I See You (II) (2019) User Reviews

If you're patient with this film it will reward you

[jtindahouse · 8/10 · 4 January 2020]

The opening scene of 'I see You' is an interesting one. It implies a supernatural element to the film and consequently made me lose interest for a little while. In hindsight it's a really clever and well executed scene that I can appreciate. And that's the thing about this movie. Everything is about hindsight, and I love that. I love a movie that presents something seemingly bizarre and then explains itself. The problem with that is that the audience has to be patient through the first half of the film. It requires trust and in the modern world of terrible films that can be a tough thing to give to a film. However if you do use patience with 'I see You' you will have a great time.

It was hard to tell early on just how dark the film was going to be. I knew it had an R rating so there had to be more going on than initially met the eye. The film tends to get darker and darker as it goes along and reveals itself. There's a concept used in this film that I can't reveal because it would be a spoiler, however it is starting to be used more and more in films. It's a really creepy idea because it could happen to anyone and could even be happening to you right now without you knowing. 'I See You' puts its own twist on it and does it a little differently which I liked, but it's just another element to this film that works extremely well.

I love it when horror movies gets things right. 'I See You' is a well crafted little film, that is well worth your time and almost demands a second viewing afterwards to fully appreciate it. This is one not to be missed.

Quality Thriller!

[nevittjason-19553 · 8/10 · 8 December 2019]

If you want a movie that offers some good suspense and one that does a pretty good job with misdirection along with some WTF head scratching moments then you can't go wrong with this film.

Great sleeper!

[jaycop · 8/10 · 3 January 2020]

Very well directed with eerie feel. I often wonder why more thrillers like this don't utilize the power of sound and musical scores to build tension in a scene. Anyways I was pleasantly surprised by this in a year that hasn't released many good movies. I hope to see more from this director!

Mixed Tropes Horror Thriller

[Pairic · 7/10 · 30 August 2020]

I See You: A film of mixed tropes - child abduction, domestic disharmony and intruders living secretly in a house. A detective (Jon Tenney) is investigating the disappearance of a boy which may be linked to old cases. His wife (Helen Hunt) is having an affair and her paramour becomes involved in strange events which occur in the house. Throw in a surly son (Judah Lewis) and you have a natural suspect for the oddities. But this movie is even stranger as twist after twist occurs and we see the same events unfold from several different perspectives. Nothing is quite as it seems. Some shocking and violent scenes but the tension is mostly maintained through the use of psychological horror. Maybe the film has one plot turn too many for it's own good but I See You is well worth watching. Directed by Adam Randall from a screenplay by Devon Graye. On Netflix. 7/10.

Misleading genre

[albertomtz · 7/10 · 7 December 2019]

Don't believe the genre tag. This is straight up a thriller/mistery, there is absolutely no horror at all and you will be totally and completely dissapointed if you're in for the horror.

Said that, if you enjoy thrillers "I See You" completely delivers. There are a handful of surprises and will make you want to see it at least twice (I didn't really saw it twice but I definitely rewinded to some parts).

It has a smart script that keeps you guessing, and while the behaviors of the characters sometimes made my eyes roll, most are explained later. There are only two or three things that they had to force and you have to turn a blind eye to in order to fully enjoy it.

I See You will stay with you for a little while and won't give you all the answers. I'm still wondering why he chose -that- song, and what happened in -the trailer-. Leaves it to the imagination and mine went to really dark places. Making the movie EXTREMELY dark.

Unpredictable and left me stunned

[maccas-56367 · 7/10 · 19 August 2020]

I hated this film to begin with. I found it boring, and like some lame c-grade horror flick, with half the scenes barely even making sense. It felt like a Lifetime movie.

Then the film shifted dramatically and changed into something completely different. It was like watching two separate films, with a heap of separate stories taking place at once. It did this effectively though, and managed to weave all the strands together quite well. It certainly drew me in and captivated me throughout the second half.

I really didn't see some of the twists and turns coming. I'm glad I persisted through what I found to be a tedious first half hour. I See You felt like smart writing by the end, and definitely had a little swagger and style in the way it was made.

One of those films that leaves you kind of stunned by the end.

