The film begins with a mysterious crime. A woman drives her car at night and stops on the side of the road, where she dumps a dead body—likely that of another woman—into a lake. Shortly after this opening scene, we meet Dr. Génessier (Pierre Brasseur), a guest speaker on rejuvenation and organ transplantation between humans. After his talk, Dr. Génessier learns that a dead body has been discovered, which may belong to his missing daughter. When he visits the morgue to view the body, he confirms that it is indeed his daughter, even though the body has a damaged face, with only the eyes remaining intact. However, there is more to this story than meets the eye. We soon learn that Dr Génessier is lying. His daughter remains alive and well but hidden away in secret. His daughter, Christiane (Édith Scob), was once a beautiful woman; however, due to an accident, her face was damaged. Her father, Dr. Génessier, carries large amounts of guilt and shame for this accident and is determined to repair her damaged face. In the meantime, Christiane is encouraged to wear a face mask to prevent further damage. Dr Génessier, along with his lab assistant, Louise (Alida Valli), are secretly kidnapping various women and surgically removing their faces, attempting to transplant the face on Christiane. Will Dr. Génessier and Louise repair Christiane’s face, or is there no hope for the family to ever find peace again? Directed by Georges Franju, who is recognised for his earlier films such as Judex (1963) and Shadowman (1974), Eyes Without a Face falls into the horror genre and can even be categorised as "body horror." Alongside its horror elements, the film features a compelling dramatic component that pleasantly surprised me during my first viewing. Both genres work wonderfully in this film. In terms of horror, there are plenty of eerie moments that are genuinely unsettling, including a pivotal scene in which Dr Génessier removes the skin and face of an innocent woman to help his daughter. Visually, I found this film stunning. Although the black-and-white visuals result from being made in 1960, they enhance the film, especially with its themes and horror elements. Minor details, such as Christiane’s mask, contribute significantly to the creepiness. The film's setting, particularly Dr. Génessier’s laboratory, is also impressive. Overall, this film is an excellent blend of horror and compelling drama. Made in the 1960s, the black-and-white visuals enhance the film's themes and genre, creating a fitting atmosphere. I felt surprisingly uncomfortable, especially during scenes involving the surgical removal of a face and skin. The characters are filled with hopelessness, yet each is distinct, which kept me guessing about the conclusion and its impactful outcomes. The film is unpredictable, heartbreaking, and downright creepy. Eyes Without a Face is a classic that I highly recommend. * This review has been written for Sanity. For more reviews from Walkden Entertainment, check out the link here: www.walkdenentertainment.com