Nefarious clowns seemingly pop up everywhere… and 2017’s Do You See Me? is no exception. Under the cloak of eternal darkness, The Horror Collective balloon twists Do You See Me? for release across all major on-demand and digital platforms on January 17, 2025. Directed by Corbin Timbrook, as the circus ringmaster, he flicks his whip repeatedly to animate a dazzling, action-packed Horror spectacular that lasts nearly ninety minutes.
Within the first few minutes, the suspense rolls in with the unexpected force of an avalanche as the cinematic optics spew forth a ringside view of crisp images of a full moon, which quickly fade from view like blinks of an eye. This is followed by a succession of close-ups of a bound figure shaking within a cocoon of obsidian light. In the very next frame, a hovering figure appears- a clown with a demonic menacing expression holds a knife poised to strike in one hand. This riveting scene triggers an immediate paralysis of the eyes and body, so one is compelled to watch no matter what. So…….what exactly is Do You See Me about? Let’s take a calming breath and dig in.
Here we have Rya Meyers (Super Shark 2011, Table 19 2017), who does an awesome job at portraying Emily as a rather self-sufficient and preoccupied career woman who gives off the vibes of a hard-ass but is actually an emotional wreck on the inside. She still carries a torch for her ex-husband, Randy, who suffers from an acute case of Peter Pan Syndrome. Once Emily receives a phone call from Randy, her ex-husband, her life begins to unravel like a frayed rope on a vertical flip of an hourglass, taking on an otherworldly quality.
Philip Boyd (The Haves and the Have Nots series, Orphan Horse 2018) dives in and does a great job of manifesting Randy as a self-centered, tongued individual who is unwilling to take accountability for anything that happens in his life. Randy is obviously down on his luck; he lost his job and current love interest. He calls Emily to discuss the prospect of selling Her house under the pretense that it is mutually beneficial. Randy fools no one.
Shortly thereafter, a string of strange things begins to happen to Emily, such as doors that are inexplicably left open and a mind-blowing phone message, Do You See Me? Her senses are alert, and a brief sighting of a clown gifts her. Emily begins to question her own sanity since no one else seems to have caught a glimpse of this clown. The flickering of the lights and the image of the fractured mirror reflects the unstable mindset that Emily has stepped into. Is she actually going insane, or is someone truly after her?
Her running into a tunnel intensifies her sense of isolation and blindness to the stalker’s identity. We see her fear escalate into terror despite her struggles to present a mask of equanimity to go through the motions of daily life. The music enhances the panic she feels when she is alone and looking over her shoulder. Fear and paranoia have replaced her self-assurance and calmness.
It should be noted that the stalker has decided to confront Emily, and the events that ensue lead to Emily’s disappearance. The trail of evidence seems to point to someone who knows her well.
If you have a severe case of coulrophobia, then this is one to pass up. Otherwise, Do You See Me? is a Horror gem one to watch bathed in sweat and nerves jumpy at each strange sound one hears. The cast, which also includes Lisa London (Private Resort 1985, Savage Beach 1989), Gabrielle Stone (Speak No Evil, 2013, It Happened Again Last Night 2017), and Jim Fitzpatrick (Dolphin Tale 2011, Soulmates 2023), does a great job of bringing a realistic stalker story to life. Emily is easily relatable as a character, and one lives in the vortex of emotions she shares onscreen. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Do You See Me? 5 out of 5 stars.
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