“The Eyes of My Mother”

There was no greater discovery at this year’s Sundance Film Festival than Nicolas Pesce’s black-and-white horror film, which conveys a nightmarish world that’s equal parts David Lynch and Tobe Hooper. Peace’s studied compositions and eerie atmosphere convey a surprisingly intimate perspective on the life of a disturbed young woman raised in the countryside, where she forged a peculiar bond with the murderous lunatic locked in her barn. Oddly touching and terrifying in equal measures, “The Eyes of My Mother” conveys a sharp directorial vision that nods to the past while building an entirely fresh experience. Like last year’s “The Witch,” Pesce’s bracing debut has the makings of a cult phenomenon bound to leave an impression on audiences even if it traumatizes them. —EK

Availability: Opens theatrically on December 2.