It's hard to explain exactly how disappointed I was with the American version of Mario Bava's film that is centrally advertised in this great Kino release.The Girl Who Knew Too Much is a wonderful classic that started the Giallo genre, and Evil Eye took away almost everything that I loved about it.
It's not just a so-so dub of the film that spoils the film. A use of different footage and entirely new scenes completely alter the style and tone of the film. The overall arc of the narrative is basically the same but all of the style that makes the film a hallmark is missing. That being said, this one Blu-ray from Kino is like a film course in itself regarding the ways in which subtle changes can completely change the effectiveness of a film.
Nora Davis is a tourist visiting scenic Rome on vacation and on her first night she witnesses a murder. As fan of mystery novels she slowly connects the murder she witnessed to a string of serial killings. The familiar plot features some nice twists on the "hysterical woman" thrillers of this era. In Evil Eye the central performance is more shrill and less gumshoe. The male love interest is no longer the bumbling sidekick, and instead he's twisted into a hero trying to save Nora from her unhealthy obsession. These changes morph the film's tone into a far more generic affair.
On a technical level, the film is all legendary. The black and white photography is gorgeously crisp and showcases Bava's use of light and shadow marvelously (the Kino release is amazing to look at). The soundtrack is also fantastic, and effectively captures both the excitement and joy of the thrilling aspects of the film as well as the quieter, more tension-filled moments. Bava's style is the star of the film and this release does that justice.
2/5 Evil Eye
4/5 The Girl Who Knew Too Much
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