The Eye (Gin gwai) (2002)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jeff "

  
  The Eye is terrific horror film. I've really dipped into the whole Asian horror films, but I have managed to see a few films.As a horror fan, I was stunned and how good this was. I love the Asian flair in creating atmospheric, and tense horror. Thats really the key in creating a… More
  The Eye is terrific horror film. I've really dipped into the whole Asian horror films, but I have managed to see a few films.As a horror fan, I was stunned and how good this was. I love the Asian flair in creating atmospheric, and tense horror. Thats really the key in creating a good horror yarn, the atmosphere. If you don't have that in your film, well you're pretty much screwed. The Eye directed by The Pang Brothers is a well executed horror film that has plenty of jolts to creep out the viewer. You have to give Asians props for creating tense, atmospheric horror. They are rewriting the horror rule book, and creating several memorable horror films along the way. However the American market is bent on remaking all of them, to very mediocre results. The Eye recounts the story a girl who lost her eyesight atr a young age, and she gets a new pair of eyes from a doner. After the operation, she starts seeing ghostly figures with her new eyes. A horrifying tale, The Eye will keep you on the edge of your seat and creep you out till the very end. The Pang Brothers have made a terrific film and it delivers genuine scares. If you love this, stay away from the remake that film is terrible like with every other Asian horror remake. The original The Eye will never be surpassed and is one of the most original, and thrilling Asian horror films in many years.

• Lady D

  
  One of the best Asian ghost stories I've seen to date, not one that you have to keep guessing at, just one to sit back and allow the storyline to unfold. The film has the perfect amount of eerieness without making it a typical "scary movie" Totally enjoyable.

• Wahida K

  
  Some things are better left unseen

• Anthony L

  
  The creepiest horror film in years and, for me, the best Asian horror film so far. The 'Get out of my chair' scene is one of the most terrifying I've ever seen! Do not watch alone!!

• Nani V

  
  This version is scarier and much more interesting to watch.

• xGary X

  
  A young woman blinded as a little girl has an operation to restore her sight only to be haunted by ghostly apparitions and images of a black clad stranger. The Sixth Sense gets the J- horror treatment in this inventive Korean chiller. The premise is an interesting one and there are… More
  A young woman blinded as a little girl has an operation to restore her sight only to be haunted by ghostly apparitions and images of a black clad stranger. The Sixth Sense gets the J- horror treatment in this inventive Korean chiller. The premise is an interesting one and there are some very creative and effective visuals from the Pang brothers, although they are on occasion guilty of over egging it a little. The biggest problem with it is its schizophrenic nature; the first half has some genuinely chilling moments, particularly when she first regains her sight but half way through it changes tack and decides to be a supernatural thriller, and this part does not work half as well. Still, some of the imagery is brilliantly done and there are a couple of excellent scenes but it does not quite live up to its initial promise and suffers in comparison to its obvious cinematic inspiration by M. Night Shyamalan. Worth a look if you're into this kind of thing though.

• Craig S

  
  <u><b>Directed by:</u> The Pang Brothers.</b> <u><b>Starring:</u> Angelica Lee, Lawrence Chou, Chutcha Rujinanon.</b> In a world where hollywood films are pretty much the standard, that is all that the average person will ever see, when… More
  <u><b>Directed by:</u> The Pang Brothers.</b> <u><b>Starring:</u> Angelica Lee, Lawrence Chou, Chutcha Rujinanon.</b> In a world where hollywood films are pretty much the standard, that is all that the average person will ever see, when it comes to the 'horror' films they create, people have gotten used to the way they make them and think that by just having cheap jump scares and loud noises, that it is successful, when actually it is talentless and cheap....we can only rely on other countries to provide us something right and with The Eye, we have it. And I still cannot believe people have not found this film yet, it has been a favourite of mine for many years now and certainly still remains in my top 10 best horror films of all time. The story follows a young blind violinist who has been blind since she was 2 years old, she has grown up with only the sense of touch to guide her through life. One day she is optioned to receive a very experimental operation: A cornea transplant, so that she will be able to see again....but she starts to see more than she thought. The story alone is compelling, the main operation is actually that based on a true story and The Pang Brothers have taken that and made it into one hell of a compelling film. What helps to make this film work under the surface is that sense of mystery, we alone cannot imagine what it would be like for someone blinded there whole life to be given sight so suddenly and to include images that we might see as strange but to a blind person they cannot understand or fully comprehend anything they see. If a film with such an interesting story was given to some cheap hollywood 'for hire' director, it would most certainly be ruined....but with The Pang Brothers behind the camera, they understand the material so well (being that they wrote it) and know how to play off its strengths. They never rely on sudden noises or cheap scares, they use there cameras with such skill and inject pure tension that is slow and spine chilling....and with stylish imagery (and experimental editing by them as well) that blends into the story so well and adds another layer of atmosphere to the film, it is truly scary in many key scenes (the elevator scene is infamous). The score is actually quite quirky a lot of the time, sounding very playful in that strange Japanese way, but when it is required, its slow building and chilling. And in one hell of a rare occasion (over 20 years in fact), we have an amazingly strong lead in a horror film. Angelica Lee is very convincing, appearing truly scared by what her character sees and it helps us to feel even more scared....this is something that every 'modern horror' leading lady fails in. Not only does it succeed in creating some truly and genuinely scary scenes, it also works well at being a very compelling thriller and mystery. When I think of the Pang Brothers, I think 'horror'....and now that America is doing what it does best by being unoriginal and remaking this film, you must see this.

