Superficially, this is an archetypal slasher movie, welding the time-honoured Old Dark House scenario to the most modern of devices: a web-cast reality show. This particular high concept was inevitable, but rather than surfacing for the straight to video market, it's in the hands of Marc Evans, whose previous credits include Welsh incest drama House of America (1997) and Belfast-set thriller Resurrection Man (1998). An intriguing, if not always successful director, Evans uses an almost experimental approach here: every scene is shot on locked-off low-fi cameras, with sequences in darkness appearing in eerie green night-vision. The sound, by music veterans Bias, is rumbling and effective, too.
But the whole venture is sunk by our old friend, the Script. The housemates are bland beyond belief - even Big Brother's mob was appealing in a masochistic kind of way - and after the credits we're plunged straight into Month Six without ado. Sketchy attempts later on to add depth to the inhabitants - say, finding out their darkest childhood fears - just seem laboured, and there's no good reason to care what happens to any of them. It takes an age for the penny to drop about exactly what threat they face, and in the meantime, events simply aren't frightening or engaging enough. We must take it as read than the dreary lot are unsettled - they all say 'This fucking house!' enough - but there's no suspense. Troublesome new developments are introduced and resolved within frames. Its bravely bleak conclusion just shows up a host of plot loopholes, and makes a nonsense of what's gone before.
It's a seductive notion that blood-thirsty American teens will be drawn into seeing My Little Eye only to go home chastened by its searing critique of 21st Century voyeurism and violence. In truth, though, it's just not sharp or incisive enough to satirise what it depicts. It's the old conundrum: it will most easily attract and please those who enjoy that which it seeks to deconstruct. Curiously, the whole film most resembles two TV dramas by scriptwriting master Nigel Kneale: his The Year of the Sex Olympics (1968) satirises the notion of a murderous reality TV show in the middle of nowhere, while The Stone Tape (1972) creates a terrifying atmosphere in an old, isolated house festooned with modern technology. Sadly, My Little Eye isn't as convincing as either, and there's no more damning failure than being less on the ball about today's society than something made thirty years ago.
Reader comments about My Little Eye
dominique (Email address withheld) writes:
I saw this film a week ago and still cannot get it out of my head. The pure 'creepiness' of it is mindblowing. Although the ending is not much to marvel at, and is a bit dissapointing, the all round storyline is pretty good.
The acting is well done, especially from Rex (kris Lemche) who was very believable as the lonely outcast, and the camera angles make it very much above average in the scary film genre.
I recommend this to people who love films like this, but not to those who don't. Its nothing special here, but it can be a nice worthwhile watch.
Graham Parker, Newcastle (Email address withheld) writes:
Saw the trailers, read the reviews - 'Scarier than the Exorcist' and 'You will not sleep for a week'. WHAT BOLLOCKS! DO NOT SEE THIS FILM, it is about as scary as the Scooby Doo Movie. I was thorougly let down, after watching for a full hour and no ACTION, the director obviously thought I had better add some gore to the proceedings. This is Big Brother meets Blair Witch, and you all saw Jade with no clothes on, well that is about a scary as this film gets!
NEIL RUTSON (neil@rutson68.freeserve.co.uk) writes:
Can anyone send me any details about the music featured in My Little Eye. I thought it was by Bias but cannot find any recent albums or a soundtrack.
Susan (Email address withheld) writes:
This film was way over-rated. People made it out to be scary, which it was no where near. They said Blair Witch Project was a scary film, scariest ever! but turned out to be the most crappest and this is what My Little Eye is like. Think of Big Brother, add some Blair Witch Porject, Throw in some stupid american teens who cant act for the life in them and you have My Little Eye.
Matt (Email address withheld) writes:
Absolutely appalling. I like some acting in my films, and a storyline helps as well. This was so bad it wasn't even funny. Don't waste your life watching it.
sean starkie (Email address withheld) writes:
went to watch this film the other day it was o.k well eorth seeing! and there is a story line which you find out at the start and throughout the film, remember the million dollar thing?
Humphry Gibbons (Email address withheld) writes:
Scuse me! What would your mother think about this film mr director, i would be very intrested to know. I wasted my money watching it and i was very, i will say it again VERY annoyed because it was very ludicras because it had nudity in it and very fowl langague i thought i had stepped into porn film thing... but i was ashamed!
fatbob (Email address withheld) writes:
At the end of it you kinda felt like you had watched a fake snuff movie. There was little plot on what had been a promising idea, and so it just degenerated into violence and killings. It ended up just being a gratuitous display of "this is what we think a snuff movie is like.
