Eye of the Storm (1991)

Best movie of this year hands down!

Truly Dreadful Film

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Good actors can only do so much with a thriller script (by Michael Stewart and director Yuri Zeltser) that fails to offer anything really fresh. Craig Sheffer and Bradley Gregg star as Ray and Steven, the offspring of a couple operating a diner & hotel out in the middle of nowhere. One day, a pair of criminals show up who kill the parents and rob the place. Young Steven gets blinded in an escape attempt. Years later, the brothers are still operating the business, and their world gets shaken up by the arrival of an unlikely married couple, Sandra (Lara Flynn Boyle, looking quite lovely here) and Marvin (Dennis Hopper).The film is well made, with top notch photography & lighting and atmosphere to spare. It does deliver a fairly ominous finale when the storm of the title finally hits. But, chief among the problems, "Eye of the Storm" tips its hand way too early and, as a result, fails to ever be surprising. The opening is well staged, but things really hit their stride once Boyle and Hopper show up. Hopper, at least, is worth watching; the late, great actor & filmmaker could make just about anything worth a look. Eccentric roles like Marvin have always fit him like a glove. But things just aren't the same once he's written out of the story. Things also get positively silly when a particular character simply refuses to die and keeps plugging ahead like a slasher movie villain.Besides Hopper, the other actors fare reasonably well. Sheffer is good, and Gregg does succeed at evoking some sympathy. Boyle and Hopper play off each other well. Leon Rippy ('Saving Grace', 'Deadwood') turns up briefly as the sheriff; Ally Walker ("Universal Soldier") and Wilhelm von Homburg ("Die Hard", "Ghostbusters 2") are memorable as the lowlifes in the opening prologue.This viewer would hesitate to actually recommend this one, which now appears to be somewhat forgotten, unless they're devoted fans of the cast.Six out of 10.

It was not the best film, but still I found it rather entertaining and it passed the time the night I watched it. There is a twist in this one and while I have to say I did not see it coming then, I most likely would have now as when you have seen all those movies like the "Sixth Sense" and the numerous copycats since you are just ready for anything a film can dish out. A very wild and strange couple come to a hotel, where the older brother does not really want anyone checking in. The blind, younger brother though turns on the vacant sign and the trouble starts. There is immediately tension in the air as the couple consists of a crazy older guy who likes to have his way and his younger girlfriend who may or may not be tired of the abuse. During this time at the hotel you learn many secrets, not only about this couple, but about the brothers as well. You find out the older brother is very protective of his younger sibling and why. For all the secrets though the movie still needed a bit more. While interesting, it is far from a top notch movie. Just an okay B movie thriller really.

This movie is a great and exciting thriller! I watched it several times already and still get not bored of it. Everything is right in this one: the small but impressive cast, the remote location of the old wrecked motel. The story tells of 2 brothers (Craig Sheffer and Bradley Gregg), who run a motel. However, their guests never check out… When the couple Dennis Hopper and Lara Flynn Boyle stay at the motel, things start to become quite messy. The story is very thrilling and the performances of the actors are top. Craig Sheffer does a great job, as usual, but especially Bradley Gregg as the blind Steven is brilliant. If you like thrillers, then you absolutely must see this one! You will not be disappointed.

A terrific movie -- the kind that grabs you by the throat and won't let go. The set-up is simple, and yet the story keeps twisting and turning and deepening... you never know where it's gonna take you next. The script is crisp and fresh, but it's the tight, imaginative direction that makes this movie stand out. Rent it, buy it, steal it -- but see it... A real find.