Eye Of The Beast (2006/RHI Maneater DVD Series/Genius)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: D Feature: D
If the
RHI Maneater series was not so bad, it might be laughable and unintentionally
funny, but junk like Gary Yates’ Eye Of
The Beast (2006) with an in-decline James (“I don’t want
your liiiiiiiiiiiife”) Van Der Beek as its star, you quickly root for the
rubber and digital giant octopus to win in its battle to slowly kill off a town
of people. You only wonder if it has to
be as bored as it is hungry.
Besides
bad effects that deserve an Ed Wood award, you get acting of the same low
caliber, except they honestly think they are more respectable. Mark Mullins’ teleplay makes all the 1970s
rip-offs of Jaws look ambitious and if
you are not bored watching it, you will likely just
fall asleep. We were not so lucky.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image was shot on HD of some kind and looks
poor, with only a lack of aliasing issues stopping it from looking phonier,
though color is not so hot. The Dolby
Digital 2.0 Stereo is weak and what little sound design is here thinks loud
equals creative. There are no extras and
for good reason.
- Nicholas Sheffo