Movie Review: The Pale Blue Eye

Edgar Allan Poe is a big deal in the literary world, and though the only work of his I've read is the Annabeth poem that was featured in To All The Boys I've Loved Before—I love that poem—I'll be looking into more of his work.

Do we need to even question Bale's acting at this point? Nah. He's shown time and again that he's always got it no matter the genre and script handed down to him. Case in point: his role in Thor, Love and Thunder.

Here we see him as Mr Landor.

Quick recap:

When cadet Leroy Fry is found dead as a result of hanging, Mr Landor, an investigator battling personal issues: the loss of his wife and the disappearance of his daughter, is called to investigate the suicide.

As the evidence comes into play, it becomes clearer that Fry didn’t hang himself but may have been a victim of some ocultic festish.

Landor enlists the help of a cadet, Edgar Allan Poe, a poet who assists in infiltrating the inner cadet clique to get to the bottom of the truth.

Both men make revelations that change the course of their investigation and their personal lives.

I like how this movie played on misdirection. It took me back in time to when Bale and Huge teamed up for The Prestige. At first, you assume the cadets are covering up for someone superior. I’m not going to lie; I thought the head of the cadets was fishy. But when I saw the doctor who apparently missed an examination, well, I shifted focus to the doctor and his weird family.

I kept trying to guess who killed Leroy until the final confrontation. It all made sense, that is until Poe uncovers the real truth. I was so heartbroken at Landor’s daughter’s story and all of sudden didn’t mind the cadets dying.

I know that sounded bad, but he was a grieving father who felt he had to revenge for his daughter. Poe's final act almost led me to tears, too.

My resolution is to learn more about Edgar Allan Poe and read more of his poems and books.

This movie wasn’t the usual Sherlock Holmes. The blend of revenge and Satanism was a shocker, truthfully.
Bale and Melling were outstanding in their roles. Both gave applauding performances that are befitting of the actors.

If you don't have patience for long movies, don't watch this. If you dislike slow-paced movies, again, don't watch this, but if you appreciate solid storytelling with that touch of old English grammar, then this is a must-watch.