I saw the Jessica Alba remake but never the original until now. What a unique hybrid of Asian horror, giving a Hong Kong/Thailand twist to the sort of ghost stories that were popular in Japan. J-Horror was about malevolent ghosts like Ringu and Ju-On. The Eye is more like The Sixth Sense.
Mun (Angelica Lee) gets a cornea transplant. The donor happened to be psychic so now Mun can see ghosts. They’re not out to get her. She doesn’t quite help them cross over like The Sixth Sense, but she often sees death before other sighted people can. Alas, she usually can’t prevent it which is the scariest horror.
The new 4K UHD makes the ghostly images distinct. They’re the ones that aren’t fully formed in the crisp frame. That is quite a unique application of 4K technology too.
There are some spooky sounds behind you in the surround channels, too. They enhance more of the surreal than the real.
Producer Peter Ho-Sun Chan gives a new interview and discusses the pan-Asian business model of the film in depth. He also recounts the true Bangkok explosion that inspired the film’s final set piece.
Heather Wixson narrates and produced a video essay in which she reads thematically into the concept of sight and empowerment.
There are two archival features with the Pangs and Lee, which also show them on the set of the film. These balance the collection’s re-appraisal with the initial production.