Watch it at least twice. Because it is two movies in one.

[Otkon · 9/10 · 29 May 2020]

This movie came out of nowhere. And I really had no expectations. I was a bit apprehensive when I saw Helen Hunt's name in the cast. But honestly, her expressionless face works in selling her part in a very complex story. A story that even if you think you got at the end, I will tell you the movie's even bigger secret up front:

It was no accident or coincidence that Alec was in that house. You see, right when the movie turns from what you think is a supernatural thriller into the actual story, Mindy literally tells you that Alec, who is from the town while she is not, picked the house. Why this house? Because he knows who lives there. And the resurgence in the kidnappings has triggered his memories. We know from the end that he was one of the two earlier victims who escaped the man in the "house in the trees". We also know that the experience really traumatized the other boy. Watch Greg's reaction during that scene. On the second viewing, it becomes something entirely different. And then we are cleverly led away from the subplot of the two surviving boys which helps set up the ending.

Also on a subsequent viewing, you understand Alec's motivation for what he is doing inside the house. We know the initial kidnapping really messed up Tommy so it is not that unbelievable that Alec has become also equally unhinged. And this explains why Alec stalks Greg in the house. He watches him obsessively. He trashes his photos. He literally marks Greg in his bed. Alec is out for revenge by mentally and physically torturing his childhood kidnapper. It is also very likely he is in the house looking for evidence like the pocketknives.

During the climax when Greg tries to explain his criminal reasoning, he is so readily dismissed by Alec because Greg and Alec have already been acquainted for 15 years. Alec is there on a mission and has no need to empathize with the monster who ruined his innocence and youth. And then Alec as he lies wounded on the kitchen floor gives us the signal that he knows and remembers the other detective who alone interviewed him and Tommy all those years ago by calling out Det. Spitzky's name.

And then the flashback ending that we were teased about and made to forget finally reveals itself. And while we already know that Greg is the villain of this story, we learn ultimately who Alec really is.

But what triggered Greg's return to child abduction that in turn triggered Alec's revenge? Well, it is highly likely that Jackie's infidelity leading to Greg's feelings of masculine inadequacy and Connor's rebellion pushed him. He briefly tries to blame some events of his youth before Alec shoots him. Neglect, abuse, divorce, even the enuresis - hallmarks of a serial abductor/killer in training.

This movie is so very well-constructed and layered. It really is quite something. Beautifully plotted, shot, acted. It is far deeper than it seems. Well-done indeed.

Less Horror, But, More of Mystery!!! G00D1

[Waheed-Anwar · 10 December 2019]

The movie is different from usual horror/mystery films - not involving much gore/torture still maintains very good story-line and puzzle

1st half of the movie is originating puzzles, complicating the story; while the other half is filling in the gaps to solve that puzzles in a very unique way of back-patching/filling parallel events

Also, the sound-effects are very unique and different from usual, heard a bit new things

And, Yes, Passively marketing a few new terminologies and Singers/Songs :)

Overall very decent movie to spend good time and deserves to be in Horror/Mystery Category

Clever Thriller With More Than Meets The Eye

[omendata · 7/10 · 23 June 2020]

This just shows that you do not need a multi million dollar budget and what you can do for a meagre 3 million dollars.

Although the film builds itself up with clever scenes and sound effects to be a horror the film is actually a cleverly constructed thriller and it succeeds in its modest budget tenfold.

First off the acting is decent, photography is well crafted and it is written very cleverly to reveal the story slowly almost with spoilers all the way. Helen Hunt is fantastic as always but oh my what has she done with her latest plastic surgery, I do have to admit that seeing her now it is quite disturbing as she looks like Mason Verger from the movie Hannibal so disastrous is the plastic surgery she had in 2009 that it does actually impinge on her acting now and distracts the viewer every time you see her as she actually looks like she has had horror movie makeup and latex fitted to make her look unworldly - how very sad that such once beautiful and talented actresses such as Hunt have to do this to keep up in Hollywood - what is wrong with growing old gracefully but for me it does distract your attention in almost every close up scene she is in.

