Though it paraphrases the title of the 1960 French horror classic Eyes Without a Face, director Ramin Niami's suspense shocker actually amalgamates two Hitchcock favorites, Rear Window and Psycho. Which is not a bad company to choose, if one is serious about the material, as this troupe seems to be. However, twists and turns in this chiller (unlike their illustrious forebears) become transparent before long.
Henry (Dakota Shapiro), who was raised by an abusive father after his mother died upon his birth, dwells as an agoraphobe in his Los Angeles home, taking on an outgoing, would-be-actor Australian housemate Eric (Luke Cook) as a boarder for much-needed income. Henry eventually shares his secret (one of them) with Luke: in his room filled with computer gear, Henry has hacked into active online cameras and webcams embedded in devices around the city, especially those belonging to young, attractive women. Henry spends hours eavesdropping on these beauties and their personal lives, including online sex-fantasy sessions (nothing really explicit is shown). Henry considers these targets of his voyeurism his "friends."
Gradually, though, Henry becomes convinced one of the girls, Laura (Vlada Verevko) is a serial killer, with a habit of poisoning men and, possibly, going around in a mask and portable Livestream-device for slasher-murders. Eric is skeptical and wants proof but Henry fears the lethal Laura knows she is being watched and searching for her voyeur. .
The home viewer has already had a flash-forward portending that this will not end well. They've also been provided with many clues that Henry is not taking his proper mental-health medication, that the heirloom straight-razor he inherited from his dad has significance, and that what we are seeing may not be literally true...
Niami's direction is solid and direct, rather than trying to wow the eye with MTV-ish cyberpunk imagery, and actor Shapiro has done his homework with the Tony Perkins-patented neuroses (Cook is also a fun seriocomic foil, if no Grace Kelly). Still, the last 15 minutes or so can be safely predicted. Eye Without a Face may not be Alfred Hitchock level, but it will do if one is willing to settle for William Castle, with perhaps a mild side commentary on internet-age angst. Of course, Castle would sweeten the deal with a gimmicky stack of cardboard "webcam detector" giveaways in the theater lobby. Optional. Aud: P.