One Eyed Girl
- 2013
- 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
5.4K
YOUR RATING
A young psychiatrist is haunted by the suicide of a patient and hovers on the verge of a breakdown. He meets an attractive representative of a secret church that promises salvation to its me... Read allA young psychiatrist is haunted by the suicide of a patient and hovers on the verge of a breakdown. He meets an attractive representative of a secret church that promises salvation to its members.A young psychiatrist is haunted by the suicide of a patient and hovers on the verge of a breakdown. He meets an attractive representative of a secret church that promises salvation to its members.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 2 wins & 1 nomination total
Kate Cheel
- Rachel
- (as Katy Cheel)
Adom Carter
- Train Commuter
- (as Adom Kartor)
Adrian Gruszka
- Commuter
- (uncredited)
Emily McMahon
- Commuter
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
I saw this movie last year at the ECU film festival in Paris and still to this day, I think about it often. I am not familiar with Australian movies but I am so grateful the organizers of the festival have selected this movie. The concept of healing the soul was really disturbing to me and very powerful. It made me change the way I view negative past experience. The idea I had of Australia was beaches, surf and ice cream but the decor is more like a Scandinavian thriller movie. The music has great beauty and makes the movie really haunting. This is a deep analysis of a man's life into the darkest places in his head. The cast was really well chosen and their performances shows so much courage and intelligence. This is the first movie for this director and I am impatient to see more of his work.
I have to agree with one of the other reviewers that there isn't much, if anything, to recommend this by-the-books cult drama.
We have a chemically-dependent, terminally depressed young shrink (played convincingly enough by Mark Leonard Winter) whose young patient's suicide drives him over the edge, leading him into a cult-like EST-ish back-to-nature group led by Father Jay (Steve le Marquand).
Father Jay's group is all about getting "clear" (sound familiar?) and uses various punishing physical and mental techniques to supposedly "heal the soul".
So... is there anything you've heard so far that leads you to believe this is unlike any other cult you've heard about before?
Nope, didn't think so. And there isn't. I guess this might be shocking material for those who've never heard of brainwashing or even Charlie Manson, but it's snooze-inducing for those of us who have.
It's a pity because this isn't a poorly made film. The acting is decent. It just revolves around a non-story that's ordinary and non-compelling, to be kind. It's only 103 minutes, but it feels like a century. What a complete waste of everyone's time, including ours.
We have a chemically-dependent, terminally depressed young shrink (played convincingly enough by Mark Leonard Winter) whose young patient's suicide drives him over the edge, leading him into a cult-like EST-ish back-to-nature group led by Father Jay (Steve le Marquand).
Father Jay's group is all about getting "clear" (sound familiar?) and uses various punishing physical and mental techniques to supposedly "heal the soul".
So... is there anything you've heard so far that leads you to believe this is unlike any other cult you've heard about before?
Nope, didn't think so. And there isn't. I guess this might be shocking material for those who've never heard of brainwashing or even Charlie Manson, but it's snooze-inducing for those of us who have.
It's a pity because this isn't a poorly made film. The acting is decent. It just revolves around a non-story that's ordinary and non-compelling, to be kind. It's only 103 minutes, but it feels like a century. What a complete waste of everyone's time, including ours.
I'm still sitting with everything it made me feel. It's one of those slow-burning, unsettling films that doesn't go where you think it will in a good way.
The movie follows this guy, Travis, a psychiatrist who's clearly dealing with some serious internal turmoil. He's depressed, kind of numb to the world, and not really coping with the weight of his work or personal life. Then he meets Grace this quiet, strange young woman and through her, ends up in a secluded cult-like community led by a guy named Father Jay.
At first, it seems like they might be helping him. The place is remote, strict, almost military-like, but there's a sense of belonging there that Travis is drawn to. That's where the movie gets really interesting it starts challenging you to think about what people are willing to believe in when they're desperate for purpose or healing.
