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The Pale Blue Eye
2022 128 min United States of America R 16+
★6.4
Thriller, Crime, Horror, Mystery
Director: Scott Cooper
🎭 Based on
«The Pale Blue Eye»
byLouis Bayard
Trailers
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Teaser
EN
EN
EN
Description
West Point, New York, 1830. When a cadet at the burgeoning military academy is found hanged with his heart cut out, the top brass summons former New York City constable Augustus Landor to investigate. While attempting to solve this grisly mystery, the reluctant detective engages the help of one of the cadets: a strange but brilliant young fellow by the name of Edgar Allan Poe.
Budget:
$72M
Starring
Christian Bale
Actor
Harry Melling
Actor
Simon McBurney
Actor
Awards
1 win & 2 nominations total
Key opinion
The Pale Blue Eye is a slow-burn gothic mystery that divides audiences with its atmospheric, deliberate pacing and somber tone. While the lead performances are widely praised, the film's success often hinges on whether viewers appreciate its meditative mood or find it tedious and overstretched.
| Acting | Christian Bale and Harry Melling anchor the film with compelling, high-quality performances that elevate the material. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography effectively utilizes muted tones and harsh winter landscapes to create an oppressive, immersive gothic atmosphere. | |
| Pacing | The film’s deliberate, slow-burn pace is either viewed as a rewarding exercise in mood and immersion or as an exhausting and tedious slog. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is criticized for relying on predictable mystery tropes and overusing Edgar Allan Poe references, which diminishes the impact of the narrative. |