I digress however, the movie itself is well paced and thought out and the ending is masterful. I wonder how many people got the little scene at the end intimating that Alec was indeed the child who escaped from the serial killer at the beginning of the film and that was his reason for Phrogging the house as he wanted to exact revenge on the Serial killer who had killed his friends. It is little things like this that make this film a better than average thriller, even the scene where the little boy is mysteriously pulled into the air from his bike seemingly by an evil ghost/spirit to draw the viewer in when in fact it was actually just a tripwire - magic!

But what elevates this film above the usual is the superlative music and sound effects reminiscent of the recent Stephen King series The Outsider and which lends itself to making the film seem like a horror movie rather than the thriller which it is - my advice on this one is if you have 5.1 surround then turn it up to the max; pure cinematic ingenuity so this one gets very good 7/10 hatchets.

A very good watch.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 29 August 2020]

This is a very entertaining, clever thriller.

I would class this as an intelligent piece of writing, somehow it's a thriller within a thriller, it has a jigsaw feel to it, you will watch it and have many questions, how, what and who. Those questions will be answered as the film progresses, the intensity also increases, it is very satisfying.

What starts out as a relatively mild thriller soon morphs into something a lot darker, it goes through phases, ending as a very dark, twisted thriller.

Nicely acted, Helen Hunt does a good job, but all the cast are good.

It's a fine watch. 8/10.

Surprisingly good...

[Thanos_Alfie · 6/10 · 26 July 2020]

"I See You" is a Crime - Drama movie in which we watch a detective trying to find a missing young boy while he and his family starting experiencing some strange events at their house.

I liked this movie because it had a simple but very interesting plot with some plot twists that I did not expect and made it even more interesting. The direction which was made by Adam Randall was good and he did an excellent job without using any unnecessary jump scares that could lower the quality of his movie. I also have to admit that I was surprised with the very good interpretation of Helen Hunt who played as Jackie Harper and she was simply amazing. Some other interpretations that have to be mentioned were Owen Teague's who played as Alec, Jon Tenney's who played as Greg Harper and Libe Barer's who played as Mindy. Finally, I have to say that "I See You" is a nice crime movie and not a horror movie so, if you want to watch a classic horror movie then you should watch another movie and not this one. I recommend this movie because it feels very real and I am sure that you will feel it too, after watching it.

This didn't get wide theatrical release and Black Christmas did??

[sergeyk-432-110486 · 10/10 · 30 December 2019]

Very well executed mystery thriller that keeps you on the edge the entire time. Well done. Bravo. Thank you!

Great story but could have been tightened up a little

[bj-55612 · 6/10 · 8 October 2019]

It's not easy to review this film without giving too much away, as there is a twist in the tale. It is part murder mystery and part family drama with some points teasing at supernatural goings-on. We have a couple trying to get through a recent affair and their teenage son reacting very negatively. This gets overshadowed by some unusual occurrences in the house and a recent spate of missing children, which is being investigated by our poor cheated-on husband. The film shifts entirely halfway through and we start seeing the story from another perspective. Though the twist and the execution are very clever, the second half needs trimming. We are shown things that are somewhat unnecessary and the set-up for this act is a little long. What could have been a great film is just a good one because of the overly long reveals at the end.

"It's A Magic House... It Disappears!"...

[azathothpwiggins · 24 March 2020]

In I SEE YOU, Dr. Jackie Harper (Helen Hunt) is in the midst of family upheaval caused by an affair. Her bitter husband, Greg (Jon Tenney) is a cop who seems incapable of forgiving her, spending most of his time sulking. He's also investigating child abductions that may be related to a past series of murders.

Meanwhile, something very strange is going on in the Harper's home, involving inexplicable events. Viewers are left wondering what's actually happening. At times it seems almost supernatural. Could their son (Judah Lewis) be responsible? All of this is connected together in an original and satisfying way. Packed with wicked twists and unexpected turns, this is one of the best thrillers to come along in a while...

And I'd see you again

[mitchw-61-305942 · 7/10 · 14 July 2020]

I See You has a few interlocking narratives throughout. It's as though several subplots connect the film into a whole. While watching the film, I felt some frustration and disappointment because I wanted to see at least one story play out in detail. However, it was satisfying at the end when I understood this was the films intention.

