Julia's Eyes   Starring: Belén Rueda, Lluís Homar and Julia Gutiérrez Caba Optimum Home Entertainment RRP: £17.99 OPTD2030 Certificate: 15 Available 12 September 2011

Julia is a young woman who is suffering from a degenerative eye disease. When she becomes distressed her vision darkens with frightening results. Her twin sister, Sara, who has undergone a similar experience, is found dead from a suspected suicide. Although all the experts try to tell her she is being ridiculous and over-reacting, Julia is suspicious to the extent that she becomes convinced her sister was murdered. As she begins to retrace Sara’s last movements, she becomes aware of a dark presence just out of reach. As those around her become affected by her investigations and begin to die, Julia’s anxiety builds and her vision fades, with frightening results...

As a lover of the masterpiece that was Pan’s Labyrinth, I’ve made it a point to discover the films of Guillermo Del Toro. Chronos, The Devil’s Backbone, and even a book trilogy (how long before they are made into a movie?). In the case of Julia’s Eyes, as with The Orphanage, Del Toro takes the producer’s role. Guillem Morales, director of the supernatural horror, The Uncertain Guest, takes the reigns. He impressed Del Toro with his script, and with only a couple of requested minor changes, we get a taut thriller. It’s not the most original idea ever to make it to celluloid (in fact, it does have some similarities to Hammer’s recent release, The Resident), but put away those subtitles blinkers and get ready for an enjoyable ride.

There are times when Julia’s Eyes appears to incorporate supernatural elements. The presence mentioned above seems to be inspired in some respects from the Death figure in the original The Eye. This film, however, uses the element to explore a real and mundane reason for not being noticed in normal day to day life. What it really says it that if you are not important to the extent that you believe it yourself, then you can use it to your advantage and literally walk past people without being seen. Put simply, it is a metaphor and a lesson in life.

I was looking forward to the interview with Guillermo Del Toro, but the moment I sat down it was all over. This was true for all four interviews, each lasting barely two minutes. Even the B-Roll piece is only around three minutes. It’s a shame to be so short-changed by the extras, when the film itself deserves more.

7

Ty Power