Starry Eyes

Sarah Walker, an aspiring actress, finds herself entrenched in a monotonous life waiting tables at a fast-food restaurant, with little support or encouragement from her friends. Among them, Erin is determined to outshine Sarah, while Tracy and the aspiring director Danny show apathy towards her plight. Just when it seems like her dreams are slipping away, Sarah seizes an opportunity to audition for Astraeus Pictures’ film, The Silver Scream.

At first, her audition is met with indifference from the casting director and their assistant, but in a moment of frustration, Sarah unleashes a primal scream in the bathroom, capturing their attention. Intrigued, they request an additional demonstration of her emotional depth, which she hesitantly agrees to.

The audition process quickly turns into a disturbing ordeal, as Sarah is subjected to a series of increasingly bizarre requests. Despite her discomfort, she acquiesces to the casting director’s strange demands, including disrobing and entering a trance-like state. As she becomes more engrossed, an uncanny sensitivity to her environment surfaces, allowing her to notice the subtle details of the casting director’s pentagram-adorned necklace. However, when pressured to engage in a compromising act with the producer, Sarah reaches her breaking point and bolts from the audition.

Determined to pursue her newfound opportunity, she leaves her dull job behind and is called back for a second audition almost immediately. Here, once more, she faces surreal challenges that blur the line between reality and fantasy, leading her deeper into a haze of ecstasy. Sarah begins to convulse into erratic behavior, and her appearance quickly sours.

The fraying thread of her sanity snaps when she comes across Danny, her supposed confidant, and Erin mingling at a pool party for his new film project. Overwhelmed with betrayal and rage, Sarah seeks comfort from the producer, leading to an encounter that irrevocably changes her future.

Days slip by as Sarah’s grasp on reality continues to diminish, plagued by vivid hallucinations and intensifying desperation. Her own body betrays her—her hair and nails fall away, and the vibrant spirit that once defined her fades into a shadow. In a haunting vision, she sees her reflection morph into that of a glamorous starlet. Desperate to regain control, she retreats to the bathroom, only to find herself purging a torrent of bloodied maggots, as if her very essence is being exorcised.

Confronted by the producer’s phone call, Sarah faces a deep existential crisis: to surrender to her fading humanity or embrace a terrifying transformation. Opting for the latter, she tracks down Erin at her home, leading to a intense discussion about trading intimacy for cinematic roles. The atmosphere grows thick with tension as Erin is confronted by Sarah’s disfigured visage. Initially concerned for her, Erin’s intentions twist into manipulation, sparking a violent reaction in Sarah that culminates in a bloodbath within the house. Realizing that Erin attempts to escape, Sarah, with chilling precision, suffocates her with a plastic bag, while Danny’s van outside meets the same fate in the wake of her fury.

In the aftermath of her chaotic descent, Sarah unearths the dark reality of Astraeus Pictures—a hidden cult venerating a demon of the same name. Surrounded by flickering candlelight, she undergoes a harrowing rebirth amidst a macabre ritual marked by pentagram-shaped symbols. Emerging from a bloody membrane, she is transformed with flawless skin and a hairless form—a surreal present awaiting her return.

Back in her apartment, the remnants of her violent nature resurface as she claims Tracy’s life, donning the ominous gifts of Astraeus: a flowing black gown, an opulent brunette wig, and a silver pentagram pendant. Gazing into the mirror, her eyes ignite with an otherworldly green glow, signaling a formidable transformation that will reshape her destiny forever.

Last Updated: November 21, 2024 at 13:53