Eyes Without a Face
Seen it?1960 | 84 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (96% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest, despite soft box office. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and horror fans. If you loved Get Out or Frankenstein, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Scary.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 24 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1960: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Dr. Génessier is riddled with guilt after an accident that he caused disfigures the face of his daughter, the once beautiful Christiane, who outsiders believe is dead. Dr. Génessier, along with accomplice and laboratory assistant Louise, kidnaps young women and brings them to the Génessier mansion. After rendering his victims unconscious, Dr. Génessier removes their faces and attempts to graft them on to Christiane's.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 90 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$59K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 135K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Georges Franju
- Pierre BrasseurProfessor Génessier
- Alida ValliLouise
- Édith ScobChristiane Génessier
- Juliette MaynielEdna Gruber
- Alexandre RignaultInspector Parot
- Béatrice AltaribaPaulette Mérodon
- Charles BlavetteMan from the Pond
- Michel EtcheverryDoctor Lherminier, forensic surgeon
- Claude BrasseurPolice inspector
- Yvette EtiévantMother of the little sick man