Overall it was pants
Stacey (Email address withheld) writes:
i saw the film and it may not have been the most brilliant film ever but it wasnt the worst like everyone has made out! I just thought the story line needed a bit of work but other then that it was pretty scary! Go see this film its a must!
peter (griffliken@hotmail.com) writes:
Come on someone must know some thing about the music
Chris (dirtyhorse53@hotmail.com) writes:
The music during the sex scene is "Fuck the Pain Away" by Peaches from album "The Teaches of Peaches" is all i know of the music.
great film, that songs great
Jo (Email address withheld) writes:
Went watchin the film last week and after all the hype was extremeley dissapointed. The idea was there but nothing was done with it - im yet to see a film that promises to be scary and really is - thoroughly dissapointing.
J. P. (jp.rennie@virgin.net) writes:
Neil/ Peter, I know that one of the tracks in the film is 'Any Day Now' by Elbow, but thats about all. If anyone knows the closing title track, could they post a message?
mike keogh (Email address withheld) writes:
well the story was something new and inventive, the murders were very graphic and disturbing, the camera work was creative(especially the night vision shots made them "demonic") so come on aint that what you went to see.
Kerso (Email address withheld) writes:
Have to say I thought Andy Murray's crit on My Little Eye was absolutely spot-on. The soundtrack provided all the frights, simply by providing a loud noise to make you jump. There were so many wasted opportunities here. The characters should have been fleshed out early on, but instead a selection of "scary moments" flashbacks failed to do the job. All that said, it was still a million times better than Blair Witch!
sandra (Email address withheld) writes:
Bad acting and lack of script were just the start of problems with this film. The plot was full of holes and the ending had no suspense whats so ever. It aimed for cheap thrills and didnt even manage that.
I left the cinema quite bewildered at how such a film got made at all, let alone got on to the cinema. The 3 videos for a Ģ1 basket is best place for this "film"
rachel (Email address withheld) writes:
it really relates to reality tv today and leaves toy with a question like is it possible for people in reality tv to be disturbed by the closure and do you feel counselling should be offered.
Haddon (Email address withheld) writes:
Erm, i thort this was a horror film, not a sick perverted snuff movie. It was good until sumone died and the suffocation bag scene was just sick. I mean what the fuck, it was horrible watching that, and the killing scenes, this will just make the sick perverts out there even worse. I mean all the sexual no no's were covered: autoerotic asphyxiation, snuff, rape and probably necrophilia if that beckham lookalike was gonna rape emma.
Utter shit, do not see this film.
charlie (Email address withheld) writes:
my little eye, went to see it the other day and came out of the cinema very dissapointed. there were a few scary bits but nothing to write home about. the whole script thing was a bit shit, how the fuck did they no about the girl and the kitten thing?
ali (Email address withheld) writes:
Erm, so this film didn't scare the pants off anyone else or make you want to run from the cinema screaming? Right that'll just be me then.
stev ashbridge (stevenashbridge@hotmail.com) writes:
This film is total garbage. It was about as scary as watching the teletubbies... ok it wasn't even that scary!!! However the soundtrack was awesome, someone tell us when we can buy it.
jessika (Email address withheld) writes:
Not worth watching. Cast were dull boring and untalented. Script was badly written and dry. Storyline had potential however was not explioted.
Very big letdown.
amanda (Email address withheld) writes:
not great, but kinda wierdly interesting! after seeing it, i was disappointed how it wasn't even a horror film after being advertised that way, but i was still enthralled - kris lemche as rex was great - but the rest of the cast were bor-ing. go see it, but don't expect to be scared!
dr boto (Email address withheld) writes:
well, i liked it, but what do i know?
the incidental music is by bias who are producer/engineers flood, alan moulder and rob kirwan. the only other stuff that i've found by them under the name bias is on the soundtrack to manchester united: beyond the promised land - it's nothing like the my little eye music and quite frankly if you haven't heard it, you're not missing anything
Simon Harvey (simonharvey@btinternet.com) writes:
I hate scary films. To me this was scary, and i wouldn't watch it again. BUT it was worth paying the admission just to hear the song at the closing credits. i've also been trying to figure out who it was. Now I know! Great soundtrack in general, but not available to my knowledge
The band is Bikini Atoll and have an official web site at http://www.batoll.com/main.html
the song is called desolation highway
Kayla (Email address withheld) writes:
Horrible!! The acting made me sick...especially Jennifer Sky's acting ability, I was dissappointed. Very unrealistic, but I do have to give props to the actors who took the roles....they have guts. I defiantly do not recommend this film!