The camera work was effective. The music was effective. The acting was solid. Everything that makes a movie a movie was done well and professionally.

So that leaves my impression. There was one scene with Helen Hunt at work, which was very short. I wasn't sure it was necessary for the film, except to give her character a bit of depth. In order to do this, I think there needed to be another scene of her at work. Perhaps it was to demonstrate her ambien dependency (if it is a dependency). This storyline here doesn't have much relevance either. There was relational drama between the characters which felt short and abrupt. I wanted this to be explored more.

When the film made a dramatic shift in storyline and cinematography about two thirds through the film, I felt a little disappointed because I had to get familiar with new key players. That being said, it was this shift that explained much of the mystery in the first half of the film.

Throughout the film, I didn't know who's side I was on. The protagonist and antagonist in this film is not consistent, which is the point. It may have been difficult when writing the script and editing the film to avoid plot holes. Fortunately, I didn't identify any, but there were probably minor discrepancies.

I'd say the characters were underdeveloped but the suspense and overall production of this film is well done. Interesting twists. By the end, I definitely wanted more from the film. I wanted more reaction from the characters when all is revealed to everyone. The credits role instead. Bum.

Mystery with a twist

[russjones-80887 · 6/10 · 2 October 2020]

Following the disappearance of a young boy whilst riding his bike, a small town detective needs to act quickly. However, strange things start happening in his home diverting him from the hunt. Who or what is responsible?

More mystery than horror, after a chilling first act the film loses its way a little in the middle but then bounces back with a neat twist before the end. Be patient and try not to change channels. Stars Helen Hunt and Jon Tenney.

First two-thirds are painfully slow. Great premise. Sub-par writing and direction.

[chi_town_fed · 6/10 · 14 December 2019]

Worth watching, but definitely not a "10" by any stretch of the imagination. I could go as high as a "7" as it depends on one's mood at the time they watch this film. Some may view this as a "3" "4" or "5".

The writing and direction reminds me of one of the M. Night Shyamalan films. There are some subplots that are not flushed out well. A couple of people pop-up out of nowhere with bit-parts as though the wind blew them on the screen and then they are gone with little to no follow-up. The family dynamic was a bit odd and not flushed out well even when taking the special circumstances associated with the mother into account. I think they would have been better off if they did not include that issue in the family dynamic, which was not written well and was more of a distraction. In doing so they could have focused more on character development and added more substance to the overall plot.

Instead, the film seems like a patchwork of people and circumstances as they toss scenes in for a few minutes then jump somewhere else a little too soon for my taste making the audience fill in the gaps. The closest description that comes to mind is "Jack of all trades but master of none."

The twists and the climax were very cool. I give them points for that. Other than that this is a mediocre film. Gets better in the last 15 minutes. The build up is too disjointed and slow in my opinion. Still, it is worth watching. I may have thought better of this film had it been made for TV, versus a rental. I expect more from movies that charge box-office prices to watch. That said, I have seen much worse films than this.

I recommend watching it with the knowledge you have gained in this and other similar reviews. Do not go in thinking you are about to watch an epic film that will make you jump out of your seat. Think of it as a made-for-TV movie with a moderate budget and suburbia setting. The twists make it worth watching.

It is a clever film with some genuine surprises in the story

[its-me6611 · 8/10 · 18 December 2019]

8/10

Plot: Jackie Harper is trying to fix her marriage after her affair with her high school sweetheart but her husband and son is not making it easy. To make things worse there is a creepy presence in the house.

The poster seemed cool and I thought it would be cool horror film. It is actually a mystery/thriller film, not a horror film.

There are three phases in the film. First phase revolves around the Harper family and the little strange occurrences that happens around the house. As the film progresses those strange events become increasingly creepy. There is also the drama centering the unfaithfulness of the wife. First phase takes almost 60 percent of the run time. I loved this phase, I had no idea what was going on, lots of questions were running around in my head. Then comes the second phase which takes a totally different turn in terms of cinematography and the tone of the film. Some hand held shots were used which distracted me from the ambience created by the first phase. This is the weakest phase of the film. Thank god it was the shortest phase as well.

