White of the Eye (film)
Encyclopedia
White of the Eye is a 1987
British
thriller film directed by Donald Cammell
and starring David Keith
and Cathy Moriarty
. It was adapted in film by Donald Cammell and his wife China Kong
from the novel Mrs. White, written by Laurence and Andrew Klavan
.
Various flashbacks show Joan's previous relationship to Mike and later explain how it came to be that he abandoned her. The couple met Paul and befriended him. At Mike's suggestion, he and Mike go on a deer hunting trip together. Paul shoots a deer and brutally mutilates it, demonstrating his sick fascination with killing. This is apparently intended to scare Mike off, which it does. Mike catches Joan and Paul after they've made love, and Paul declares that he will take Mike's place. Mike points his gun to Paul's head but decides not to kill and abandons Joan.
By now Joan has run into Mike DeSantos working at a gas station in a neighboring town. Mike tells her he got out of prison after suffering a major head injury; he thinks life is looking up. He makes her promise not to tell Paul that she has seen him. Joan soon discovers Paul has committed adultery. By puncturing Paul's tires she provides him with an alibi for the most recent killing. He begs her forgiveness as the police turn their suspicions away from him. At home, Joan looks into a crawl space in the house, and discovers preserved organs of Paul's victims wrapped in paper and plastic. Joan confronts Paul and Paul tries to explain his motivations for killing. He believes he has been "chosen" and is expressing the nothingness of the universe, which is female and destructive like a black hole. He is putting women "out of their misery," but he loves Joan. Joan's distrust of Mike over the next few days agitates him into a fury and he tries to imprison her and then kill her and his daughter. Joan and the little girl escape in different directions and soon Joan has to elude Paul in the abandoned quarry. It turns out Mike has been staying there, armed with a machine gun, certain that he will meet Paul again. He rescues Joan and takes away Paul's gun, leading him to the edge of the quarry. He makes the sound he uses in the emptiness of living rooms and savors its echo of the quarry. While incessantly pontificating about his philosophies of life and death, Paul reveals a lighter with which he has lit the fuse of his explosive vest just as Mike opens fire on him with a machine gun and Joan dives into the lake in the quarry. Paul and Mike both die instantly, in a hail of destruction, leaving Joan the sole survivor. Joan reunited later with her daughter and thinks about what the ten years with Paul meant, whose destructive and nihilistic nature she never understood.
Based on the 1983 novel Mrs White by Margaret Tracy (pseudonym of the brothers Andrew and Lawrence Klavan), part of the plot is a remake of Russ Meyer
's Supervixens
and also has some visual quotes from Meyer's Up!.
and Pink Floyd
's Nick Mason
.
1987 in film
-Events:*January 31 - The Cure for Insomnia premieres at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Illinois, to officially become the world's longest film according to Guinness World Records....
British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
thriller film directed by Donald Cammell
Donald Cammell
Donald Seaton Cammell was a Scottish film director who enjoys a cult reputation thanks to his debut film Performance, which he co-directed with Nicolas Roeg.-Biography:...
and starring David Keith
David Keith
David Lemuel Keith is an American actor and director. He received Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor and New Star of the Year – Actor for his performance in An Officer and a Gentleman.-Career:...
and Cathy Moriarty
Cathy Moriarty
-Career:Her first film credit was Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull in 1980, as Vikki LaMotta, the wife of Robert De Niro's lead character. Her performance earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared opposite Andrew Dice Clay in the short-lived CBS...
. It was adapted in film by Donald Cammell and his wife China Kong
China Kong
China Kong is an American actor, writer, and producer of Asian descent.Kong is the widow of director Donald Cammell, having met him when she was 14 years of age and he was 40 years of age in 1974...
from the novel Mrs. White, written by Laurence and Andrew Klavan
Andrew Klavan
Andrew Klavan, is an American author and screenwriter of "tough-guy" mysteries and psychological thrillers. Two of Klavan's books have been adapted into motion pictures: True Crime and Don't Say A Word . He has been nominated for the Edgar Award four times and has won twice...
.
