An ex-convict, troubled by dreams that he strangles women, is hired as the caretaker on an estate owned by three very strange sisters. Soon after his arrival, a serial killer begins slaughtering blonde, blue-eyed women - and leaving their eyeballs in a bowl of water.
This film was co-written by Naschy and director Carlos Aured, allegedly loosely based on a true story of a doctor in the 1800s. Naschy himself felt that this was "the best film of those directed by Carlos Aured." Although many notable actors appear, one of the more interesting is Pilar Bardem. Today, she is less known for her own work than for being the mother of an even more successful actor: Javier Bardem. Diana Lorys appears and has the distinction of having been in Jess Franco's "The Awful Dr. Orlof" (1962), which is widely considered the first Spanish horror film.
The style and themes fit into the giallo subgenre, with an appropriate title to match. Purists may say that gialli can only be Italian, but can a genre really be language or country specific? We even have the killer with the dark gloves and a sharp weapon -- some sort of gardening tool. We also have a theme of claustrophobia and confinement, which plays out with the house being a prison without bars.
Like an good giallo, there are also a multitude of suspects. Naschy named his character Gilles as a nod to serial killer Gilles de Rais, which instantly makes him a suspect by connotation. But he is far from the only one, especially considering the killer uses gardening tools and there is, in fact, a very suspicious gardener lurking around.
Sam Sherman founded Independent-International Pictures, which is today best known for distributing the Z-grade movies of Al Adamson. But Sherman also brought "Blue Eyes" to the United States, cut some offensive footage out, and retitled it "House of Psychotic Women", the title it was eventually known as on the home video market, as well. Strangely enough, Naschy and Aured apparently started to use the new title, despite having no say in its change.
On the Scream Factory Blu-ray (as part of their Paul Naschy set), we get an excellent commentary from the fine folks at NaschyCast. Most interesting is their reference in the commentary to author Kier-La Janisse, who has really become a rising star in the horror world in the last five years (2012-2017). Of course, the Blu-ray has all the "offensive" footage intact, including the scene of a pig being slaughtered.
This film was co-written by Naschy and director Carlos Aured, allegedly loosely based on a true story of a doctor in the 1800s. Naschy himself felt that this was "the best film of those directed by Carlos Aured." Although many notable actors appear, one of the more interesting is Pilar Bardem. Today, she is less known for her own work than for being the mother of an even more successful actor: Javier Bardem. Diana Lorys appears and has the distinction of having been in Jess Franco's "The Awful Dr. Orlof" (1962), which is widely considered the first Spanish horror film.
The style and themes fit into the giallo subgenre, with an appropriate title to match. Purists may say that gialli can only be Italian, but can a genre really be language or country specific? We even have the killer with the dark gloves and a sharp weapon -- some sort of gardening tool. We also have a theme of claustrophobia and confinement, which plays out with the house being a prison without bars.
Like an good giallo, there are also a multitude of suspects. Naschy named his character Gilles as a nod to serial killer Gilles de Rais, which instantly makes him a suspect by connotation. But he is far from the only one, especially considering the killer uses gardening tools and there is, in fact, a very suspicious gardener lurking around.
Sam Sherman founded Independent-International Pictures, which is today best known for distributing the Z-grade movies of Al Adamson. But Sherman also brought "Blue Eyes" to the United States, cut some offensive footage out, and retitled it "House of Psychotic Women", the title it was eventually known as on the home video market, as well. Strangely enough, Naschy and Aured apparently started to use the new title, despite having no say in its change.
On the Scream Factory Blu-ray (as part of their Paul Naschy set), we get an excellent commentary from the fine folks at NaschyCast. Most interesting is their reference in the commentary to author Kier-La Janisse, who has really become a rising star in the horror world in the last five years (2012-2017). Of course, the Blu-ray has all the "offensive" footage intact, including the scene of a pig being slaughtered.