Review of The Pale Blue Eye (2022) by Mahaakshay — 09 Jan 2023

The Pale Blue Eye will surely captivate you for it's historic setting and grim visuals. The film has maintained the dark atmosphere which is required in a story like this. There is a sense of emptiness and isolation which the film keeps you in.

The film starts of with a very fast-paced and sophisticated story but I felt that somewhere in the 2nd half, the film does drop and it becomes more about character development and the main story (the murder mystery) takes a back seat.

But it is the end that truly is a shocker and the best part of the film. I love stories which make me think and second guess the characters but I myself was surprised with the twist in the end. It was truly very-well played out.

Performance wise of course it is Christian Bale who scores the most! His presence is captivating and he keeps you hooked in the film as the film rides on his shoulders. Please do notice his body language as there are scenes in which his silence and stares are doing most of the talking. He is truly one of the best of our generation.

Harry Melling who plays Edgar Allan Poe is also someone who should be brought into notice as he is remarkable in the film. His conviction to his character can be seen in every frame. Definitely an actor to watch out for.

The supporting cast are good in their respective roles and you can see that everyone has given their best in the scenes they appear.

The Pale Blue Eye is a murder mystery, no doubt about that but it is also a visual treat. So the crew should also be mentioned for their fine work to detail.

From the locations, to the Costumes and Art Design, everything feels authentic and all of these things add more feel to the story.

A special shout-out to the Cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi for creating a sense of darkness and grim in almost every frame. The blue tone which has been used creates the sense of dread which adds another layer to the story.

In conclusion, The Pale Blue Eye is a well-made film with great performances and visuals. If you are a fan of murder mysteries and thrillers then I would surely recommend you watching this film at least once. It's slow-paced but if you have the patience, the pay-off in the end is truly worth it's 130mins Run time.