Eyes of Laura Mars

source: Eyes of Laura Mars

Please let this be remade as the ZOOLANDER sequel with Derek in the Faye Dunaway role and Faye returning as the killer....please please please. EYES OF LAURA MARS as we all know is a murder in furs drama with Joan Crawford...er Faye Dunaway dropping her NETWORK Oscar long enough to recommence more schlock, but this time with a camera. Rather like the Brit horror PEEPING TOM where the killer films his victims, she instead, SIXTH SENSE-less style sees the point of view death through eeeeeeeeek! the killer's own eyes.... basically "she sees dead models". Sadly, Columbia saw dead ticket sales. EYES OF LAURA MARS is a so bad it's good drama like WHITE MISCHIEF dripping this time with blood as swell as chic 70s glam. See! squabbling models ripping furs off each other at a car accident, blazing dashboards and flying pearls, stilettos and painted claws.... fantastic and all played for real d-r-a-m-a when suddenly (zing!-zing! Psycho music) and Faye as Laura is distracted from her lens to see ....eeeeek a-nother killing! Get friends over, get tipsy and add your own dialog!

Laura Mars (Faye Dunaway) is a photographer who pictures are full of violence and female nudity--and very controversial and popular. All of the sudden her friends are being stabbed to death--in the eyes. However she (literally) sees her friends being killed through the killers eyes--but doesn't know who it is or why it's happening... I never saw the movie when it came out--it was R rated and I was too young to get in. However I read a VERY good novelization of the book and never forgot it. Also, surprisingly, Barbra Streisand sang the song "Prisoner" over the opening and closing credits probably thinking it would be a hit--it wasn't. She probably did it because then boyfriend Jon Peters was one of the producers of this film. In a nice touch a piano player plays the song in the background at a party. Finally seeing the film now it's not bad. I knew who the killer was and why (the book has never left me) so there was no surprise. I was able to sit back and see if it worked--and it did. I thought the killings might be gory but they are actually very tame--you never really see (sorry) anything. And having Dunaway see it also is very interesting. In one very effective sequence the killer is chasing Dunaway and she sees herself being chased by him! I liked it but it's a bit depressing--basically EVERYONE Dunaway knew is killed by the end! Also she has an incredible apartment (love the mirrors in the bedroom) and the picture of the book on her is great--and was also used as the movie poster. And John Carpenter wrote the story! Dunaway is just great in a difficult role; Raul Julia is good in a small role and so is Rene Auberjonois. Unfortunately Tommy Lee Jones is terrible (as always) as a policeman trying to solve the case. All in all a pretty good thriller worth catching.

Shocking thriller that stars Dunaway as a photographer with premonitions of murder. A wonderful score, exceptional editing and an eerie pace set beautifully by director Kershner. Raul Julia co-stars.

There are a lot of things that can go wrong in cinema, even in cases where the persons initially involved are very talented and the basic story ideas show a lot of great potential. "Eyes of Laura Mars" is the perfect example to state this. The supernatural premise, penned down by no less than John Carpenter ("Halloween", "Assault on Precinct 13"), is undoubtedly intriguing and rich on artistic opportunities, yet due to an incredible amount of production difficulties and constant re-writings of the script, it ended up being a hopelessly muddled and disappointing thriller. Carpenter gave up when he saw that his original idea got slowly turned into a gimmicky mystery, revolving more on the glossy charisma of its lead actress than on the actual trump of film: a series of bizarre murders in the world of professional photography. Faye Dunaway stars as the female version of the controversial real-life "artist" Helmut Newton and exhibits shock-provoking photos that portray death, mayhem and prostitution in New York City. Suddenly and for reasons that remain unexplained, she can witness with her own eyes how a gloved serial killer brutally stabs her closest friends & co-workers to death. Laura's descriptions appear identical to how the murders were committed and thus the handsome Detective John Neville personally takes pity on her, as she unquestionably will become the killer's main target. Experienced horror/thriller fans that are slightly familiar with Italian cinema will immediately spot the similarities between this film and the typical gialli (= violent Italian murder-mysteries) of 70's and early 80's. "Eyes of Laura Mars" contains multiple trademarks of the giallo, but sadly lacks the stuff that makes them so fantastic, namely bloody gore and sleaze. Style & substance characteristics are definitely well presented: bizarre title, far fetched psychic sub plots, implausible red herrings left and right, an insane denouement, silly music… You almost get the impression that producer Jon Peters WANTED to make an American attempt to giallo but eventually didn't had the courage to make it as demented as it should be! "Eyes of Laura Mars" is a tedious and slow-paced film, with cast-members that perform below their normal skill and a director that didn't really knew what he was doing. And then still we have to be grateful that Barbra Streisand didn't play the lead role, as it was intended before Dunaway took over

In 1978 when "Eyes of Laura Mars" was released,it was hailed by both critics and public alike as an innovative super natural thriller but it is certainly much more than a popular film belonging to thriller genre.It is one of those films which continue to remain highly influential due to the times in which they were shot.There is hardly anyone who does not know about the swinging seventies and its importance in the history of American cinema.The fact that famous Hollywood actors like Tommy Lee Jones and Faye Dunaway played leading roles in this film have ensured that this is a film whose popularity has grown tremendously over the years as people seem to find new meanings and personal interpretations of what they see through the eyes of the leading lady character.Eyes of Laura Mars is also one of the most vivid,psychedelic glimpses into the realms of fashion and glamor industry where gorgeous models and innovative designers have definitely more foes than friends.It must be mentioned that the haughty arrogant of police bother them as they do not seem to get preferential treatment at police headquarters solely on the basis of their glamor and charisma.As far as the thriller element of this film is concerned,director Irvin Kershner gives too many frequent albeit severe doses of shocks to his audience.This is one of the reasons why in the end,the film's obnoxious killer turns out to be the man whom the crowd had least expected to commit savage atrocities against helpless beautiful women.A final word of advice.Do not be astonished if this film fails to impress you.