The Polar Bear (Email address withheld) writes:
I've watched millions of horror movies, and this is by far my favourite. Crafting a realistic, tense thriller that gradually spins into a full-blown horror film, Mark Evans has succeeded in upping the ante in horror realism and certainly sets a new standard for the use of sound within films. Internet buzzes and crackles are used to startling effect, and the nightmare ending is a fist to the face. The natural successor to The Blair Witch Project. Fantastic
Carina (Email address withheld) writes:
Well, I just saw this movie at the Gothenburg Film Festival, and up until Charlie's character is strangled, I thought it was bloody brilliant! The story line isn't of paramount importance when making a psychological thriller, which is what the film was until the scene mentioned above, after which it sort of turned into Friday the 13th or Halloween or whathaveyou. And by the way - they knew about the neighbour and the kitten from Emma's diary, which the killer (can't remember his name)mentions near the end.
f64 (Email address withheld) writes:
i'm wondering. i just listened to the album version of Peaches 'Fuck the pain away', and it sounded different in the movie. i'm thinking that it might have been that kid606 remix of it.
anyone got any clue on that?
Travis (Email address withheld) writes:
Ok I have to say that its getting a bit annoying hearing people saying it wasnt horror do you not find someones head being removed from there body with a large axe horrible?.The film is brill and so is the cast 10/10.Go and watch it or ill sign you up for the next show.
TRAV
Gracie (Email address withheld) writes:
Watched My Little Eye last night. Thought it was very good. Very atmospheric.the girl who played Emma reminded me very much of Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby. Thought the acting was ok.
neil cooper (Email address withheld) writes:
I thought the film was quite good, sound was unique, left me with a slightly 'disturbed' feeling!
Would only recommend if you like horror films, and dont expect too much from the acting/ script.
Ryan (Email address withheld) writes:
Soundtrack
Elbow - Any Day Now
Peaches - Fuck The Pain Away
Echoboy - Wasted Spaces
Bikini Atoll - Desolation Highway
That's all i get? Don't think there's enough for an official release of this soundtrack is it was/is a low budget film.
Good one however :)
paul dell (LIQUIDSNAKE12A@aol.com) writes:
saw this film last night and was left quite bewildered after watching it.
had good twist at the end
but at least it teaches about how you think you can trust people.
god face (bob@hotmail.com) writes:
Ive seen loads a horror filmz, and to all the people who thought this was $hite, cant have seen that many other horror filmz....................
or they wouldnt watch any at all ......
cos this is far better than 90% of the horror filmz out there.
Good suspense, nice camera + sound.
Dont forget a decent horror film is hard to pull off!!!!
Shell (Email address withheld) writes:
you either love this film or you hate it, I seen it a few months ago and I enjoyed it, I loved the soundtrack, fair enough the acting wasnt fantastic but the genral idea was pretty good, I recomend watching this film when you dont have much of a idea what its about, and make up your own mind
Jamie (Email address withheld) writes:
Well i just watched this film and i was a little bit disapointed with the lack of plot. They did TRY to make a new type of film because most people are bored with traditonal horror films, and blair witch and my little eye are similar. But the film lost a lot of opportunities, it was pretty obvious that he was going to kill her during the massage, i mean come on he said: "Scared..." then there is a bout a 30 second gap before he killed her.
crap
C3PO (bissellcelia@hotmail.com) writes:
My little eye was a great film, the characters were fresh and i was not disappointed with there acting ability, it was quite shocking the bit with the axe because it looked so real. I found the film quite disturbing it made me think about how many sick, twisted, disturbed and basically bored indidviduals there are out there, which are really doing these kind of things. I guess thats the problem with having too much power in society and an endless amount of money, you always want more, and you easily get bored.
LEE (Email address withheld) writes:
I have to say that this film was made in a clever way that put the creepers up me!! It has a hint on the Blair Witch Project in it with the shaky camera angles and also it has hints of The Evil Dead, even though it's a slow moving film at the begining once you find out what's going on it's even more scarier, and I can safely say I won't be watching it again because afterwards I was afraid to be alone!! You never know who you can trust any more!!
Julian De Cruz (Email address withheld) writes:
New and refreshing! That's how I would choose to sum up 'My Little Eye'. Like most of the contributors to this page, I feel that the horror genre was in need of a overhaul and MLE does it very well.
I really hate films that lack in imagination where the only way to scare you is to provide copious amounts of blood and guts. This was different in that it let your imagination do the work. Best of all there was no ludicrous, rubbery and downright disappointing alien baddie at the end to ruin all of the films hardwork (ala Jeepers Creepers).
