Horror Movie Review: The Headless Eyes (1971)

Written and directed by Kent Bateman, The Headless Eyes is a puzzling horror film. On the surface, it’s exploitive trash hoping to shock at a time when the shocks were coming thick and fast. However, dig deeper and you’ll find something artsy, pretentious, and weird.

It’s a film that grows on you, like a madness that only an artist could know, especially one who lost an eye and is in constant pain now. This artist is Arthur Malcolm (Bo Brundin) and he is a troubled individual, living up to every artist cliché possible. Including the fact that he can’t pay his rent because his art isn’t selling.

So, naturally, he sneaks into a woman’s bedroom to steal some money, however, she wakes up and attacks Arthur. He tries to explain, but she uses a spoon to gouge out one of his eyes and pushes him out the window. It’s an insane opening, highly imaginative, and a lot of fun.

Of course, Arthur survives but suffers immense pain because of his injury. Pain that slowly drives him mad, turning him into a killer.

Hunting women on the streets, believing that they could never like a disfigured man such as he, and using their eyes as inspiration for his artwork. He’s not a maniacal murderer though, he just can’t seem to stop himself as the pain becomes like an encouraging voice in his head.

It’s this aspect that gives The Headless Eyes its artistic merit, and it does allow for a more nuanced story. Bo Brundin does a good job as Arthur, not making him sympathetic, but managing to make him a bit of an unfortunate creature. He’s weird, but the world he inhabits is weird, so he doesn’t stand out, aside from his murderous ways.

Speaking of which, being an exploitive horror, it’s no surprise that all the violence and death is meted out on female characters and there is an underlying sexual element to things. There’s nothing that will offend modern sensibilities, and the blood and gore isn’t too egregious, but the sleazy feel of all the male on female assaults does make things feel grim.

It is a grim film though. Ugly to look at, featuring discordant sounds and music, and having a strong sense of misery throughout. The Headless Eyes isn’t going to impress, but it’s not without some merit.