Hollywood is a magical place. But there exists a dark, seedy underbelly beneath the glitz and glamour. We’ve seen the curtain pulled back since brave survivors came to the forefront to tell their stories with the #MeToo movement. Of course, the presence of abuse has likely been around as long as the industry itself. So, it’s refreshing to think that two indie filmmakers called out predatory behavior in the industry several years before the formation of #MeToo.
The filmmakers in question are Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer. And the film about which I speak is Starry Eyes. I’m a big fan of Widmyer and Kolsch’s meditation on the price of fame. As it turns out, so is auteur filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.
The great Guillermo del Toro once tweeted about the appeal of Starry Eyes, praising the picture’s leading lady and the disquieting effect the proceedings had on him. The Pan’s Labyrinth director’s post reads: “Film: Starry Eyes by Kevin Kolsch, Dennis Widmyer. Solid indie horror with plenty of unsettling bits and potent screen presence by Alex Essoe.”
Well said, sir. I previously covered the film for my Dread Central column, The Overlooked Motel. In my coverage, I had the following to say: “Starry Eyes is a grotesque and poignant personification of the price of fame. It features first-rate performances across the board and an absolutely stellar turn from Alex Essoe in the lead role.”
Where is Starry Eyes available to stream?
If you’re itching to see why del Toro is so captivated by this powerful indie film, navigate to Tubi where you can find it streaming for free (with ads) as of the publication of this post.
Kolsch and Widmyer relied partially on crowdfunding to finance the project. They eventually met their campaign goal. Thereafter, the pair completed principal photography over the course of just 18 days. The film eventually premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival.
The setup for this Guillermo del Toro-approved chiller goes like this:
A hopeful young starlet (Essoe) uncovers the ominous origins of the Hollywood elite and enters into a deadly agreement in exchange for fame and fortune.
That’s all that we have for you at present, dear reader. Be sure to keep an eye out for more recommendations from your favorite cinematic stalwarts as we uncover them. If you’d like to chat more about the merits of the indie horror darling Starry Eyes, come find me on Threads @FunWithHorror.
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