Paul P. Powell — 6 months ago(September 18, 2025 03:05 AM)

Recently sought out and obtained a copy of the notable 'body-horror' classic from 1960, "
Eyes Without a Face
" (FR). Photographed in B-&-W; English subtitles provided.
Overall I was highly surprised and pleased at how excellently-handled it was.
I'm not much a fan of horror movies in general. Prefer low-budget horror if I have any say about it. Either way, horror is only at a level 3-4 genres above my least favorite, (science fiction).
In this case I admit that beforehand, I expected jerky, 'hurried' editing that typifies the worst traits of the horror genre that usually deter me.
But this baroque tale is smoothly narrated. No cheap, 'sudden swerves' or unexpected jolts. All very placid and serene.
Not only narrative smoothness stands out, but there's also just a mature sensibility exhibited in every aspect of the production.
At no point during its length will you find anything juvenile, sadistic, or malicious. It doesn't 'pander' or stoop.
Nothing tacky, crass, or in poor taste.
All the twisted characters –especially the highly-distraught leading female –are handled sensitively. The emotions are convincing.
The story is gruesome –the suspense is Hitchcockian –but the mood is one of elegy and woe.
Presumably this was all a labor-of-love on the part of the director. He seems to be searching out the nature of 'beauty' rather than disgust. Maybe the story meant something personal to him.
Ah well.
Since viewing this unusual flick I'm reflecting back over any similar movies I might ever have enjoyed previously, imbued with this same morbid theme.
There is one title which was my favorite for a long time. John Frankenheimer's
'Seconds'
(1966) starring Rock Hudson and photographed by the great James Wong Howe. A truly disturbing, nerve-rattling shocker.
It's really rare these days that any one of my longstanding favorite pictures is dislodged from its pedestal by another candidate. But in this case, that's what happened.
'
Eyes Without a Face
'
is my firm pick now, for best body-horror I've ever seen on screen.
Reminder: I admire it even though I'm not at all a fan of horror movies.
Paul P. Powell, Pool Player