Plot summary
A series of murders of young women bear distinctive signatures of a suspected serial killer. Clues lead Detective Charles Mendoza to visit Paul White, a sound expert installing hi-fi systems in wealthy people's homes. His special talent is to make a noise which echoes through the air cavities in his head and shows him where the sound of the speakers should come from and echo in the room. He is married to Joan, whom, ten years earlier, he had seduced away from Mike DeSantos, her then current boyfriend. Joan is questioned by Mendoza, but does not believe his insinuations that her husband is somehow involved in the murders.Various flashbacks show Joan's previous relationship to Mike and later explain how it came to be that he abandoned her. The couple met Paul and befriended him. At Mike's suggestion, he and Mike go on a deer hunting trip together. Paul shoots a deer and brutally mutilates it, demonstrating his sick fascination with killing. This is apparently intended to scare Mike off, which it does. Mike catches Joan and Paul after they've made love, and Paul declares that he will take Mike's place. Mike points his gun to Paul's head but decides not to kill and abandons Joan.
By now Joan has run into Mike DeSantos working at a gas station in a neighboring town. Mike tells her he got out of prison after suffering a major head injury; he thinks life is looking up. He makes her promise not to tell Paul that she has seen him. Joan soon discovers Paul has committed adultery. By puncturing Paul's tires she provides him with an alibi for the most recent killing. He begs her forgiveness as the police turn their suspicions away from him. At home, Joan looks into a crawl space in the house, and discovers preserved organs of Paul's victims wrapped in paper and plastic. Joan confronts Paul and Paul tries to explain his motivations for killing. He believes he has been "chosen" and is expressing the nothingness of the universe, which is female and destructive like a black hole. He is putting women "out of their misery," but he loves Joan. Joan's distrust of Mike over the next few days agitates him into a fury and he tries to imprison her and then kill her and his daughter. Joan and the little girl escape in different directions and soon Joan has to elude Paul in the abandoned quarry. It turns out Mike has been staying there, armed with a machine gun, certain that he will meet Paul again. He rescues Joan and takes away Paul's gun, leading him to the edge of the quarry. He makes the sound he uses in the emptiness of living rooms and savors its echo of the quarry. While incessantly pontificating about his philosophies of life and death, Paul reveals a lighter with which he has lit the fuse of his explosive vest just as Mike opens fire on him with a machine gun and Joan dives into the lake in the quarry. Paul and Mike both die instantly, in a hail of destruction, leaving Joan the sole survivor. Joan reunited later with her daughter and thinks about what the ten years with Paul meant, whose destructive and nihilistic nature she never understood.
Based on the 1983 novel Mrs White by Margaret Tracy (pseudonym of the brothers Andrew and Lawrence Klavan), part of the plot is a remake of Russ Meyer
Russ Meyer
Russell Albion "Russ" Meyer was a U.S. motion picture director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, actor and photographer....
's Supervixens
Supervixens
Supervixens is a 1975 sexploitation film by American filmmaker Russ Meyer. The cast features Meyer regulars Charles Napier, Uschi Digard, and Haji...
and also has some visual quotes from Meyer's Up!.
Selected cast
- David KeithDavid KeithDavid Lemuel Keith is an American actor and director. He received Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor and New Star of the Year – Actor for his performance in An Officer and a Gentleman.-Career:...
as Paul White - Cathy MoriartyCathy Moriarty-Career:Her first film credit was Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull in 1980, as Vikki LaMotta, the wife of Robert De Niro's lead character. Her performance earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared opposite Andrew Dice Clay in the short-lived CBS...
as Joan White - Art J. Evans as Detective Charles Mendoza
- Alan RosenbergAlan RosenbergAlan Rosenberg is an American actor of both stage and screen. From 2005 to 2009, he was president of the Screen Actors Guild, the principal motion picture industry on-screen performers' union.-Early life:...
as Mike DeSantos - Alberta WatsonAlberta WatsonFaith Susan Alberta Watson , known professionally as Alberta Watson, is a Canadian movie and television series actress.-Early life:...
as Ann Mason
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for this movie features Rick FennRick Fenn
Richard 'Rick' Fenn is an English rock guitarist. He is best known for being a member of the band 10cc since 1976. He has also collaborated with Mike Oldfield, Rick Wakeman, Hollies singer Peter Howarth and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason....
and Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
's Nick Mason
Nick Mason
Nicholas Berkeley "Nick" Mason is an English drummer and songwriter, best known for his work with Pink Floyd. He was the only constant member of the band since its formation in 1965...
.