“Eye for an Eye” Introduces a Terrifying New Monster, But Leaves Blind Spots

Directed by: Colin Tilley

Written by: Elisa Victoria & Michael Tully

Starring: Whitney Peak, S. Epatha Merkerson, Golda Rosheuvel, and Finn Bennett

Run time: 100m

Released: June 20th, 2025

Where to watch: In theaters or On Demand

SYNOPSIS: Still reeling from the sudden loss of her parents, Anna (Whitney Peak) leaves New York to live with her estranged grandmother (S. Epatha Merkerson) in a quiet Florida town. Struggling to adjust to her unfamiliar surroundings, Anna forms a fragile bond with local teens (Finn Bennett and Laken Giles). But when she witnesses a horrifying act of violence, her grief spirals into terror as she crosses paths with Mr. Sandman—a vengeful spirit of a tormented child who stalks bullies in their sleep and consumes their eyeballs upon waking.

A New Nightmare, A Familiar Terror

I’ll always root for original horror over yet another recycled franchise entry with endless sequels and spin-offs. So when I first saw the trailer for Eye for an Eye, I was in especially with Whitney Peak leading the film. A Black actress as the final girl? Sign me up.

Colin Tilley’s directorial debut opens with a surreal, dream-turned-nightmare sequence featuring a young girl, set in the 1960s, although the exact time period remains intentionally vague. She wakes up blind. That alone is chilling: a nightmare so intense, it leaves a real-world scar. Welcome to Eye for an Eye, where the trauma doesn’t end when you wake up…or at least you think you do!

Introducing Mr. Sandman: The Eyeball-Collecting Boogeyman

The monster at the center of this story is a disfigured, shadowy figure known only as Mr. Sandman. He haunts the dreams of bullies when summoned, and when they wake, they discover, often in horror, that their eyes have been removed. His design is terrifying, revealed just enough to let our imaginations do the heavy lifting, at least until the full image of Mr. Sandman is revealed. I appreciated that restraint. The filmmakers wisely let the unknown drive the fear, enhanced by chilling visuals, such as a sand timer filled with eyeballs. It’s part Jeepers Creepers, part Nightmare on Elm Street, with a dash of viral creepypasta Momo. In short: nightmare fuel.

Whitney Peak Holds Her Own as Horror’s New Final Girl

Peak shines as Anna, a grieving teenager forced to move to rural Florida to live with her estranged, blind grandmother, May (played by S. Epatha Merkerson). She’s bored, depressed, and emotionally numb until the supernatural threat of Mr. Sandman starts to wake her—literally and figuratively. Her performance is believable, especially as she begins to question her new friends, Shawn and Julie. I have to be real, Shawn’s a jerk. Not just your average angsty teen, but the kind of cold, disconnected bully that makes you wonder if something darker is going on. The type Mr. Sandman should go after.

Merkerson Delivers the Film’s Most Haunting Moments

Merkerson as Grandma May is unsettling in the best way. Her eerie mutterings and aimless wanderings into the woods, especially to the cursed tree where victims’ names appear, gave me actual chills. If I were Anna, I’d be calling child services or begging to live with Aunt Patti (played by Golda Rosheuvel), who, by the way, has her own strange energy. The strained relationship between May and Patti adds tension to an already uncomfortable family dynamic, and the reveal behind their rift is genuinely disturbing. It’ll have you questioning what is wrong with the family and what Anna’s mother was like.

Visual Storytelling That Works

One of the most impressive creative choices is the use of stop-motion to tell Mr. Sandman’s origin story. It feels both folkloric and modern, adding depth and understanding to the legend. The score, costume design, and the actor’s physical portrayal of Mr. Sandman all build a chilling presence whenever he appears. Even the prosthetics, particularly the missing eyes, are terrifyingly effective. As someone who’s worked in the medical field, I’m rarely fazed, but these visuals? Disturbing in the best way.

Where the Horror Misses a Step

As compelling as Mr. Sandman is, the film never fully defines the scope of his power or explains why people haven’t utilized him more often. The idea that victims can carve their bullies’ names into a tree and summon him for revenge is strong, but the limited number of names raises questions. Has his reign of terror only just resumed? Or did the townspeople collectively choose therapy and self-reflection over supernatural vengeance? It’s an intriguing premise, but not as fleshed out as it could be.

Final Thoughts

Eye for an Eye is an eerie, inventive horror film that blends folklore, trauma, and social commentary. Fans of Candyman or Jeepers Creepers will appreciate its immersive world and moody visuals. While the narrative has some blind spots, the film’s originality and atmosphere carry it through.