Storyline was kept simple, sound used very well (especially the cufew klaxon) and the camera effects/angles were original. However, I do agree that the characters weren't developed enough. This initially left you unable to identify with them, particularly during the "Stupid Bitch" bathroom scene and the "hanging" scene.
On the otherhand, the scares were done very well and when the main plot unfolds it left me chilled and un-nerved.
Some of the best films start off slowly and build up into a crescendo and that's what happens here. I watched this film with no idea or pre-conceptions about the storyline and was (un?)pleasantly surprised . Overall, it's certainly worth going to see. Let's face it, you could really waste your time and see 1 hour photo.
Pete Harley (Email address withheld) writes:
A message to Andy Murray:- Sir, you are a fool.
YOu are clearly stuck in a filmic time warp and refuse to even consider liking a film that was made in the past 25 years. I admit, 'My Little Eye" is not the best film ever made, but it was of a decent enough quality to hold the viewer in suspense for much of the time. After reading your review I can safely say that the films mentioned at the end of your review were nowhere near the quality you say they were and it is this kind of snobbery which stops new directors from pushingthe envelope. I felt quite annoyed by some of the comments after the review as they spoil any surprises that were in the film, as it gets frustrating if you know what happens to some of the characters. In conclusion, "My Little Eye" was a great film and the major downside that I can see with it is that the makers compared it to that vomit-inducing piece of shite that was "The Blair Witch Project".
Deanne (Deanne.Dixon@ncl.ac.uk) writes:
Firstly, I agree with Polar Bear. 'My Little Eye' is by far the best horror I have ever seen. For those of you who hated it...why are you on it's website?! Few comments to make though. Danny, if he was as disturbed and childlike as we are made to believe, why didn't he commit suiced earlier? Emma's reaction to his carving of a cat, not only went against the whole persona of the character (I got the impression that she was the senslble, mature and non-judgemental one), laughing at Danny seemed to undermine any preconceptions we had of Emma. On the flip-side of the coin, given Emma's bad experience with the guy with the cat thrown into the swimming pool, surely she would not have laughed on receiving such a gift, but cried? One major flaw (or if your glass is half-full, 'suspense tool') was the discovery of the betting odds on the internet. What were the people actually betting on? Was it who would die first? Who would be the last in the house? Or who the killer was? Many people that I have spoken to about the film said that the unclarity of such a significant issue meant that they were distracted from the rest of the film. the ending, unique and an anti-thesis to every horror movie before it. Is it not traditional for the good guy to kill the slasher-stalker dude despite impending death? Well here you have the murder of the slasher-stalker by a bigger criminal! The music was great by the fact it did not create suspense, the suffocation of Charlie being far more disturbing because there was no musical interlude to suggest it was imminent. Overall, really enjoyed it.
clest (Email address withheld) writes:
The version of f*** the pain away in the film is not the same as peaches on the album. Any idea how to get hold of the film version?
mick cook (mick cook14@blueyonder.co.uk) writes:
my little eye well! music spot on acting so so well directed maybe a hint of mr kubrick in there but all in all well worth a look! no doubt a my little eye 2 will be made to take something away from this one?
mike (Email address withheld) writes:
the only reason i watched this film id because i was living in ireland and saw a poster that aid it was filmed in newfoundland. now having been searching the web it appears as though this was filmed in nova scotia. can anybody tell me where it was actually filmed and where it was actually based?
Kim (Email address withheld) writes:
Well i found my little eye kinda rubbish but it is not as bad as Wrong Turn, i read some of the comments and people are right horror films are hard to make good, there are very few really good horror films out there.
Laura (kisuliini_82@hotmail.com) writes:
I saw this movie a few moths ago,
and I must say it scared me..
I wouldnīt have gone to see it to the cinema, but my boyfriend bought the tickets..anyway, I think that itīs a good one, in all its creepiness and
psychological cruelty..
I totally lived the movie as the actors did, and I was a bit shocked by the ending..
Nikodemus (Email address withheld) writes:
Great movie! It's the most scary movie for me since The silence of the lambs. After the non very thrilling beginning the movie becomes better and better, and I'm sure you will get goose skin.
XelaG (Email address withheld) writes:
This film is disgusting. I love horror movies, because they take me out of daily reality (escapism?). Snuff and child pornography are, unfortunately, a very sick reality. My Little Eye exalts snuff, and gives you no escape or alternative except be sick or, if you are addicted to snuff, enjoy it. I'm not. I wish I had been warned.
