“A world-weary detective is hired to investigate the murder of a West Point cadet. Stymied by the cadets’ code of silence, he enlists one of their own to help unravel the case – a young man the world would come to know as Edgar Allan Poe.” – IMDB
The Pale Blue Eye has all of the makings of a wonderful film, especially for someone like myself who loves a dark and spooky atmosphere, a period piece, and some good ole Christian Bale. However, somewhere along the way, the movie loses its footing and trips over the finish line.
It is definitely an interesting choice to make a fictional murder mystery set in the early 19th century which involved Edgar Allen Poe. But I can wholeheartedly get behind that. Just knowing that Poe is going to show up somewhere along the way sets an ominous tone that helps start the movie off on the right foot.
However, as we get further along in the plot, a tangled web of stories starts to convolute the story so much that, by the time we reach the climax, it is rendered a bit ridiculous. Even though we go in knowing that the story is going to be a bit far-fetched, the twists and turns make the plot a little difficult to swallow by the end.
Do I regret watching the movie? Absolutely not and I will probably give it another chance down the road. As I said earlier, all of the elements are there and so it is not an unenjoyable watch. It just, as many thrillers do, drops the ball a bit at the end.
Rating: 7 out 10 Claire Bears
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If you like this movie, you should also watch: See How They Run, Vertigo
Streaming: Netflix
With: Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Simon McBurney
Directed By: Scott Cooper
Let Me Clarify 