The 1960s and 70s were the golden age of European horror, giving rise to a unique, stylish brand of horror that is often imitated but rarely duplicated. Think Dario Argento's psychedelic, fairy-tale fear. Sighswhere the color and sound were as terrifying as the story. This is a very specific art house atmosphere that is difficult to convey correctly.
Recent German film. Dawn breaks through your eyesabsolutely captures that feeling, acting as a stunning modern love letter to that very specific era. He brilliantly uses the classic “creepy old castle” trope as a jumping off point for something much stranger.
The film lures you in with a simple story of a couple viewing an inherited estate, but quickly subverts that reality. The narrative breaks down, drawing you into a mesmerizing, time-bending loop that is both beautiful and deeply unsettling. Whether you're a fan of classic European horror or just want something that will turn your head, this new cult favorite is streaming for free on Tubi.
Behind the Eyes is Dawn is one of my favorite horror discoveries. It's a psychedelic journey that sees a couple's toxic relationship fall apart inside a cursed castle. The description sounds simple, but the film seems like something out of a dream.
I've loved surreal, stylish European horror films ever since I was old enough to start watching them. I spent a lot of time inhaling every giallo or weird gothic movie I could find. Movies that are more like beautiful, terrifying nightmares than simple stories are some of my favorites, so to see so many of the old ones that I treasure reflected in the modern mirror is fantastic.
The cinematography in Dawn Behind the Eyes is ethereal and beautiful, with eerie dream-like scenes.
Dawn Behind the Eyes is one of the best modern homages to 70s European horror I've ever seen, and it leans heavily on psychedelic visuals and reality-bending storytelling. This is a movie that I have been thinking about constantly since I first saw it.
The film follows an unhappy married couple, Margot (Louise Taraz) and Dieter (Frederick von Lüttichau), as they head to a remote castle that Margot has inherited. When they have to spend the night, their relationship quickly deteriorates while other downright creepy things happen. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to sleep in a disgusting, dusty old castle, this movie may answer that question and many more.
After a major plot twist that I won't go into here, we learn that this couple's relationship was never what they thought it was. But among the problems of Margot and Dieter, the real antagonist seems to be the castle itself. It seems to warp reality no matter who remains within its walls, and sets off a nightmarish loop in which the two realities eventually collapse into each other.
Dawn Behind the Eyes is a modern cult classic for many reasons, many of which have to do with the sheer beauty of the film itself. But there's also a great synth soundtrack, lush '70s-style cinematography and a surreal, dreamlike atmosphere that bring the world to life. I watch it whenever I want something truly hypnotic, and its visual splendor never disappoints.
This brilliant arthouse film did not have a large theatrical release. Instead, it made its name on the festival circuit, earning acclaim for its stunning visuals and bold storytelling. Since the film's release, it has found quite a following on streaming and has become a cult classic for movie fans. GialloEuropean horrors of the 70s or mind-bending psychological thrillers.
If you're looking for something unlike any other, try this rarity. All you have to lose is the hour and changes it takes to watch. And perhaps after this you will never be the same.
