'The Pale Blue Eye' Explained: A Detective Adventure with Edgar Allan Poe Starring Christian Bale

Berfin Ceren Meray
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Christian Bale's latest film 'The Pale Blue Eye' has recently been released on Netflix, and it is a must-watch for fans of the actor and detective genre. The film tells the story of a detective, brought to life by Bale, as he investigates a series of murders at a military academy with the help of a young Edgar Allan Poe. The plot is full of twists and turns, and the film is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. In this article, we will dive into the story and details of the film and provide an in-depth review for those who have already seen it. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the reading, it's worth it!

Spoiler alert!

The Pale Blue Eye, directed by Scott Cooper, has finally been released on Netflix after being released in theaters on December 23rd.

Based on the 2003 novel by Louis Bayard, this mystery and thriller film is about the murder of students from the United States Military Academy in 1830.

In the film, Christian Bale plays retired senior detective Augustus Landor, who is called to investigate the murders. In this investigation, Augustus receives help from the young Edgar Allan Poe, who at one point in his life was a student of the academy but is also known for his poems.

When the victims are found with their hearts removed from their corpses, Augustus begins to suspect that witchcraft and devil worship are involved. However, the superiors at the academy insist that Augustus should consider Edgar, who has connections to both victims, as a suspect.

Augustus begins to suspect Daniel Marquis, the Doctor who performed the first autopsy, Daniel's wife Julia, and their children Artemus and Lea. Early in his investigation, Augustus also finds evidence that satanic rituals are being performed in the icehouse.

Augustus seeks advice from Jean-Pepe, a local expert on the occult. Jean-Pepe mentions a book called Discours du Diable, written by Henri Le Clerc, who worshiped the devil when he was a witch hunter and gave instructions for immortality.

Throughout the film, Augustus becomes more suspicious of the Marquis family after they go to their house for dinner. After a third cadet, Stoddard, is reported missing, Augustus desperately turns to Jean-Pepe for more information about Henri Le Clerc. Jean-Pepe shows Augustus a painting and discovers that this man is the ancestor of Fr. Henri Le Clerc, aka doctor Daniel Marquis. Confronting Daniel, Augustus learns that the doctor worships the devil, like the great-grandfather of his daughter Lea, who has epilepsy.

Lea is interested in Edgar Allan Poe throughout the film. She meets with him constantly. In one scene of the film, Lea takes Poe, who is in love with her, to the icehouse and performs a satanic ritual there, sacrificing him. She also has her brother and mother with her.

During the ritual, Augustus Landor appears and saves Poe at the last moment. During the rescue attempt, the building is set on fire and a piece of falling rubble kills Lea. Her older brother Artemus also refuses to leave Lea's side and dies with her.

After the ritual, Augustus visits Edgar in the hospital. In addition, the Military Academy terminates Landor's contract for solving mysterious student murders. The whole mystery of the film seems to have been solved. However, nothing is as it seems.

With the murder investigation apparently solved, Augustus Landor returns to his deserted cabin. One day, Augustus is visited by young Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar tells Augustus that he knows the truth about his daughter and how it is connected to the case.

It should be noted here that in some scenes of the film, the viewer is informed that Landor's wife died 3 years ago, and his daughter also disappeared. But the apparent and the real are very different.

Early in the investigation, Edgar is given a piece of paper that Augustus took from the hands of the first victim, Leroy Fry. When Edgar compares it to the note Augustus left for him in his own writing, he realizes that they are both written in the same handwriting.

Therefore, Edgar realizes that Augustus is the real killer of the students. One person who helps Edgar solve the mystery is what Patsy, a woman close to Landor.

The reason Augustus killed the students is because he wanted to take revenge for raping his daughter Mattie. However, he only killed the students, he did not want to take their hearts.

Instead of handing Augustus over to the court for the crimes, Edgar burns the incriminating evidence in a candle and leaves Augustus to his isolated life in his hut.

The story that Augustus Landor has been telling everyone, including Edgar Allan Poe, for the past two years is that his daughter Mattie ran away with a man. However, Mattie was raped by three students on her way home one night from the academy prom and committed suicide by jumping off a cliff.

Augustus Landor realizes that his first victim, Leroy Fry, is one of the rapists, thanks to the initials on the medal Mattie is holding. Leroy's rapist friends, including the second victim, Randolph Ballinger, are deciphered by Augustus reading Leroy's diary.

The link between the satanic rituals of the Marquis family and the vengeful murders of Augustus Landor are parents who are ready to do anything for their daughter.

Daniel Marquis had tried everything medically possible to relieve Lea of her discomfort. Daniel allowed his satanic rituals to continue by stealing the students' hearts because he was healing his devil-worshipping daughter, Lea, and because he wanted his daughter to live.

On the other hand, Augustus Landor had lost his daughter two years before the events of The Pale Blue Eye, and Augustus was burning with a desire for revenge because his daughter Mattie was raped and then committed suicide.

What do you think about Christian Bale's latest film? Tell us in the comments!