Starry Eyes

Starry Eyes

Starring Alex Essoe, Amanda Fuller, Noah Segan, Fabianne Therese

Directed by Kevin Kolsch & Dennis Widmyer

The Story:
Sarah (Alex Essoe) is one of the million of the starry eyed young women hoping to make a name for herself in the brutal world of Hollywood.  She lives in a rundown apartment with her friend Tracy (Amanda Fuller), works at a dead-end Hooters wannabe restaurant, and hangs out with friends who talk about doing big things, but never doing anything to achieve them.

She's had several casting calls, and each has ended badly, which has led Sarah to literally pull out her hair in frustration and anger, something she's done since early childhood.  One day she gets a casting call for a horror movie, and after a poor performance she goes into her temper tantrum and pulls out her hair, to which one of the Casting Directors (Maria Olsen) sees, which prompts them to give her a second audition.

By the time it comes to the third audition, Sarah meets the mysterious Producer (Louis Dezseran), who demands more out of her than she's willing to give.  Regretting her decision, Sarah decides to give herself fully to the Producer and the project - at the risk of her very soul.

The Synopsis:
"Starry Eyes" is a fascinating look at the seedy side of Hollywood, even though it's an imaginary horror film, it could market itself as a documentary (well, until the final act, that is).  For every actress that made it big, there's thousands of others who remain nameless, hopeless, and desperate to get to that level of fame and fortune.  The whole concept of the "casting couch" has become almost comedic, but it's an unfortunate reality for every starlet who wants to make it.

The roles of the Casting Director and Producer are unnamed, which gives more credence to having the film center on the real life struggles of everyday wannabe actors.  Every actor has come into contact with someone like a casting director or producer, and having them unnamed in this film gives a more realistic view, especially as a cautionary tale for aspiring actors.

That's not to say that's the main theme of "Starry Eyes," but if it's not, it did a great job posing it that way.  Whereas that aspect seems more plausible, there's a darker undercurrent of Satanic cults and worshiping pagan deities that draws Sarah to decide which is more important - the life she currently has, or a rebirth that could grant her every dream she ever imagined, which comes at a life-altering price.

The performances in the film are somewhat to be desired, as everyone seems to have a stock roll of previous performances to rely on.  Her friends are typical Hollywood archetypes.  The sympathetic roommate.  The wannabe young director living in his van.  The friend who not-so-secretly condescends everything Sarah does because she's insecure about her own talents.  The dimwit blonde.  Even the Casting Directors and Producer play off to the typical views of their professions - mean, unwelcoming, having a desire for power and wealth.

The shining star of the film is Alex Essoe as Sarah.  She showcases a deeper performance than what the script even allows, allowing her to peel away at the role and fully envelop the character as someone more than just a one-bit player, but someone with intelligence, determination, and ambition.  It's her role that's garnered praise for the film, and without Essoe, it wouldn't have been the same.  Seeing her mentally, emotionally and especially physically spiral into a seemingly unstoppable end keeps your eyes glued to the screen.

(As a bonus, there's a scene where Sarah throws up worms, and it turns out Essoe actually had live worms in her mouth to throw them up so to not make it look cheap with CGI effects.  THAT'S dedication).

Also, the film is downright gory.  It's a slow burn to the final twenty minutes, but those twenty minutes are filled with so much blood and death that it rivals other films like "Martyrs" and "A Serbian Film" in its unnerving, unrelenting progression of death and dismay.  For every horror fan, this is what they want to see, and "Starry Eyes" fully delivers.

The Summary:
A slow-burn tale of what it really takes to make it big in Hollywood, "Starry Eyes" also asks an important question: What will you do in order to achieve your dreams?

The Score: A-