The last phase shows lots of details and tries to tie the story lines. I liked most part of this phase as well. The tone of the film shifts here as well.

The acting was good by all the actors and music was nice as well. The frog mask is creepy. There were some solid twists which surprised me.

As the film has distinct phases and goes from mystery to thriller to action the overall experience diminishes a little. The production value is low and sometimes feels like a low budget TV-movie. There are some inconsistencies in the story.

I enjoyed the film. It is a clever film with some genuine surprises in the story. I liked the creepy ambience of the film and also the little dramas between the characters. Short run time also works in the favor of the film.

Flawed but Admirably Constructed and Atmospheric Indie Horror

[TwistedContent · 7/10 · 7 December 2019]

Once again it was the trailer that got me all excited for "I See You" (poster's also cool), somehow I was anticipating a horror movie that'd feel like a hybrid of Blumhouse and A24 (to clarify, the movie's produced by an entirely different studio) - I could smell the potential in the air. Now I've seen it & I'm mostly impressed in unexpected ways, but the more I dwell on it, the more critical thinking starts to point things out.

I was wrong though, "I See You" feels much more like Blumhouse than A24. "I See You" is particularly interesting and feels fresher because of two reasons, its twisty script structure & the eerie atmosphere, driven by creative cinematography and an original score that does indeed remind me of the horror movies from A24. It'd be hard to speak of the plot, harder than usual, because the story is shaped by two or (arguably) three major twists. Before we get to that, I also want to compliment all the actors for doing a terrific job, although I didn't like one of the key characters/performances much - Alec, portrayed by Owen Teague. I don't know why, it was oddly hard to accept him. As I previously mentioned, major props to the cinematographer, as well as to the composer - top notch design on all levels, both are important driving forces of "I See You". Back to the script - it's admirably constructed, highly effortful story with twists that shift the plot greatly. While that seems to be this flicks secret weapon, I also deem it a flaw in the process. The turns, while getting set up, explained and shifted again, take time and pacing suffers a bit at times. That's the least of it though. It feels as if "I See You" is multiple movies in one and the consequence is that it never finds its real ground. The tricks are effective, but drawn out and helped greatly by movies technical factors and overall tone, basically, some of the tricks in use are cheap in disguise.

"I See You" is more than just enjoyable horror movie with nice touches of crime and family drama genre elements, it's technically and aesthetically amazingly done & is awfully ambitious, playing out lots of elements - a third of them work, a third of them feel questionable and another third of them could've been excluded. My rating: 7/10.

Give it a chance

[T2TLED · 8/10 · 5 June 2020]

This movie was not what I expected. It actually turned out to be a really decent thriller. Once it kicks into gear, it goes. And it's a fun ride.

Ribbit...

[Xstal · 7/10 · 31 March 2023]

It's as if you have a poltergeist at play, as items in your house just go astray, the TV switches itself on, your favourite cup is lost, it's gone, it could be stress, as you've been having awful days. Your husbands started sleeping on the couch, after finding out some stuff that made him ouch, as you've been seeing a new lover, could your partnership be over, while your son has become somewhat of a grouch.

Everything is not what it seems in the Harper household as a disgruntled husband and policeman finds himself revisiting a case from the past while his wife's infidelity plays on his mind while things go bump in the night.

MASTERFUL MYSTERY

[kirbylee70-599-526179 · 9/10 · 9 March 2020]

I love a good mystery. The problem I have with most though is that I've seen so many I tend to figure them out before the final moments of the film. So when one comes along that catches me completely off guard it becomes one that I want people to know about. I SEE YOU is one of those films.

The movie is actually divided into two parts, the second half reflecting on the first. It's fall in a small town and the people are frightened for their children when a young teen goes missing. Det. Greg Harper (Jon Tenney) is the lead detective on the case, a case with few clues. But that's not the only issue Harper is dealing with.

There is problems at home as well. Harper's wife Jackie (Helen Hunt) was cheating on him and they're trying to make things work. His son Connor (Judah Lewis) is resentful of his mother's indiscretion and holds her responsible for the falling apart of their family. Every effort she makes to try and correct things he tosses back in her face.

