Eye 3, The, (DVD)
Reviewed by Uncle Creepy
Starring Wilson Chen Bo Lin, Isabella Leung Lok Sze, and Kate Yeung
Directed by Danny and Oxide Pang
Distributed by Lionsgate Home Entertainment
In this latest chapter in the Pang Brothers’ Eye franchise, they propose to us, the viewer, that there are ten different ways to see ghosts. After watching this movie I can honestly say that I would have rather only seen one or two of them.
For those unfamiliar with The Eye films, basically they center on some unusual occurrence that gives the protagonist the ability to see ghosts. In the first film a woman was given the corneas of a dead person’s eyes so that she could see. In the second suicidal pregnant women were given the ghostly gift of sight. Here in The Eye 3 or The Eye 10 (as it was known in overseas) those ways are touted by a group of curious teens as two of the ten ways that you are able to see ghosts. This film focuses on the others. Needless to say, our really annoying teen stars just have to try out the other eight for themselves; however, they are unprepared for the consequences, which prove to be deadly.
Ya know, I really have to ask myself what in the world the Pang Brothers were thinking here. The Eye is a superb film that every Asian horror film fan should see. It was riddled with genuine scares and some absolutely incredible and horrific imagery. Even The Eye 2 had some meritable and memorable bits. Despite its “insert a jumpscare every five minutes™” approach, it somewhat worked and made for an enjoyable little spookfest. On the other hand, right from its opening minutes The Eye 3 seems like a happy-go-lucky romp with little to no sense of horror or dread. The opening credit sequence is about as cutesy and annoying as anything Hello Kitty™ has stamped her image on.
Things pick up for a little bit as the ghost sightings start. To be honest, there are a few really spooky scenes in the film’s first half, but everything in the film’s second half goes straight to hell in a handbasket. The climax is one of the dumbest things I have ever had the mispleasure of sitting through. The ghosts go from evil-looking spectres to badly rendered blurry sprites of ordinary humans. My mouth hung agape as the stupidity unfolded before my very eyes. I still am having trouble believing that this piece of cliche ridden drivel came from the same folks that brought us the far superior original.
With regard to extras, we get two featurettes that were pretty good and a lot of fun. One focuses on the ten ways to see ghosts while the other is a brief making-of. I’d be a lot happier with these if the film itself didn’t eat a copious amount of rancid ass.
Bottom line: There are many better ways to see ghosts than sitting through the pain and torment that is The Eye 3 including, but not limited to, shadow puppets, old Casper™ comics, and oh yeah, the other two films in the series. Shame on you, Danny and Oxide. Shame, shame, shame! *waves finger in stern manner*
Special Features
1 1/2 out of 5
Special Features:
2 out of 5
Discuss The Eye 3 in our Dread Central forums!
Categorized:Reviews
