The movie is elegantly filmed. The settings and atmosphere are similar to Belen Rueda's 2007 outing, El Orfanato. Yet where, El Orfanato had a touching storyline and a bit of a nasty ending (don't kill children!), Julia's Eyes is a little more formulaic. The climax and ending are a little disappointing, not really much of a surprise since one can pretty much connect the dots and figure out the ending. However, it is still a solid, original premise and a well made production.
There are few dull moments and an ever present, unsettling undercurrent of a sinister presence lurking just beyond Julia's field of vision contributing to the moody atmosphere. Julia's husband may not be the kindly, loving man he seems, Sara's neighbors have their own secrets, Sara's support group isn't really all that friendly and most people she encounters are generally weird. We watch many of the scenes through Julia's eyes, literally, and this unique perspective provides a better appreciation of the bleak situation that she is in.
Belen Rueda is wonderful as Julia. She anchors the movie ably and turns in a fine performance as the grieving, gutsy lead. Lluís Homar as her sceptical yet indulgent husband is excellent and they make for a good pair. Pablo Derqui makes for an unusual antagonist but is adequate as well.
For severely myopic souls (yours truly), this movie is a chilling reminder of how loss of one vital function can constrain our independence, force us to swallow our pride and lay bare all our vulnerabilities for the next opportunist to come along and take advantage of. Julia's desperate struggles to find the courage to adjust to starkly new circumstances are unsettling to watch. Watching her grope around and find her way across a once familiar room, pleading with unfriendly neighbors for help, learning to accept the limits of her sensory functions and learning to trust a stranger who may have his own axe to grind; THAT was the real terror and a source of mild paranoia.
An interesting thriller. Recommended.
