THE BLACK SHEEP is an ongoing column featuring different takes on films that either the writer HATED, but that the majority of film fans LOVED, or that the writer LOVED, but that most others LOATH. We’re hoping this column will promote constructive and geek fueled discussion. Dig in!
EYE SEE YOU (D-TOX) (2002)
Directed by Jim Gillespie
“It’s got about everything a thriller needs.”
Sylvester Stallone is an interesting guy. The guy’s had more ups and downs than an elevator in his career. Perhaps more so than anyone minus John Travolta. But Stallone’s journey might be more interesting because he has so often been written off…only been thought of as a singular character. Action. Brawn. Blood. Guns. Mumbled dialogue. Stoned expression. Fans know what to expect. Somewhere along the line though, when his action movies dried up and comedy killed his career (I blame Estelle Getty and his turn in Oscar), Stallone remembered that he used to be an actor. Shit, he once was nominated for two Oscars. And as Copland garnered some respect for him for the first time in decades, his return projects after bombed, leaving him to join action homies Van Damme, Snipes, and Seagal in direct-to-DVD hell.
This brings me to this here column. Stallone’s DTV period was a moment that the Black Sheep avoided. But after his return to form this summer with many of his DTV comrades (minus the big three), I felt compelled to revisit those lost and forgotten films. To see if they were truly worth the Wal-Mart discount bin price of $5 or less. Among them…Eye See You.
Ah, Eye See You. Of all his forgotten films, this one in particular I remembered because of the turmoil it endured. The original title, D-Tox (which I believe it’s still known as outside of the States), always stuck out…as did the snow swept setting. Something about movies set around blizzard conditions always appeal to me (maybe it’s that black heart of mine that loves to hate). The Thing, Fargo, Cliffhanger, The Shining, and even Better Off Dead. Each has interesting stories and characters, but the cold, the snow adds another layer of loneliness and isolation that creates suspense on demand. Eye See You follows that tradition. Of course, it has the benefit of being a suspenseful serial killer romp, but the weather makes things even more tense.
In case you’re like me and skipped this number, the plot revolves around Jake Malloy, a detective who’s on the trail of a nasty serial killer. When that bad guy gets a little too close and slices Jake’s loved one up, he loses his marbles and retreats to a special rehab for broken cops. It’s an abandoned building in the middle of nowhere. Oh, and there’s a blizzard on the way. And they’re completely isolated. And the cops started ending up not alive (dead), leaving suspension to mount. Who done it? Can Jake find his marbles and save the day?
I’m a little surprised Eye See You never found a mass audience. Apparently, the studio wasn’t happy with several things about it, but I can only speculate that they wanted more action than what they got. This movie doesn’t need it as it fits nicely next to Copland as part of the Stallone-the-Actor Collection, where he created characters with emotions and feelings over simple men of carnage. Don’t misunderstand, Eye See You has plenty of shootouts, chases, and blood, but instead of creating scenes that feel specifically meant for action, the action occurs because of the story. (In other words, any dummy watching standard issue action knows what’s going to happen. It’s like in any given Rambo. Every time he walks into a new scenario, we meet his current nemesis and battle quickly ensues.) Eye See You’s fights don’t feel liked it’s playing to the action genre. It’s more like a Seven or Silence of the Lambs than Expendables. This movie isn’t close to those, but similar. Tone…serious. Action…underplayed. Plot…mysterious. Setting…dark and cold.
It’s got about everything a thriller needs. A serial killer with a niche, loads of police nutjobs, brutal murders, secluded sets, snow drenched environments, and perhaps most of all…a hell of a cast. Tom Berenger, Charles S. Dutton, Jeffery Wright, Kris Kristofferson, Stephen Lang, and Robert Patrick. It’s like a who’s who of underused and underappreciated actors. In particular, I’ve never understood why Charles S. Dutton never landed better roles than he did. I grew up loving his TV show Rock and thought his turn in the also underappreciated Alien III was excellent. Also, it’s tough not to root for Berenger. Major League. Platoon. The Substitute. The dude carries weight in movies. Then there’s Patrick. It’s hard not like a former Terminator.
Of all the actors, it’s Stallone who shines here. He’s always played quiet and disturbed well, and he continues that character. But there’s something else about his character. It’s like Stallone knew this movie wasn’t going to achieve any sort of success because he looks defeated here. Worn by the system. Tired and beaten. But it works as I don’t think he’s acting because soon after this, he decided to only direct himself. He hasn’t looked tired ever since.
Disagree? Buy the DVD and discover for yourself.