Les Yeux Sans Visage (1960)

A customer from MORDEN , 11/08/2008

Legendary film critic Pauline Kael once described 'Les Yeux Sans Visage' as 'perhaps the most elegant horror movie ever made' and it's pretty hard not to agree. However, it's original reception was mixed to say the least. Often unfairly reviled for it's short (although admittedly graphic) scenes of facial surgery, the film's original popularity may also have been affected by the exclusion of key scenes and it's re-packaging as a double-feature (under the pseudonym of The Horror Chamber of Dr Faustus). Looking back it seems criminal that such a beautiful and lyrical piece of cinema could be treated in such a way. Yet we only have to look at the reception of similarly difficult horror films - Peeping Tom (1960) and Psycho (also 1960) - to understand how the passage of time can be kinder to this genre (the critical reception to Peeping Tom practically ended Michael Powell's career - it is now regarded as a masterpiece).

Les Yeux Sans Visage positions itself on a tightrope between the factual and fantasy. It's like a beautiful dolls house which harbours a somewhat dark and subversive heart. You feel for the disfigured heroine and her wish to become 'normal' again, yet are torn by the knowingness of what her father is doing for her is wrong. Deeply wrong. But is he doing it because he loves her? Or out of misplaced rage at his failure as a father and pioneering surgeon?

If your a fan of the moody and atmospheric horror films of the genre (think The Innocents or Don't Look Now) then Franju's film is definitely for you. But for those of you expecting excessive jumps and gore, well, this probably isn't for you. It's the kind of film that slowly crawls under your skin - and is all the better because of it.

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