The performances are what really make this film stick. Mark Leonard Winter, who plays Travis, does a brilliant job of showing someone completely unraveling, while still trying to hold it together. Tilda Cobham-Hervey as Grace is just... haunting. There's so much pain behind her eyes, but she also carries this strange sense of calm that keeps you guessing. And Steve Le Marquand as Father Jay terrifyingly charismatic. You can see exactly why people would follow him, even when things start to feel off.
It's not a flashy film it's quiet, tense, and moody. A lot of grey tones, empty spaces, minimal soundtrack. It builds atmosphere more than action, but that worked for me. It felt real, raw, and honestly a bit uncomfortable at times which I think was the point.
The movie follows this guy, Travis, a psychiatrist who's clearly dealing with some serious internal turmoil. He's depressed, kind of numb to the world, and not really coping with the weight of his work or personal life. Then he meets Grace this quiet, strange young woman and through her, ends up in a secluded cult-like community led by a guy named Father Jay.
At first, it seems like they might be helping him. The place is remote, strict, almost military-like, but there's a sense of belonging there that Travis is drawn to. That's where the movie gets really interesting it starts challenging you to think about what people are willing to believe in when they're desperate for purpose or healing.
The performances are what really make this film stick. Mark Leonard Winter, who plays Travis, does a brilliant job of showing someone completely unraveling, while still trying to hold it together. Tilda Cobham-Hervey as Grace is just... haunting. There's so much pain behind her eyes, but she also carries this strange sense of calm that keeps you guessing. And Steve Le Marquand as Father Jay terrifyingly charismatic. You can see exactly why people would follow him, even when things start to feel off.
It's not a flashy film it's quiet, tense, and moody. A lot of grey tones, empty spaces, minimal soundtrack. It builds atmosphere more than action, but that worked for me. It felt real, raw, and honestly a bit uncomfortable at times which I think was the point.
The film doesn't provide easy answers or fast-paced thrills. Instead, it offers a complex exploration of human suffering, the search for meaning, and the seductive power of belief systems. There are layers of tension that unfold quietly and methodically, making it feel more like a psychological investigation than a thriller in the conventional sense. While it may not boast the visceral impact of more overtly dramatic films in the genre, One Eyed Girl taps into a very real fear: the fear of losing control over one's own mind and identity.
What sets this film apart is its ability to balance character-driven drama with its philosophical and moral inquiries. The church that Travis stumbles upon isn't just a backdrop for the plot; it's a manifestation of Travis's fragile state of mind. Father Jay's influence over the group is subtle and insidious, and as we see Travis become more and more entangled with the church's practices, it's clear that the line between self-redemption and self-destruction is disturbingly thin.
What sets this film apart is its ability to balance character-driven drama with its philosophical and moral inquiries. The church that Travis stumbles upon isn't just a backdrop for the plot; it's a manifestation of Travis's fragile state of mind. Father Jay's influence over the group is subtle and insidious, and as we see Travis become more and more entangled with the church's practices, it's clear that the line between self-redemption and self-destruction is disturbingly thin.
One Eyed Girl is a slow-burn thriller that rewards patient viewers with a haunting psychological exploration of loss, vulnerability, and the search for meaning. It's not always easy to watch, but it lingers long after the credits roll.
Highly recommended for fans of character-driven thrillers with a psychological and philosophical edge.
Highly recommended for fans of character-driven thrillers with a psychological and philosophical edge.
Did you know
- TriviaThe use of The Humming chorus from Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini is a reference to Jennifer 8 that utilized the same track. The 90s Bruce Robinson thriller is a favorite of co-writers Nick Remy Matthews and Craig Behenna.
- SoundtracksPretty Little Girl Of Mine
Written by The Yearlings
Performed by Chris Parkinson, Robyn Chalklin, Michael Darren, Naomi Tillett, Michael Green
Details
Box office
- Budget
- A$1,100,000 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 1h 42m(102 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content