The Hypnotic Eye (1960)

Touches You

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Before the jaded, post "Star Wars" audiences took over, there were "B" films, independent films and foreign films all playing at those comfortable neighborhood theaters and drive-ins. "The Hypnotic Eye" is one of the best.Featuring crisp, moody black and white cinematography, a wonderful main title theme and excellent performances from its cast, this offbeat thriller was somewhat influenced by the popularity of quality detective series, like "Naked City," appearing on television at the time. "The Hypnotic Eye" combines a solid mystery story with hard-hitting horror effects for a chilling and satisfying ride.This was one of the first movies I can recall seeing as a child, as a re-run on TV. I was drawn in by its atmosphere and attractive cast. The end seemed very exciting to me and over 40 years later, I can still enjoy it through adult eyes.Younger audiences, desensitized by the vulgarity of the post-modern world, its drug culture, hippies and bombastic films will be completely unable to understand this film. However, in the context of the era in which it was produced--1960--it is impactful and entertaining.If you're over 45 and haven't seen it, check it out.

The new burn-on-demand DVD from Warner's has a solid, widescreen print with only minor speckling and one or two "cigarette burns" - a surprisingly good remaster of a loopy shocker that I've been waiting to see in a good print for years. Allison Hayes is luscious and sinister, Merry Andrews reminds me of Simone Simon in profile, and although I had a crush on the Great Desmond when I saw this as a youngster, Jacques Bergerac is just plain oily now, although possibly the perfect actor to play the part. A silly, but fun, bit of psychotronic fluff that's best viewed with a wide-open mind and one's critical faculties set at their lowest point.

I wish someone would re-release this, or TCM or somebody would show it. It was just another really bizarre offering from the late fifties/early sixties. It used to be a regular on the lat Saturday night TV horror show in my hometown (in Houston the show was called Weird) and this one fit the bill--really weird.Cinematic excellence? Surely not. But it was offbeat enough to keep your attention. Even had a debunker who explained away a lot of the "magic" for the police (and the viewers).The plot does have an interesting twist with the hypnotist's girlfriend. Sure it didn't win any academy awards but few movies do.I give it a seven because it falls within the genre of movies that are so bad they are actually good.

My 10/10 rating of course only applies if you're totally into B-movies from the era of poodle skirts and pompadours; other people will find "The Hypnotic Eye" worthless. A previous reviewer said that this movie is practically impossible to find. Fortunately, I can tell you exactly where to find it: the 1950s/1960s horror/sci-fi section in Movie Madness, a video/DVD store in Portland, Oregon.Anyway, here's the plot. Perplexing magician Desmond (Jacques Bergerac) is hypnotizing young women with an "eye" and getting them to mutilate themselves; for example, one woman sets her hair on fire. Naturally, a detective starts investigating, and discovers more than he bargained for.Overall, it's the average campy flick from that period. The only other cast member whom I recognized was Allison Hayes, better known as the 50 Ft Woman. As for Jacques Bergerac, he also appeared on "The Dick Van Dyke Show", and as a villain on the old "Batman" TV series. Speaking of anything, why's his character named "Desmond"? I only know that name from "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" and from Desmond Dekker (RIP). The things that we see in life.