beardedmovienut

7/10

Two Evil Eyes are a rather uneven experience. The first segment, called The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar and directed by George A. Romero, is a slog to get through. It's not bad, but it is quite boring. The acting is decent, but the writing leaves a lot to be desired, and there's nothing really going on for quite a while. There is some excitement to be had when we get to the very end, but other than that, this one is quite "meh". Argento's segment, called The Black Cat, is quite a bit better. There's little of the "flair" Argento is known for, but some of the filming angles and use of light is comparable to some of his earlier work. The story is a strong descent into madness tale, that tells the tale of a crime scene photographer that gets a bit too involved with his work and racks up quite the body count. Quite strong writing, with an ending that works rather nicely. The best part, however, is Harvey Keitel as the rather unsympathetic lead. It's a great performance which shows off his excellent ability to tackle these types of roles. The Black Cat is not what I would call great, but it is a solid story with solid acting and directing. Two Evil Eyes will never be a favourite, but "The Black Cat" lifts this one out of mediocrity, and for any Argento fan, it's a must-see.