Director: Kevin Kolsch, Dennis Widmyer
Writer: Kevin Kolsch, Dennis Widmyer (Screenplay)
Starring: Alex Essoe, Amanda Fuller, Noah Segan, Fabianne Therese, Shane Coffey, Natalie Castillo, Pat Healy, Nick Simmons
Plot: A hopeful young starlet uncovers the ominous origins of the Hollywood elite and enters into a deadly agreement in exchange for fame and fortune.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: How to Make a Film About Cults
Story: Starry Eyes starts with Sarah (Essoe) wanting to make sure she has the perfect body while working as a waitress while dreaming of becoming an actress. Sarah is surrounded by other aspiring actors and actresses including Tracy (Fuller), Danny (Segan), Erin (Therese) and Poe (Coffey) but Sarah could have finally found a role she is interested in and most off all she gets offered for audition for. After being treated like just another girl auditioning for a horror film Sarah ends up doing a stress relieving fit which the casting director witness forcing her to perform it on front of them.
Sarah does get the call back which sees her quit her job and go through a very unconventional audition leading to her potentially getting her big break. Sarah gets offered the role but there would have been a price she wasn’t prepared to make as Sarah walks into the darker side of the Hollywood story. Sarah tries to return to her friends but something has changed about her because of the brush with potential stardom she can’t let this chance go as she begs for another chance with the producer, but now she has to show how far she would go for the role as she learns that this company has ties to the occult.
Starry Eyes is a film that makes you think you know what is happening only to turn everything on its head leaving you breathless to what could possibly happen next. The look into the struggling actors wanting to become stars is very well done because it does look like they support each other you can see the jealousy running through the characters as they secretly hate any success another has. Making the casting director and producer the villainous character works perfectly too because we all know the rumor reputation Hollywood can have by forcing young actresses to prove how much they want a job. The whole flow of this film seems to come off effortlessly when we see the transformation that Sarah goes through with every action slowly building up to the final act of the film. This is a beautifully shot horror film that does keep you guessing all the way through. (8/10)
Actor Review
Alex Essoe: Sarah is a struggling actresses working as a waitress while trying to fit audition around the her work. She never gets a call back but this one role gives her that chance of stardom as she learns the dark side of Hollywood. Sarah has to question her morales and see if she would give up what she believes in to become a star. Alex gives us a brilliant performance coming seemingly from nowhere. (9/10)
Amanda Fuller: Tracy is Sarah’s best friend in the city, they support each other through the rejection in the industry and also support each other when they finally get a chance. Amanda does give us a simple supporting role that never really gets the time needed but ends looking like a distant fake friend. (6/10)
Noah Segan: Danny is anther friend who has the ambitious to make his own film but only when the time is right, he doesn’t have the money now and wants to us all the actors he is living with when he does. Noah shows how people can come off two face while trying to make it in the industry. (7/10)
Maria Olson: The Casting Director that pushes Sarah to new level she has never been pushed to before. She comes off very strange and ends up being the recruiter for the cult. Maria gives us a great creepy performance that will stay with you. (8/10)
Support Cast: Starry Eyes is filled with the supporting cast that sums up how difficult it would be to know who to trust while trying to make it in Hollywood each shows their true nature while coming off as a friend.
Director Review: Kevin Kolsch, Dennis Widmyer – The pair end up giving us a film that constantly keeps us guessing to what will happen next leaving us shocked with the twists and turns. (9/10)
Horror: Starry Eyes brings us into the world of the occult filling the check list for horror very easily as it fuels Sarah’s motives. (9/10)
Settings: Starry Eyes brings us to the settings to show the stage each character would be during their attempts to make it in thee acting industry. (9/10)
Special Effects: Starry Eyes uses great make up to show the transformation that Sarah ends up going through but seems to keep most of the film practical. (9/10)
Suggestion: Starry Eyes is a film that all horror fans must watch because it does come off original and will leave you shocked. (Horror Fans Watch)
Best Part: Sarah’s Transformation.
Worst Part: The second audition was difficult to watch due to the flashing lights which made my eyes hurt even though I feel it was important for the film.
Oh My God Moment: Transformation.
Scariest Scene: Accepting the transformation.
Believability: While I do think certain characters seem real the action are not. (3/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 38 Minutes
Tagline: She would kill to be famous.
Trivia: An audience member passed out during the climax of the film at the New York premier. The projectionist had to stop the film and turn on the lights as the audience member was escorted out. The movie was then rewound two minutes and started up again.
Overall: Starry Eyes will leave you shocked with the final outcome of the film
Rating
