FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL 2006

White of the Eye (USA, UK, 1987)

According to movie experts, this is director's Donald Cammell best movie. He is rarely known in the industry because he has had a rather cursed career. However, his films are visual masterpieces not to be missed. This movie has not been released for cinema; being shown only at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montréal. The film was kept in the shelves of the British Council of Censorship (or whatever the name is). For strange reasons and distribution complications, the movie was never released.

This is the story of Paul White, an audio and video equipment repairman. He has a strange hobby though: he kills rich and lonely women. When he commits his murders, he arranges the crime scene as a work of art, using the furniture (and body parts!) available to rearrange it all and create a new grotesque visual work of art, according to him. When his wife finds out and the local police start looking for him, all hell breaks loose. Paul White tries to stab his wife to death and shoot at his own little daughter.

The whole movie is very visual with a lot of opera and classical music playing in the background. The music sets the tone for several crime scenes and the ending is very well made. It reminds me somewhat of The Shining, but this movie might be a little bit more original.