Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Eyeball Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 18, 2024

Umberto Lenzi's "Eyeball" (1975) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films. The supplemental features on the release include archival program with Umberto Lenzi; three audio commentaries; recent program with actress Martine Brochard; video essay by critic Mike Foster; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English or Italian, with optional English and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Eyeball is difficult to place in the company of Orgasmo, Paranoia, and So Sweet... So Perverse. It can make a good companion piece to Spasmo, which is not a film you will hear mentioned whenever the all-time greatest gialli are discussed. However, all of Umberto Lenzi’s gialli are very rarely brought up whenever the best of these genre films are discussed. There are different reasons for this. For example, a few of Lenzi’s gialli do not play according to the genre’s established rules. They have flexible personalities and feel quite comfortable entering territories where the classic giallo begins to look problematic. Also, Lenzi frequently dedicated more time to crafting and tweaking effective character arcs rather than building memorable atmospheres. Another big reason is the fact that a lot of people, including many prominent critics, did not like Lenzi, especially later in his career, when he became very outspoken and fought back against what he frequently claimed was a carefully orchestrated campaign to destroy his public image and compromise his films. (Lenzi’s violent poliziotteschi, not his gialli, were the biggest targets, and several of them were unjustly accused of promoting fascism). In other words, critiquing and ranking Lenzi’s gialli has always been a tricky business, and while they have not been completely ignored, they certainly have not been mentioned as often as they deserve.

It is not an exaggeration to state that Eyeball is Lenzi’s most straightforward giallo, which is arguably the main reason it is the easiest to critique, too. To be clear, Eyeball is not bad or even mediocre giallo, but it works with material unlikely to impress a seasoned giallo aficionado. Also, it is an Italian-Spanish production, and as such it required that Lenzi does certain things in it in a very particular way. While directing, Lenzi loved improving things, so the production restrictions, whatever they may have been, undoubtedly affected his creativity.

Shortly after entering Barcelona, a group of American tourists become targets for a vicious killer who likes to kill with a large dagger. The first victim is a young girl without any enemies or dark secrets, so without having the slightest clue why someone would want her dead, veteran detective Tudela (Andres Mejuto) begins probing the life stories of the people who knew or had come in contact with her. When the killer strikes again, Tudela’s attention is redirected to Mark Burton (John Richardson), a married writer, who is stuck in a complicated affair with his secretary (Martine Brochard) and suspects that his mentally unstable wife may have followed him to Barcelona.

Eyeball produces various curveballs, a common practice in the conventional giallo. They are logical and effective, but the thrills that should emerge with them to create the excitement a great giallo is expected to deliver are a mixed bag. The best thrills come from the most graphic material, which is short and stylistically familiar. For example, the highlight of Eyeball is a reimagination of a notorious sequence from Nic Roeg’s classic thriller Don't Look Now.

Interestingly, the entire cast is very good and genuinely enthusiastic, so there is plenty of material that could have been instantly forgettable but works well. Lenzi’s direction is good, too. As a result, even though figuring out the killer is not at all difficult, going through the curveballs and reaching the moment where Lenzi no longer protects his identity is definitely an enjoyable experience.

Eyeball can be viewed with English and Italian audio tracks. (There is also a Spanish dub track for this film). The English audio track should be considered the original audio track because the majority of the actors utter their lines in English. However, both tracks feature overdubbing.

Eyeball Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 and granted a 1080p transfer, Eyeball arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films.

In the United Kingdom, Eyeball made its high-definition debut with this release in 2018, which was also produced by 88 Films. This new Blu-ray release introduces an exclusive new 4K makeover of the film that is also available on 4K Blu-ray.

The previous Blu-ray release, which I have in my library, introduced a very good 2K makeover of the film, but the new 4K makeover introduces meaningful improvements in several areas. I viewed it yesterday in native 4K and thought that it was outstanding. It looks great in 1080p on the Blu-ray as well.

