In Your Eyes

Courtesy of Bellwether Films, and Night & Day Pictures

This is a little known, hardly talked about independent film that features a female lead and director, with a story by Joss Whedon. It is the second feature for budding production company Bellwether Pictures, which is run by Whedon and his wife Kai Cole. Not many people have seen this film, because immediately after it appeared at the Tribeca Film Festival; it was given a VOD release and little publicity. While the film isn't bad per say, there's a very obvious reason for this: it looks cheap. Between the very digital look of the film, and almost complete use of natural light, it's obvious that this wasn't made for very much, which isn’t a bad thing, but it makes distribution tricky.

 The film mostly revolves around our two leads: Rebecca (Kazan) and Dylan (Stahl-David). Kazan has been in a plethora of independent romantic dramedy faire lately ("The Pretty One," "What If.") and here is no different. She plays the emotionally fragile and understated Becky, who learns that she can see and hear a male counterpart in New Mexico. They lead very different lives but find themselves feeling connected, even safe with the other one able to see and hear everything they do. They can control the impulse, and often try to keep the other from seeing instances that could hurt them.

 The overall concept is brilliant, and this is coming from someone who constantly talks to herself without another person on the other side. The execution is also great, except when it comes to Becky's overbearing husband. He is played by Mark Feurstein, and the character is so obviously controlling and abusive, that it's difficult to watch without rolling my eyes. It makes his later actions more understandable, but it does nothing to engage the viewer.

The ending is probably the one thing I find complete fault with. It raises more questions than it answers, and the message it's building towards throughout the film is thrown away in a quick second. I know that Whedon doesn't take the compulsory, clichéd route, maybe ever, but when you are obviously going one way throughout the entire film and then look like you change your mind at the end; it looks like you're unsure where you're going. Otherwise, it’s an understated, quirky film that deserves the recognition it’s obviously getting.