Starry Eyes (2014) (Movie Review)
Directed By: Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer
Starring: Alex Essoe, Amanda Fuller, Noah Segan
Rated: UR/Region A/2:35/1080p/Number of Discs 1
Available from MPI HOME VIDEO
Determined to make it as an actress in Hollywood, Sarah Walker spends her days working a dead-end job, enduring petty friendships and going on countless casting calls in hopes of catching her big break. After a series of strange auditions, Sarah lands the leading role in a new film from a mysterious production company. But with this opportunity comes bizarre ramifications that will transform her both mentally and physically into something beautiful… and altogether terrifying. From the producer of Cheap Thrills and Jodorowsky s Dune, Dennis Widmyer & Kevin Kolsch s STARRY EYES is an occult tale of ambition, possession, and the true cost of fame.
When I was a kid in grammar school, there was a boy in class that wanted to be apart of the “cool kids”. In order to hang out with them, they made him give them baseball cards. Not just any baseball cards, but the good ones. We’re talking 1994 Topps Black Gold inserts good. This movie here is like that on a whole other level. It is that on an extreme level. We’ve all heard the conspiracy theories and dark rumors about Hollywood and how you become apart of that “in” crowd. If you haven’t, just search for it on YouTube and pop some pop-corn. We’ve heard the weird tales of evil parties and people selling their souls for fame. We’ve not really seen any movies based on that sort of thing that I can at least recall (or recall seeing) and that is what Starry Eyes does and does well. We follow a girl named Sarah, who is played by Alex Essoe in a star marking performance as she tries to find her big break in the movie business. Seeing as how working at a restaurant and working on her friend’s little indie film isn’t good enough, Sarah, goes all out to land a movie role in a much bigger production, but will she go all in for the part? The movie also takes time here and there for a laugh, which at times comes across as random a bit, but the dark humor is sort of what makes the movie what it is. The movie is just really interesting overall and extremely entertaining in a whole lot of ways.
The film also really builds up to a grand ending that just pushes things to a whole new level. We’re talking blood, gore, nudity, creepy visuals, but most importantly the nudity ( I kid, I kid). If you are watching this movie and you find yourself on the fence on if you indeed do dig it or not, then you will find the last fifteen or so minutes to be amazingly brutal and incredibly scary. Not that anything we get before that sucks, but the movie builds up to this ending very well. The film is already spooky before, but what we get in the final act just makes it terrifying. I do enjoy an original idea and I think if nothing else most people will be able to appreciate the acting and the originality of the movie. There is some emotion to be found deep down in the sometimes comedic but often creepy world Starry Eyes shows us. I can really stand behind something like this and I’d certainly recommend you seek this out, no matter if it is by VOD or the actual release. Regardless of how you choose to see it, I think you will find it to be money well spent. I heard it said that “Fame is the thirst for youth”. While you have to watch and see if our leading lady ever reaches her goal or does what it takes to reach the goal, I will say that as far as this film goes, I think we’ve gotten a movie on our hands that you will be hearing about for years to come and the legend of it will probably bloom into cult film status, where I think it rightfully belongs.
Extras
-Commentary with writer-directors Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kolsch, and producer Travis Stevens
-Deleted Scenes
-Jonathan Snipes Music Video
-Alex Essoe Audition Video
-Behind-the-Scenes Photo Gallery
-Trailer
Quality of Transfer: 93%