All visuals tend to be slightly sharper and noticeably more vibrant. Density levels are superior too, but they were very good on the previous presentation, so you will have to have a pretty big screen to appreciate the difference. Highlights and shadow nuances are very, very good, though I prefer how they look in native 4K. Color balance is slightly different, but unquestionably more convincing. On the previous release, some areas look a tad too warm, slightly less vibrant as well. The party that graded the new 4K makeover was clearly aware of the inconsistencies and as a result key primaries and supporting nuances are better balanced. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Grain is very nicely exposed, but on the 4K Blu-ray the encoding is a little bit better. Again, I think that you must have a very large screen to appreciate the difference. All visuals are very healthy. All in all, I think that this release offers a terrific presentation of the new 4K makeover as well. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Eyeball Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English LPCM 2.0 and Italian LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH (for the English track) and English subtitles (for the Italian track) are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I viewed the new 4K makeover in native 4K on the 4K Blu-ray. The comments below are from our review of the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack.

The English track should be considered the original track for Eyeball because too many actors utter their lines in English. However, it features overdubbing, like the Italian track, because this was a standard practice in Italy for several decades. I viewed the entire film with the English track.

The overall quality of the lossless English track is very good. I think that the most interesting dynamic contrasts emerge whenever Bruno Nicolai's score does a lot to enhance the desired atmosphere and during the killings, where some old-fashioned effects are used to elevate intensity. However, the film's original sound design is not impressive. The upper register is very healthy. All exchanges, despite some sporadic unevenness introduced by the overdubbing, are very easy to follow.

Eyeball Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary One - this audio commentary was recorded by critics Troy Howarth, Nathaniel Thompson, and Eugenio Ercolani. The bulk of the information addresses the production history of Eyeball, its visual style and genre identity, Umberto Lenzi's career and body of work, and comments about different cast and crew members.

• Commentary Two - this audio commentary was recorded by critics Kim Newman and David Flint. Again, there is plenty of information about the production history of Eyeball but also the exact period in which it emerged, the city of Barcelona and locations where key segments were shot, the evolution of Umberto Lenzi's career and the type of genre films he made, etc.

• Commentary Three - this audio commentary was recorded by critic Justin Kerswell of Hysteria Lives and several of his compatriots. The commentators recall their first experiences with Eyeball explain why they enjoy the film and what makes it unique. As expected, there are plenty of observations about its style and genre tricks, as well as its creator Umberto Lenzi and his body of work.

• An Eye for Murder - in this program, actress Martine Brochard discusses her early days in Italy (after relocating from France), why she was seen as a sex symbol, and involvement with Eyeball. Brochard shares some interesting information about her character and the shoot in Barcelona, and Umberto Lenzi's personality and working methods. In Italian, with English subtitles. (21 min).

• Genre Maestro - in this archival program, Umberto Lenzi discusses his love for the classic American film noirs and American stars and explains how they influenced his style, how the Italian film industry operated when he entered it and why he "arrived late to thrillers (gialli)", the evolving censorship rules during the 1960s and 1970s, and the most glorious period of his career (when he made his notorious over-the-top poliziotteschi). Lenzi also addresses some of his greatest critics and clarifies why he was labeled a "fascist". In Italian, with English subtitles. (18 min).

• The Wandering Eye[Ball] - this video essay was created by critic Mike Foster. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Locations Featurette - this recent program visits some of the locations in Barcelona that Umberto Lenzi used in Eyeball. Then-and-now comparisons are included. With music. (3 min).

• English Title Sequence - presented here is the alternate English title sequence for Eyeball, called The Secret Killer. Fully restored in 4K. With music. (2 min).

• English End Credits - fully restored in 4K. Presented with music. (1 min).

• Trailer Reel - presented here are several vintage trailers for Eyeball. In English and Italian. (6 min).

Eyeball Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While a fine and enjoyable genre film, Eyeball does not have an enigmatic star like Carroll Baker, who appeared in Umberto Lenzi's most effective gialli. Eyeball should be on your radar, but before you pick it up, I strongly encourage you to create room in your library for Paranoia, Orgasmo, and So Sweet... So Perverse. This Blu-ray release, which is Region-Free, introduces an exclusive new 4K makeover of Eyeball that is a genuine stunner. It has a fantastic selection of bonus features too, one of which is a terrific overview of Lenzi's career and cinematic oeuvre by Lenzi himself. (A 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack, also Region-Free, is available for purchase as well). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.