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The Eye ("Jian gui") incorporates a very old suspicion that has prevented many people from ticking the "cornea" section on their Donor card. From the age of two, Mun (Angelica Lee) has been blind and has learnt to live her life through her other four senses, but after a cornea operation she discovers she has a "sixth sense". As her sight slowly returns she notices shadowy figures prowling around her that are definitely not normal human beings. So begins a quest for the eye donor, during which Mun discovers that people's superstitions still remain as strong as ever.

Hong Kong directors Oxide Pang Chun and Danny Pang have not made another generic horror in the wake of Ring, nor an ultra-violent picture in the style of Battle Royale. A clearer comparison is with The Sixth Sense, but unlike M Night Shyamalan's film The Eye uses stunning visual effects to evoke a deeper sense of the unknown and a deeper understanding of death without the trappings of Christianity (here suicide does not lead to eternal damnation). Ultimately, The Eye is a supernatural suspense story, with Mun turning detective and learning a little more than she bargained for about her own mortality.

On the DVD:The Eye offers a short (eight-minute) "making of" documentary which is extended further in the Pang Brothers documentary. As with all Tartan products the disc is full of trailers, but has some added value with Justin Bowyer's film notes. There is the option to play the film without English subtitles, and the subtitles have been improved in contrast to earlier Tartan releases by the addition of a black rim around the italics. Sound and vision are exceptional and will certainly add to any jumpy reactions. Let's hope this one also gets the two-disc special edition treatment in the future. --Nikki Disney

Release Date: Jan 27, 2003
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