krosszone If you remotely interested in any of the above, check this flick. If you like to dig up weird movies from the 80's that no one heard of, then find this movie. The witch easily ranks as one of the scariest looking creatures of recent memory, kinda like a backwoods cousin to the homeless demon behind the restaurant in David Lynch's MUHOLLAND DRIVE. Do not expect a traditional plot line to build suspense a la BLAIR WITCH. These are second- rate actors sloughing through difficult dialog penned in an antiquated tongue. Once the characters settle in the cabin, the action becomes convoluted, fragmentary-- hard to follow what's happening or even who's who-- but still manages to be unsettling despite its confusing logic. This indie project was written and directed by one man, one vision, so I would give him the benefit of the doubt that this affect was intentional. Admittedly, the little girl's voice-over feels forced and tacked on, like trying to tie loose ends together, but in the process it brings up more information that leaves the viewer pondering. It's actually rare that voice-overs HELP the story (FIGHT CLUB jumps to mind as a positive example).Though the beginning was slow and the backstory negligible, once the conflict started, I was engrossed. I kept wondering where this movie was from, and if I didn't know it was early 80's, it could have passed for a '70's unknown Nicolas Roeg or Ken Russell picture, with those quick edits and trippy effects. So it had a kinda timeless quality that has helped it to endure among the dung heap of horror movies that have been cranked out in the last half- century. Check it.

jane_cybergarden Watched 'Eyes of Fire' shortly after its release in 1983. Haunting, atmospheric and portraying nature spirits at their most potent. Something about it just captures your soul and stays with you - Leah the Irish faery.. and the faces of the spirits emerging from the trees... It felt as though you were really out there in the woods.Managed to get hold of a video about a month ago - WOW - even better than I had remembered it. I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who would jump at the chance to experience this unique, enchanting film. After all, if 'The Company of Wolves' (1984) has just been re-released on DVD, why can't Eyes of Fire...

Lunar_Eclipse_Scoping "Eyes of Fire" has a pretty impressive script to start out with. It lets the surreal events unfold in the most offbeat, unpredictable way, that you can easily view it several times and still discover things. The forest with its many "trees" is so vividly filmed; I never realized simple things like trees, bushes, and pure earth could be made so threatening! The film is just drenched in atmosphere: The haunting sounds of the woods; the often off-kilter camera angles; and the excellent narration by a young lady with an accent so thick you could cut it with a knife! I loved listening to her. The film has a logic and a language all its own. You have to pay attention to the film to appreciate all the developments of the highly "elemental" plot. This isn't a "brain candy" horror flick; you'll have to make an effort to understand certain things, but it's highly worth it. My favorite performance in the film is Karlene Crockett as the fairy Leah. Many of the most beautiful moments in the film involve her, like where Leah crawls into a barrel with the children to keep out of the rain, and a rainbow appears beside it; and Leah playing joyfully in the field of feathers. Then, of course, there's the dark scenes, like the ones where the grotesque figure in black roams the forest, sinking in and out of the ground; and Leah's numerous encounters with the elusive ghosts. I've heard people rag on the special effects, which are a mixed bag; but it's important to remember that this was 1983, and the filmmakers didn't have the budget of E.T. -- or anywhere near it. The effects serve their purpose, and are often quite creepy. They compliment the film, rather than overrun it like many films today.This is a really great film to watch late at night; it has the atmosphere of one of those low-budget chillers network stations would show in the early morning hours before the age of the infomercial, only with more originality. I would rush out and buy this if it were released on DVD; for now I'll just have to settle for my Vestron Video copy. I think this little gem is a masterpiece in its own right; definitely thought-provoking horror, a genre that is too rarely explored. My rating: 8.5/10

bride-3 This is a story of Protestant pioneers, a single family that travels into the wilderness following the prophetic misguidance of a single man whose desires outweigh his prudence. At the height of the witch terrors, this historical horror is more accurate than many another film, and does not overstretch its portrayals to suit audience expectation.The horror is supernatural and draws primal reaction. Politically, it founders right wing and supports traditional viewpoints to gender role, and can be seen as excellent propaganda, subtle in its execution and manuevering through social issues, and disturbing in its opinion to folk like myself, who do not feel that sexual libertinism is wrong and immature in essence. The burly frontiersman wins against the effeminate, vegetarian minister who turns out to be apathetic, vainglorious, and egocentric. It's the common Hollywood message: do not trust male weaklings, especially if they say it's ok to have sex, and do not trust ugly women nor allow them any power, because they're all evil witches. Did I say this is a beautiful film? It just so happens to be aesthetically pleasing and marvellously crafted, despite its polemic distance from my own viewpoint. I recognize that Eyes of Fire is a wonderful film and continue to view it as well formed. That is all I have to say about that.This film makes lovely use of simple film processes that are common to horror of its period, but differs in its use of setting, its use of lighting, and makeup. The actors are never afraid to get dirty or wade through a real river til subsumed by water.Now, let us talk about the script: it is noteworthy that Avery Crounse scripts and directs his own work, always. When possible, he also produces and edits his own work too. The script is the best written in a recent horror film, and is executed magnificently by the actors. The entire concept is original: who else has managed a pre-20th century horror film with a completely straight handling? No tongue in cheek gimmics, no men waving shotguns around at knights. This is pretty tough and believable stuff, and has its roots in Lovecraft as well as Washington Irving and folklore.The complaints as to the flashback sequences hold some merit, but when this film was released, flashbacks were seen as necessary for the handling of the audience; they do not differ largely from flashback sequences in other eighties films, and in fact, there are no flashbacks within flashbacks in this entire film. The directing is excellent, and the characters act like pioneers, act tough and stupid, ignorant and noble, by turns.While I love the film, I despise its message.