First Reactions: Cineplay Editor Rates 〈THE EYES〉

Against expectations, the film mixes old-school horror conventions with some unexpectedly fresh touches. It balances the predictable and the unpredictable. Like director Kim Min-ha's similarly distinctive 〈Gyosaeng Silseup〉 — which followed the recent hits 〈Salmokji〉 (which drew 3.24 million moviegoers) and 〈Ameba Girls and School Ghost Stories: School Anniversary〉 (2024) — THE EYES is not a horror movie aiming for a new sensory style. Its biggest ambition is to summon the atmosphere of classic horror films (to the point that I can't even name certain titles without risking spoilers), and that makes it quite intriguing. It is the second feature from director Yeom Ji-ho, who made his mark with 〈Yeopjip Saram〉 (2021).