Anguish

An ophthalmologist's assistant becomes consumed by a fixation on eyeballs and starts a grisly spree to supply his mother Alice Pressman's eccentric glass-eye collection. What begins as a string of disturbing incidents expands into an unsettling portrait of control and compulsion. As the crimes escalate, the story shifts through a haze of shifting realities, leaving both the characters and the audience unsure what is true. The city tightens around this private nightmare, with sinister whispers and glances hinting at a larger horror behind ordinary rooms. The mother's domineering presence looms over every scene, amplifying the tension as the nightmare spills from clinic tables into living rooms.

Released in 1987, Anguish is directed by Bigas Luna with a screenplay credited to Michael Berlin. The film pairs Luna's audacious European flair with a blunt, surgical approach to horror, delivering a tense atmosphere that lingers as it unsettles expectations.

Critical reception recognized it as a striking and unsettling entry in genre cinema. The film probes obsession and domination, using the eye motif to illustrate how perception can be weaponized. Relationships fray under pressure as fear erodes trust, and the boundary between reality and nightmare becomes increasingly hazy.

Among fans of Bigas Luna, Anguish holds a niche place for its audacious imagery and clinical mood. Its eye based imagery, the clinical clinic settings, and a relentless sense of dread have made it a touchstone for discussions of body horror in European cinema. While not as widely cited as Luna's bigger hits, it continues to intrigue viewers who seek a sharp, unsettling experience.

Box office data for Anguish is not widely published, reflecting its niche release and cult appeal rather than broad commercial impact. The film circulated mainly through festival screenings and limited release venues, gradually earning attention in horror circles for its provocative visuals and uncompromising tone.