The Eye

"How can you believe your eyes when they're not yours?"

2008 1h 38m EN

😐

5.9

MID

★5.9TMDB · 1,200

DramaHorrorThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Violinist Sydney Wells was accidentally blinded by her sister Helen when she was five years old. She submits to a cornea transplantation, and while recovering from the operation, she realizes that she is seeing dead people.

“How can you believe your eyes when they're not yours?”

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Cast

Jessica Alba
Sydney Wells
Alessandro Nivola
Dr. Paul Faulkner
Parker Posey
Helen Wells
Chloë Grace Moretz
Alicia Millstone
Rade Šerbedžija
Simon McCullough
Mia Stallard
Little Girl
Obba Babatundé
Dr. Haskins
Danny Mora
Miguel

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Xavier Palud
Writers: Sebastian Gutierrez, Oxide Pang, Danny Pang
Languages: Spanish, English
Countries: United States of America, Canada

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 4.8× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 18 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Canada.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Xavier Palud, shot by Jeffrey Jur. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Marco Beltrami. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Patrick Lussier shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Jessica Alba and Alessandro Nivola and Parker Posey carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Xavier Palud directs. Jeffrey Jur behind the camera. Marco Beltrami scores. Patrick Lussier cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America, Canada. Dialogue in Spanish, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Made its money back 4.8× over at the box office.
2Released 18 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.
4International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Canada.
5Directed by Xavier Palud, shot by Jeffrey Jur. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Marco Beltrami. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Patrick Lussier shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Jessica Alba and Alessandro Nivola and Parker Posey carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "How can you believe your eyes when they're not yours?".
10IMDB entry: tt0406759 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 12 themes, including "dying and death", "blindness and impaired vision", "eye operation", "eyesight".

The technical file

Cinematography: Jeffrey Jur
Original score: Marco Beltrami
Editing: Patrick Lussier
Production design: James H. Spencer
Costume design: Michael Dennison
Makeup / hair: Clinton Wayne
Stunt coordinator: Scott J. Ateah
Runtime: 98 min · 1h 38m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $12,000,000
Box office: $58,010,320
Return: 483% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: The Eye (2008)

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Xavier Palud

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Community reviews

What people are saying

RalphRahal2025-02-08
★ 4/10
The Eye had the potential to be a gripping psychological horror, but it fell short in depth and originality. The plot follows a familiar formula without bringing much new to the table, making it predictable despite some intriguing moments. The directing is solid, with well-timed transitions and a smooth shift into the second act. Cinematography stands out in certain scenes, especially with the contrast between reality and visions, and small production details show attention to realism. However, while the visuals are effective, they don't fully compensate for the film’s lack of emotional weight. Jessica Alba’s performance is serviceable but lacks the intensity needed to carry a psychological horror film. She maintains the same on-screen presence she’s known for, but it doesn’t elevate the script, which already struggles with depth. The supporting cast does a decent job, though no one truly stands out. The script itself feels basic, relying on surface-level tension rather than digging into the psychological aspects of the story. The sound design helps build atmosphere, but it doesn’t leave a lasting impact. Overall, The Eye is watchable with good production value and some eerie moments, but it doesn’t push boundaries or leave a strong impression.

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