My 2 eurocents.
Kennedy (Email address withheld) writes:
I watched this film last night and thought it was brilliant - very different
The acting was spot on, and the paranoia of all the characters is expertly portrayed.
Excellent sound track too.
xxx
Lujain (Email address withheld) writes:
i think that this movie is amazing, i really loved (Rex)..the ending was a bit shocking but i hope that there would be my little eye 2 .. :)
Bo (Bo_smith82@hotmail.com) writes:
I thought this movie was great and it left you feeling creepy.
The plot was a bit strange though - the characters don't seem to have time to arrive and settle in, and develop relations with each other - they seem oddly plastic. With people stuck together in the middle of nowhere around you would expect more tempers flaring about petty things, and more talk and stuff - they seemed too ready to wait quietly for the time period to be up and get the money.
If you watch reality and Big Brother - people on those shows act like they are being watched - they are play themselves up to the max, even if it is only for viewers on the net. Also there were a few loose ends in the plot and things that were confusing, but as far as freaking you out it doesn't do too badly.
Drew (prisonerofxero@yahoo.com) writes:
Ok, I've always been a big fan of the horror films. The 90's was kind of disapointing, but lately the scene of good, and purely horrific movies have made a rise. It is a shame the industry doesn't get as much notice from the public. I am still waiting to see a high budget H.P. Lovecraft film. Let me know if there is such a thing! Anyways, the movie was great. Was definately worth staying up late on a work night to watch. Long live horror!
Zappa (creepies@hotmail.com) writes:
When given the choice of watching My Little Eye or Braindead and I chose the latter because Braindead is quite simply the epitomy of classic 80's horror whereas My Little Eye is nasty and disturbing trash.
I notice that there is no review slot for brain dead which IS a crime!!!
James (darkpriince@hotmail.com) writes:
The movie is a must see for classic--and I mean CLASSIC-- horror fans. The plot is okay (five strangers will get 1 million dollars if they can reside in a spooky house for 6 long months; except, towards the end of their stay, a turn of horrific events endanger the 5 lives, who are trapped in the isolated house), but what makes this a real hitter is the camera techniques (the movie is seen through the lens of digital surveillance cameras) which evoke a more REAL feeling, attaching the audience to the actualities taking place on screen. Although the cast is fairly nameless, they do an awesome, convincing job with an average screenplay. If you enjoyed "28 Days Later", you'll defenitely enjoy "My Little Eye".
P.S. If anyone knows where i can download (over the internet) the last soundtrack piece--"Desolation Highway" by Bikini Atoll-- which plays during the ending credits, please, please email me.
Fallenangel (Email address withheld) writes:
Fisrt off for the people who say the actors didn't know how to act. They really weren't supposed to. HAS ANY ONE WATCHED A REALITY TV SHOW!!! the people there can't act worth a shit eaither. this was meant to be so if people say they couldn't act this was where the actors did their job.
Very Creative! angles when shooting a film are mainlt boring but this one moves you around the set nicely giving you a feel for cams set up in a room.
People here don't know shit.
Loved the Soundtrack
Amy (SprSxyChik69@aol.com) writes:
Ok, this wasn't a "scary" movie as people normally think of the word "scary." For people who think, this movie is actually pretty damn scary.
Not so much for the movie itself or what happens in it, but that it could actually happen to any one of us.
I was trying to explain it to someone and I basically told them it was a "B" type movie and the set and actors weren't great; but the plot and meaning behind it were. I'd recommend it to my friends, although shallow, non-thinking type of people probably wouldn't like it much.
billybob (Email address withheld) writes:
one good thing about this movie - the soundtrack.the rest?poor to say the least.
Blaze Bailey (Email address withheld) writes:
In a word, average.
I would recommend this film to people who are not film buffs or movie zealots because it does not challenge any established form visually and intellectually.
The yah boo sucks style of movie criticism is too deep for me.
Nice soundtrack.
t0asta (Email address withheld) writes:
if they made 6 more songs to the soundtrack they would have had a classic, film was average
Amanda (Email address withheld) writes:
This movie wasn't overly disappointed. But the swearing was a little much. Every second word was the "eff" word. That's just disgusting and made the movie awkward to watch for me. The plotline was excellent, I really got into that. But personally, I thought it was sort of sick and twisted. I do know I won't ever watch it again. It's a one time movie, you see it, then you don't really care.
Lucieeeee (Email address withheld) writes:
I Saw it last night with my boyfriend on dvd and we thought it was bollocks, most of the scenes were overated, the plot was predictable. Dont bother wasting money on this film
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