The "have you seen" posters are placed around town and the search for the boy continues. When Harper and his partner Spitzky (Gregory Alan Williams) go back over the crime scene they discover something they missed the first time around. It's a green pocket knife and references a previous crime they worked years ago. Could that same killer have returned?

As the case moves forward strange things begin happening in the Harper home. And entire drawer of silverware disappears. Noises are heard. Windows are found open. Then the worst of it all happens when Jackie's lover shows up trying to convince her to run away with him. Leaving him in the garage when she goes to answer the door, someone kills him. Is there something supernatural involved here? Or could it be something else. Time for a spoiler alert if you don't want to know.

This is where the movie shifts gears as Connor reads a text screen that asks him if he's ever heard of phrogging. If, like me, you haven't I'm sure your hitting your cell phone now to look it up. Phrogging is when perpetrators, mostly teens, sneak into a home and attempt to live there without the knowledge of the home owner. It's a way to have a place to stay and to get some sort of thrill.

Mindy (Libe Barer) and Alec (Owen Teague) are two such teens who have placed themselves in the Harper home, hiding out when they are home and wandering around when they're gone. These are the two responsible for the mysterious goings on. But it gets better. Alec is one to push things to the edge while Mindy plays it safe. Could it be that Alec plans on taking things even further than Mindy expects?

This plot twists is mesmerizing and director Adam Randall uses a deft touch to bring it all about. Using up perhaps two thirds of the films short 96 minute running time he crafts the story to fit a certain mold, a horror film if you will involving what are potentially spooks gone wild. And then like Hitchcock did when he altered the story of a secretary stealing money into a serial killer in PSYCHO, the movie changes into something completely different. Quite an accomplishment for only a second film from Randall.

Screenwriter Devon Graye is now someone I want to watch. An actor with 53 films under his built this is the first one he's written. He's done a magnificent job for his first time out. The characters are believable and ones we come to care for. We wonder if perhaps Jackie is losing her mind. Or is there something supernatural? Or is it the phroggers? Or could it be something else entirely?

Hunt doesn't make that many movies these days and it was a pleasure to see her back in a role she handles with ease. It looks like she's making a return to acting after several years away and that's a good thing to happen. Tenney is an actor who's been overlooked for too long. He too does a great job here. And all of the young actors on hand also turn in performances that are exceptional, something we rarely see from teens on film.

To my knowledge this film played in few if any theaters and that's a shame. I've seen bigger budgeted films with more hoopla upon their release that didn't compare to this one. For me I know it's one I can not only recommend heartily but could sit and watch more than once looking for those tiny details I might have missed the first time around. For now I would tell any and all that this film makes a great viewing night and suggest you rent it when you can.

unpredictable

[xxxxxdarkmoon · 7/10 · 3 June 2020]

The first thing I did after watching this movie was looking for the name of the music composer. Because the sound design is incredible. Really good. It creates a lot of the atmosphere, which is what this movie is about: creepy atmosphere! It is not about paranormal activity, no ghosts, no monsters, no gore, no terror. Nevertheless creepy with high tension. A psycho thriller and horror thriller. Unpredictable with surprises and twists in the story. Don't read too much about it before watching it. It would destroy the experience. It is a great, realistic story.

Lack luster thriller that insults the viewers intelligence

[scottwelsh-61319 · 1/10 · 18 April 2020]

This movie is mediocre at best at anything it attempts to be. It uses the idea of changed perspective but done pretty poorly compared to other movies that use it. It prides itself off being a movie that keeps you guessing. But as soon as the perspective changes (less than halfway through the movie) you instantly realize who the new male character is and also the person behind it all. The only thing that could have given this movie more depth is the reasoning behind the "villains" motives, which it doesn't give you. So you're stuck with a poor take at a "Thriller movie" with a lack luster attempt with a changed perspective narrative.

A dog in the house wouldn't let this movie happen

[camilateacherz · 23 April 2021]

If they had a dog the dog would notice the invaders and bark. The message is: Get a dog and be safe.