Die Augen der Laura Mars (1978)

Die Augen der Laura Mars: Directed by Irvin Kershner. With Faye Dunaway, Tommy Lee Jones, Brad Dourif, Rene Auberjonois. A famous fashion photographer develops a disturbing ability to see through the eyes of a killer.

“The premise presents all sorts of creepy potential—viewing murders through the eyes of the serial killer committing them. In the movie, these visions can strike Laura Mars at the moment they happen regardless of what she happens to be doing. Moreover, the victims are all members of her modeling staff. Itu0026#39;s a wonder then that sheu0026#39;s not a nervous wreck, an understandable consequence the film too typically ignores.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis psychic element makes a heckuva of a movie premise, but its effectiveness also depends on how the story around it is developed. And here I can only say the narrative results are little short of a mess. Itu0026#39;s like the five or six screenwriters simply failed to communicate with one another, resulting in a near incoherent narrative— for example, what is the killeru0026#39;s motivation, what is causing Laurau0026#39;s psychic visions, what relevance does Raul Juliau0026#39;s dangling presence have to the plot, etc. None of these are answered, or unless I missed something, even hinted at. Instead the narrative stumbles along in fits and jerks without much relation to whatu0026#39;s gone before. Then thereu0026#39;s the totally unbelievable ending that by itself is enough to sink the film.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNo need to go on since other negative aspects are discussed effectively by other reviewers. Instead, let me suggest a direction in which the story could have gone. For example, establish early on some psychic connection between Laura and Neville before they ever meet. Perhaps, she sees his compelling gaze in a photograph and is strangely transfixed by it. Thus a connection is established. This opens also the possibility that the murders are fated to happen, and both characters act not as independent agents, but are in fateu0026#39;s malevolent grip. In such a manner, the psychic world would be expanded and not drowned in a clutter of confusion.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnyway, the premise certainly deserves better treatment than it got from a glut of writers. Too bad.”