Sure.... Compared to the thrillers of today - it just can't compare. It seems low budget and 3rd world in quality. But it's got so much more beneath the surface. The plot is simple - a 'High Fashion' photographer (Laura Mars) begins to have visions of brutal murders - both when sleeping and while awake. Some of these visions begin to seep into her work and her images. But soon, the visions begin to include many of her friends, acquaintances and co-workers. A homicide detective (John Neville) assigned to the case begins hanging around and trying to solve the case, including the murders involving Laura's friends. Many of Laura's friends & acquaintances get killed along the way, leaving her emotionally bereft and open to Neville's advances. I won't blow the end of the film (as others may) by giving away the twists and turns. There are a few decent performances in the movie - including Rene Auberjunois as Laura's 'flamboyantly flaming' manager, assistant and best friend. And, how he can wear a dress.... This stylish & sometimes sexy thriller is an 8 of 10 when the age of the flick comes into consideration. Decent plot, decent acting and decent twists. And, I am sorry, but Barbara Streisand's opening song still stands as one of my all time favorite songs.... Speaking of the opening, the opening credits of the film are kinda creepy and chilling. Go rent it and decide for yourself!

I understand that this was filmed and set in the 70s in New York and I think it's meant to mirror some of the avant garde style of that time and locale, but I couldn't stand Faye's acting style in this film. Her character is supposed to be a strong, successful, visionary/controversial photographer. She seemed to start many scenes playing just that, but would then quickly fall to pieces and appear to not know where she was, what she was doing, or how to answer a simple question. This happens over and over. I felt like I was watching over- acting from the 40s. The rest of the cast saved it for me. Especially Brad Dourif and Tommy Lee Jones. I liked the general story and premise, but even at only 104 minutes, it felt drawn-out. A lot of people seem to think the ending was predictable. It caught me pleasantly by surprise! I doubt as many people will be as put off as I was by Faye's acting in this particular film, so I would recommend this with my own reservations. I love supernatural movies and whodunits, and this was an interesting combination of both. It is definitely dated, though. Good luck.

Laura Mars is a very successful fashion photographer who one day starts to get visions of brutal murders being carried out. Troubled and in fear for her sanity, Laura turns to the police for help. But this only adds to her problems as Detective Neville points out to her that the murder scenes bare similarities to some of her staged photographs. The pair of them must figure it out quickly because the murderer is closing in on Laura and those close to her. In 1978, John Carpenter thrilled horror fans with his baby sitting terror piece, Halloween. Also released was this mystery/thriller/horror film, written by Carpenter and directed by Irvin Kershner {The Empire Strikes Back} which is a film that has been called anything from innovative to outright rubbish. The truth is that where Halloween is a horror film of no character substance, Eyes Of Laura Mars is a completely different animal. It's bright blending of 70s fashion photography with Carpenter's dastardly tale {tho the final draft was tampered by many}, is a success. This is a psychological thriller first and foremost, yes horror elements are there {it's a done deal with a serial killer on the loose}, but running alongside a clever romantic angle, the film gains an intensity that few other 70s psychological thrillers can boast. The cast, other than an insipidly hammy Raul Julia, also come out rather well. Faye Dunaway {Mars}, Tommy Lee Jones {Neville}, Brad Dourif {horror staple that he is} and Rene Auberjonois give credit to well formed characters. Technically it's a fine picture as well, Irvin Kershner and his cinematographer Victor J. Kemper excellently utilise the New York City location. Especially during the fashion shoot sequences, where the 70s and its glamour is fully realised. "Innovated" blurred corridor shots to portray Laura's terrible visions are creepy and highly effective, while i would be surprised if anyone doubted the impact of a mirror shot in the glorious finale. Thought by many to have not aged well, Eyes Of Laura Mars is often consigned to the cupboard marked "dated", that's unfair because good thrillers are good thrillers, regardless of age. Emotionally strong and pulsing with imminent terror, this is a badly undervalued, and forgotten picture. 8/10

"Eyes of Laura Mars" is a disturbingly violent geek show of a movie. Laura is a kinky fashion photographer who starts getting visions of brutal, violent murders as they occur. So when she sees them we get to see them to through the eyes of the killer. Instead of the old Hitchcock standby of making the first murder violent and then keeping the audience on edge the rest of the film without showing much of anything, this films murders get worse and worse. It's disgusting without being the least bit stylish. Faye Dunaway makes her first film appearance after winning the Oscar for Network here and for the life of me I cannot figure out why she would have taken the part on. Perhaps the original spec script called "Eyes" by John Carpenter was something other then this. Or, and most likely this is the case, she got a huge payday as Oscar winners do and took the money and ran. She looks great but the character is one dimensional and she gapes and gasps and cries a lot. At some point you just want someone to slug her. The supporting cast is headed by Tommy Lee Jones as the lead detective on the murder cases. Jones is passable but his character is dumb. He makes decisions that a good detective wouldn't make. Brad Dourif began his string of eccentric characters as one of Laura's assistants. Gee do you think he will be a suspect in the murders? As far as the "mystery" goes there really isn't much of one. If you pay any attention to the film the identity of the killer is easy to figure out within the first 30 minutes of the movie. Unfortunately we then have to sit through another 60 minutes of blood, gore and violence waiting to get to its predictable conclusion. "Eyes of Laura Mars" is not a pretty film to watch.