• Tsubaki S

  
  Generic, but it has some moments.

• Kylie B

  
  This is one of the creepiest Asian horrors, and also one that makes me cry like the girl I am at the finale. Angelica Lee is brilliant. Just hope that the remake flood doesn't ruin it, although I tend to like a lot of the remakes anyway...

• Drew S

  
  Overrated in the Asian Extreme cinema circles, but a decent horror movie nonetheless. It's got a sympathetic main character and more ambition than a typical slasher, as well as strong lead performances. The problems: the final act is terrible and the movie is not very scary.

• Luke B

  
  The Pang brothers bring their incredible sense of style, as demonstrated in 'Bangkok Dangerous' to present common themes in a brand new light. Even the credit sequence will have you unsettled with the hands against the sheets. They prove masters in keeping a well structured… More
  The Pang brothers bring their incredible sense of style, as demonstrated in 'Bangkok Dangerous' to present common themes in a brand new light. Even the credit sequence will have you unsettled with the hands against the sheets. They prove masters in keeping a well structured narrative pace, by adding just enough exposition sequences, some superb sad moments, puzzling mysteries and of course genuinely terrifying sequences. Among the terrifying sequences are the young boy who has lost his report card, the sudden shock of the calligraphy lesson, the weird and creepy scene at the butchers and best of all the fantastically shot elevator scene. Angelica Lee is brilliant as the terrorised woman, taking us through a wide range of emotions, as well as making us genuinely concerned about her well being. The supporting cast, do exactly this. We are never really brought into the worlds of any other character, which is a shame but does allow us to focus on just Mun. Like the Pang brother's inspiring style, where editing, writing and direction is concerned the cinematography is stunning, and represents a dark and sinister tone. Not only is this an action packed ending to add to the horror and drama, but it slides in nicely amongst the rest of the film, as well as showcasing some wonderful CGI and SFX. I'm also pleased to announce that it doesn't bottle out and give us a happy ending.

• Duncan R

  
  It had a very interesting premise, and it was very well made considering the small budget. But unfortunately, once it reaches it's climax, it starts to run out of steam.

• Lauren D

  
  The first 40 minutes were amazing. I actually was scared three times, which is amazing since I don't get scared from movies. With the exception of the scariest frickin' scene ever: Winkies scene in Mulholland Dr., when Patricia Arquette turns into the Mystery Man in Lost… More
  The first 40 minutes were amazing. I actually was scared three times, which is amazing since I don't get scared from movies. With the exception of the scariest frickin' scene ever: Winkies scene in Mulholland Dr., when Patricia Arquette turns into the Mystery Man in Lost Highway and the entire thing of Eraserhead. Nevertheless, three times I almost pooped my pants. Actually, after the second one I went and turned my light on. Seriously, that is extremely embarrassing to admit, but it freaked me out. I had seen the remake before this, which was better as a whole but I didn't find it scary at all. This one was frickin' freaky though after the first 40 minutes it got gay and I got bored. And turned my light back off.

• Doctor S

  
  Better than Dark Water, worse than Ju-On.

• alan j

  
  Film suffers from a weak leading actress, slow pacing, and a music score that tips off the viewer whenever a 'chilling moment' is about to occur. It would have been more effective if the movie played out more like 'Kairo' where the creepiness and weirdness… More
  Film suffers from a weak leading actress, slow pacing, and a music score that tips off the viewer whenever a 'chilling moment' is about to occur. It would have been more effective if the movie played out more like 'Kairo' where the creepiness and weirdness permeated unabated; parts of this film have that manufactured melodramatic feel. Certainly there are some memorable visuals which will give the viewer goosebumps, but the plodding pace and uneveness of much of the film tends to minimize the overall effectiveness; 3 stars for the pretty powerful ending.

• Anthony V

  
  The original Asian version of the Eye incorporates some great Asian (specifically Thai) mythology and is extremely scary.

• Chris M

  
  A genuinely terrifying and creepy ghost story that packs a few good scary scenes.

• Christopher B

  
  Unbelievably awesome and creepy horror film. When this came out it was really exciting to see the lengths the Pang Bros would go to send a shiver down your spine. Now a lot of their tricks are old hat, but boy, at the time what a kick ass horror film this was.

• Nicky M

  
  A nicely freaky Japanese ghost story about a woman who starts to see things when she gets a cornea replacement. One of my faves in J-Horror! subtitled

• John M

  
  A haunting history. One of the best movies from Asia that keep you glue to your sit till the shocking ending.

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