Blu-Ray Review - White Of The Eye (1987)

Genre:
Thriller
Distributor:
Arrow Video
Rating: 18
BD/DVD Release Date:
31st March 2014(UK)
Director:
Donald Cammell
Cast:
David Keith, Cathy Moriarty, Alan Rosenberg
Buy:White of the Eye [Dual Format DVD & Blu-ray]
White of the Eye is one of only four feature-length films that Donald Cammell made in his short lifetime. Cammell will be remembered for co-directing Performance starring Mick Jagger, and for his suicide during the post-production of his final film, Wild Side. Cammell’s suicide is still debated to his day, as it could have been triggered by the fact that the producers were taking final cut away from him. Cammell’s work on Performance was greatly underestimated because it was co-directed by Nicolas Roeg, who would become a more famous director in his own right. Cammell also made Demon Seed, which is a deeply flawed film about Julie Christie being raped by a computer, basically.

White of the Eye is a fascinating but frustrating experience; it’s easily his 2nd best film after Performance, which is a stone cold psychedelic mindfuck classic. It tells the story of Paul White (David Keith) who installs stereos for a living—and from the outset you know he is responsible for the murders that are happening. Raging Bull’s Cathy Moriarty plays his wife Joan and gives the film’s only shining performance, while David Keith overacts to an absurd extreme.

The film is very much style over substance, but that was the intent, it’s like Cammell knew the film’s material was “beneath him” in every way. Cammell pulls out all the experimental chops he learned making Performance and working with Kenneth Anger, so the film is full of crazy extreme close ups, Burroughs-inspired cut up ending, bizarre angles etc. The film’s visuals and experimental editing style make up for the rather lacklustre script, which Cammell is responsible for.

This Blu-ray package is lovingly put together by Arrow Video includes the fantastic feature-length documentary Kevin McDonald (The Last King of Scotland) made about Cammell in the 90s, which sheds much light on his life and ideas. The film’s transfer is extremely grainy but I don’t think a better print is available, sadly.

★★★½☆

Ian Schultz