Body Bags

The project was originally conceived as the pilot for a TV series that was ultimately never produced. Given it was a rather uninspired TV horror series pilot, with all the inherent rigid constraints of that medium, it manages to be moderately enjoyable.

The first episode (directed by John Carpenter) isn’t much to write home about, a bland story disguised as a thriller. Next comes the segment directed by the uncredited Larry Sulkis, which relies heavily on the grotesque and has the merit of being entertaining enough, although the ending was rather abrupt. On the other hand, the final episode casts all irony aside, ending up totally out of step with the light tone that generally characterizes these productions. In fact, Tobe Hooper takes himself too seriously in “Eye”, offering us a stale retread of “The Hands of Orlac” (1921).

The film’s most appealing feature is its supporting cast: beyond the participation of the aforementioned Carpenter and Hooper, fans of the genre will definitely appreciate cameos by well-known directors (Wes Craven, Sam Raimi, Roger Corman) and singers (Deborah Harry, Sheena Easton).