[Film Review] That Cold Dead Look in Your Eyes (2021)

In the realm of experimental cinema, there are few contemporary films that stand out as truly unique and memorable. There is commonly an overuse of stylistic camerawork that tends to overshadow the lack of depth or theme, typical style over substance that leaves the viewer feeling like they’ve indulged in an experience void of meaning. That’s not to say every movie needs to say something that resonates, but when a filmmaker delves into the world of dark, tonal oddity, it is best when done with a clear understanding of the story being told. A brilliant new success story in the experimental world is That Cold Dead Look in Your Eyes, the newest release from Onur Tukel, the writer and director of the delightful black comedy Cat Fight (2016). 

That Cold Dead Look in Your Eyes is set in New York City, but contains almost entirely French dialogue, following down and out Leonard (Franck Raharinosy) as he deals with a break-up, difficulties at his job, and the impending downfall of humanity and his own sanity as he suffers hallucinations brought on by seemingly innocuous 5G internet modems popping up around the city. If that sounds like a lot, it’s only scraping the surface of this truly original work. The film is shot in color to signify flashbacks and black and white during the present day – a great representation of Leonard’s shadowy frame of mind while processing what’s happening to and around him. 

As the past is revealed, along with the real reason behind the break-up, Leonard becomes less of a sympathetic character and more the deadbeat who is forced to sleep on his ex-girlfriend’s couch because he can’t afford a new apartment. People slide in and out of his life, always eager to accentuate just how big of a loser Leonard is, compounded by his apparent inability to perform the simplest tasks successfully, including cooking food that is edible in his job as a chef. It isn’t always clear how much of these judgments are real and how much is in his head, but ultimately it doesn’t matter, because the damage done to his psyche is very real.

Processing guilt and regret isn’t easy. In a society that encourages the kind of toxic masculinity that requires a stiff upper-lip and the repression of strong emotions, the concept of a man like Leonard descending into darkness rather than deal with his sadness feels very familiar. That Cold Dead Look in Your Eyes explores otherness, offers mild but hilarious criticism of the NY art world, and manifests physical interpretations of the inner demons that feed off doubt and insecurity. It’s a beautiful and twisted examination of the weight of depression and just how lonely life can get when you think the world is out to get you.

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