent adding to what was already a creepy atmosphere; the story was intriguing and well written; and the cinematography was well executed, bringing us some great shots especially during the more creepier scenes.
Speaking of creepy scenes, The Eye has some of the best I've seen in a horror movie for quite a while, and I think the only recent movies to match atmosphere and true tension for me was Sinister, Insidious, and As Above, So Below. The scare scenes in this film WILL freak you out. I mean just to name two alone...the hospital corridor with the older woman and elevator scenes. I defy anyone to watch those scenes and not feel at least a little uneasy.
CGI is usually very minimal in Asian horrors, and it's no different in The Eye with the majority of the SFX coming in the last few scenes of the movie. There are the odd moments CGI used for the scarier scenes, but they're really used as "touch up" techniques, so it's not as if this is a CGI-fest, which is good as practical effects can actually be scarier if done right, which they are here.
I honestly can't speak highly enough for this film, and if you enjoy Asian horror, like the films I mentioned earlier, then you (should) enjoy The Eye.
Definitely recommended.