After enduring months of a fruitless police investigation into the disappearance of their daughter, a young, estranged couple, Junyang and Peiying, realize they are being filmed surreptitiously when they begin receiving mysterious packages at their door containing DVDs with footage of their daily lives. The moments captured are unnerving not only for the violation of their privacy, but for what is exposed about Junyang and Peiying’s relationship on a most intimate level. Suspecting the voyeur is responsible for taking their daughter, the couple embark on a desperate mission to seek him out, only to find the truth of his identity is more complicated than it seems.
Featuring legendary Taiwanese actor Lee Kang-sheng, STRANGER EYES “transmogrifies what looks at first like a creepy crime thriller into something much more tricksy, potent and ultimately puzzling, yet still rooted in recognizable human fragility,” (The Hollywood Reporter). Referencing other surveillance thrillers like Michael Haneke’s CACHE and Alfred Hitchcock’s REAR WINDOW, Singaporean filmmaker Yeo Siew Hua’s latest feature is a timely update to the genre as a meditation on voyeurism in the digital age and the contradictory desires around being seen.
For in-depth thoughts on Stranger Eyes, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:
Video Quality
Stranger Eyes arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of Film Movement with a sterling 1080p presentation that ideally represents this film. Colors are deftly saturated with some bold colors springing forth in some of the locales, especially with a portion of the movie taking place during the holidays. Black levels hold firm with no crush observed, and highlights do not succumb to blooming. There is a ton of detail packed within the various environments, including the grocery store and the mall. There is a pleasing amount of texture in close-up shots of the clothing and production design. Skin tones look natural, and there are some notable characteristics on display in terms of age lines and makeup. Compression artifacts and other digital anomalies are not a problem. The film renders as well as you might wish.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 2.0 track and a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track in the original Mandarin (with optional English subtitles) that deliver an effective listening experience. This movie often unfolds with long stretches without dialogue, allowing the environmental effects to come to the forefront. The track teems with life as subtle sounds of the city and retailers flow out of the speakers to conjure a formidably realized three-dimensional space. Environmental sounds come through effortlessly, and any dialogue is crisp and clear without being overwhelmed by any music or sound effects. There is some subtle texture in the low end in a few instances, but it does not attempt to draw attention in that regard. This track does a great job of bringing this to life.
Special Features
- Making Of: A 13-minute featurette with director Yeo Siew Hua in which a post-screening Q&A is interspersed with behind-the-scenes footage from the production. Topics include the themes of the story, the concerns about “national identity” on film, the casting of the various characters, and more.
- Trailer (1:36)
- Booklet: A multi-page booklet is provided featuring an essay from film historian Samm Deighan.
Final Thoughts
Stranger Eyes is a somewhat surprising film that has much on its mind beyond its initial premise. The abduction of a child is a gripping starting point for a mystery that explores societal isolation and loneliness as much as any procedural investigation. The decision not to give in to audience-friendly plotting may alienate some, but it ultimately allows it to be a much more layered and complex film in totality. All of the performances are very strong, and the directorial choices made by Yeo Siew Hua are indicative of a talent who needs to be firmly on your radar moving forward. Film Movement has provided a Blu-Ray with a strong A/V presentation along with a decent supplement. Recommended
Stranger Eyes is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Film Movement and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
