Eight Eyes, to me, especially after viewing the Blu-ray extras (be prepared to get talked down to by a co-writer!), is more of a technical feat than anything else. Vinegar Syndrome (in their first original film production) seemed to have set out to create as authentic of a 70's grindhouse (also, giallo) experience as possible. I'd say they succeeded. So... kudos? There IS still a movie to write.
It's certainly well-shot and well-acted, with standout performances by Emily Sweet as Cass, and Bruno Veljanovski as Saint Peter. Also, incredible setting. You really can't go wrong filming horror in Serbia. I've seen some seriously messed-up stuff sourced from this region of Europe.
Where this film really falters is the story. It is precisely one half Hostel, the strangers-in-a-strange-land trope, and one half Texas Chainsaw Massacre (substitute the mask of flesh with a mask of wax spatterings... and lots of unpleasant nudity). For what seems like such an insane film production, this horror movie surprised me precisely ZERO times. There is one kind of a new-agey twist (the concept of the eight eyes), but it's pretty heavily foreshadowed, and you're led right to it. Like any other event in this movie, you're always led to what would be the most logical choice if you're reading Horror 101. And it follows through right to the final frame! ...Insert The Price Is Right losing sound here... This is obviously what disappointed me most, in what appeared to be a promising endeavor.
