Eyes Without a Face
Dr. Génessier is riddled with guilt after an accident that he caused disfigures the face of his daughter, the once beautiful Christiane, who outsiders believe is dead. Dr. Génessier, along with accomplice and laboratory assistant Louise, kidnaps young women and brings them to the Génessier mansion. After rendering his victims unconscious, Dr. Génessier removes their faces and attempts to graft them on to Christiane's.
Critics Sentiment
Released dogs attack and maul Dr. Génessier to death
Christiane's new facial tissue is rejected within days
The film surges from its slowest point during the graft rejection to Christiane's powerful rebellion and the poetic finale.
Eyes Without a Face maintains consistently high sentiment throughout, anchored by the iconic masked imagery and groundbreaking surgery sequence. The film peaks with its poetic ending where justice is served through the released animals, while only briefly dipping during quieter middle passages. Critics consistently praised Franju's atmospheric direction and the film's unique blend of beauty and horror.
Full cast
Pierre Brasseur
Professor Génessier
Alida Valli
Louise
Édith Scob
Christiane Génessier
Juliette Mayniel
Edna Gruber
Alexandre Rignault
Inspector Parot
Béatrice Altariba
Paulette Mérodon
Charles Blavette
Man from the Pond
Michel Etcheverry
Doctor Lherminier, forensic surgeon
Claude Brasseur
Police inspector
Yvette Etiévant
Mother of the little sick man
René Génin
Emile Tessot
Lucien Hubert
Man at the funeral
Marcel Pérès
Man at the funeral
François Guérin
Doctor Jacques Vernon
Brigitte Juslin
Juliette (uncredited)
Crew
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