Britannica defines necromancy as: “Necromancy, communication with the dead, usually in order to obtain insight into the future or to accomplish some otherwise impossible task. Such activity was current in ancient times among the Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Etruscans; in medieval Europe, it came to be associated with black (i.e., harmful, or antisocial) magic and was condemned by the church.” Now Lana Wilson’s documentary, Look Into My Eyes, shown at Sundance endeavours to cast practitioners of necromancy (psychics) and their wayward clientele in a positive light.
In this exploration of an oft-mocked and underestimated satanic realm, Look Into My Eyes captures the consultations between psychics and their clients and also delves into the psychics’ personal lives. Within this film, emotions ebb and flow, with the mediums inadvertently stepping into the roles of de facto therapists for individuals at a loss for direction.
RELATED: Will Ferrell’s Will & Harper Guilt Trips Sundance Audience With Trans Propaganda Film
One subplot within Look Into My Eyes involves a psychic (practitioner of necromancy) with expertise in communicating with animals. Initially met with audience chuckles, this particular psychic’s unique ability takes a turn when clients share stories of how their animal companions become “pillars of support”, “helping them navigate” abusive relationships or providing a lifeline against loneliness.
A climactic moment near the end of Look Into My Eyes captures the essence of “cosmic coincidence”. One of the psychics serendipitously encounters a former classmate and astounds the audience by revealing information about the encounter before any details are disclosed. This moment should serve as a powerful warning to the naive that there are supernatural forces at work that transcend the boundaries of the material world.
RELATED: Billie Eilish Stans and Feminists Seethe: Barbie’s Ken and the Patriarchy Top Critics Choice Awards
Wilson, known for her directorial work on the 2020 Taylor Swift documentary Miss Americana and last year’s Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, found inspiration for Look Into My Eyes during a spontaneous visit to a psychic in Atlantic City. This impromptu encounter occurred on the day after Donald Trump was elected president in 2016.
Recalling her first experience with a psychic, Wilson vividly describes stumbling upon a sign advertising a “Five Dollar Psychic Reading.” Without hesitation, she entered the space, only to find a table and two chairs behind a curtain. In the absence of anyone else, she felt an immediate surge of emotion, as if peering into a mirror reflecting her desperate state at that moment (how fragile are these leftists). The subsequent interaction with the psychic was brief but profoundly comforting for her, leaving Wilson with a sense of relief and a lifted emotional burden.
As the conversation unfolded, the psychic’s inquiry about Wilson’s profession led to a revelation about her ongoing documentary project, The Departure. This film centred on a punk rocker-turned-zen priest counselling individuals contemplating suicide. The psychic drew parallels between Wilson’s work and her own experiences, emphasising the profound nature of the situations people brought to her. This moment served as a transformative realisation for Wilson, challenging her previous perception of psychics. The idea germinated to use the psychic realm as a backdrop for a film that would capture the diverse spectrum of lost souls seeking solace and answers in necromancy.
In essence, Look Into My Eyes is not merely a documentary about psychics (practitioners of necromancy), it’s a propaganda piece meant to elicit sympathy for and acceptance of the practice of necromancy.
It is noted that several of the practitioners of necromancy in the documentary are aspiring actors or writers. If their goal is to end up in Hollywood then necromancy is a surefire way to get there.
What do you think about Look Into My Eyes? Leave us a comment!
Leave a Reply