Despite being a beautiful film to watch and a captivating performance from Christian Bale, THE PALE BLUE EYE is a dull horror film that doesn’t have much to say.
Having a detective trying to solve a murder mystery with Edgar Allan Poe is interesting on paper. Yet, on the screen, it takes nearly ninety minutes for something interesting to happen. So when the highly predictable twist finally comes at the two-hour mark, it’s too little too late.
Scott Cooper is a gifted director. He can capture mood, performances, and slow-burn character studies (see CRAZY HEART). Yet, this period piece takes way too much time and needs to be more frightful for audiences to watch.
If asked if I wanted to rewatch THE PALE BLUE EYE, I would gladly quote Edgar Allan Poe and say, “nevermore.”
It’s available in limited theatres and on Netflix this fall.
