History Main / TheDeadHaveEyes

** But subverted in ''ArmyOfDarkness'' where the Deadite Army (who are mostly just skeletons in armor) have empty sockets.

* The movie poster for ''EvilDead2'', as [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/evil-dead-2-horror-movie-poster.jpg shown here]].

[[quoteright:232:[[ReturnOfTheLivingDead http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BlueZombEyes.jpeg]]]]

* Averted in the 1972 [[HammerHorror Amicus]] film version of ''[[Film/ECComics Tales From The Crypt]]''; the two times we see characters who have been dead for a while, their eyes are completely gone (PeterCushing's character is the most memorable example).

* In Zak's BadDreams about his dead parents in ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear: City of the Dead'', this is averted; his parents have empty eye sockets, though they are otherwise relatively intact.

* Subversion: In Lucio Fulci's ''Zombi2'' (also known as ''Zombie,'' or ''Zombie Flesh Eaters''), the recently undead walk around in a sleepy haze with their eyes closed at all times. Whether or not they have eyes is unclear. The oldest zombies seen, however, seem to be totally without eyes; one zombie has writhing worms coming from a mostly-decayed eye-hole.

* Having rotted practically to a skeleton, Jack in ''AnAmericanWerewolfInLondon'' still retains his eyes.

* Interestingly, it was the Italians who tended to be the only ones averting this trope in the 70s and early 80s, because they tended to go for maximum {{Gorn}}. As a result, EyeScream dictated the nastiest eyes possible. One notable example is the ancient conquistador corpse in LucioFulci's ''[[{{Zombi 2}} Zombie]]'' (aka ''Zombie Flesh Eaters''), with rotted-out eye sockets full of dirt and worms.

* In ''{{Bleach}}'', [[spoiler: Barragan Luisenbarn's [[OneWingedAngel Resurrecciòn]] is a plain skeleton- no eyes ([[GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath glowing]] or real) what so ever (although "plain" isn't exactly the right word, taking into account the cool clothes he gets by transforming). Despite this, he's perfectly able to see, not to mention talk, hear, etc.. Then again, he's not an undead- it's simply his natural Hollow form, so he probably doesn't count]].

[[caption-width-right:232:[[WhatBeautifulEyes What beautiful]] BlueEyes! And just look at those pearly white teeth!... not ''too'' closely, though.]]

[[FridgeLogic Think about it.]] A newly risen zombie, magically animated skeleton or mummy should be no more able to see victims than a bat... okay, [[DidNotDoTheResearch bad example.]] There is a good reason behind this though: who would be afraid of a blind and deaf zombie? And, to be perfectly fair, there are plenty of other problems with the undead bio... [[YouFailBiologyForever UnBiology]], anyone?

Interestingly, the undead may even develop SuperSenses in the form of superior smell, hearing, or even "[[VeinOVision living radar]]". The page image, specifically, of skeleton/zombies with fully functional eyes, is probably a modern trope. As modern horror movies and CGI have blurred the line between rotting zombie and skeleton with bits of flesh and organs still hanging on, for increased "yuck" factor. So while it makes sense for recently deceased zombies to have functioning eyes, and older stop motion polished skeletons not to, there are now those that toe the line. Historically, this may have to do with the SpecialEffects and makeup needed for eyeless sockets being difficult or impractical to use, since it would potentially blind the actor and remove some of their ability to emote[[hottip:*:(well, emoting that they don't emote, anyway)]].

** But subverted in ''ArmyOfDarkness'' where the Deadite Army (who are mostly just skeletons in armor) have empyty sockets.

** One of the options for playable undead of both genders (And [=NPCs=] sharing the same models), is an X shaped leather strap bound to their face covering the eyes. They can still apparently see.

[[ReturnOfTheLivingDead http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BlueZombEyes.jpeg]]
[[caption-width:232:[[WhatBeautifulEyes What beautiful]] BlueEyes! And just look at those pearly white teeth!... not ''too'' closely, though.]]

* The movie poster for ''The EvilDead 2'', as [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/evil-dead-2-horror-movie-poster.jpg shown here]].

** But subverted in ''Army of Darkness'' where the Deadite Army (who are mostly just skeletons in armor) have empyty sockets.

* Despite spending time rotting in a grave, Jason in ''Film/FridayThe13th Part VI: Jason Lives'' has one functional eye ready for an EyeAwaken scene when revived.

* Death from ''{{Discworld}}'' is another example of a skeleton ''without'' eyes, merely with two blue points of light in his eyesockets. Probably because Death is not supposed to be a horrible monster, but a main character. Much of the [[CoversAlwaysLie cover art]] by Josh Kirby (falsely) depicts him with normal eyeballs, though.

[[ReturnOfTheLivingDead http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BlueZombEyes.jpeg]]
[[caption-width:232:[[WhatBeautifulEyes What beautiful]] BlueEyes! And just look at those pearly white teeth!... not ''too'' closely, though.]]

This manifests in different ways in different media. Decades old zombies fresh out of their graves will have gorgeous (or more likely horrifying) functional eyes despite [[SlidingScaleOfUndeadRegeneration the rest of their body being a decayed mess]], as demonstrated by the gentle-person in the picture. On the other extreme, lacking sensory organs is no impediment for animated skeletons, who will be able to see and hear humans as if they still had those fleshy bits. At times, they will have GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath in their eyesockets.

* Brook from ''OnePiece'' is a [[DemBones living skeleton]]: he has/had the power to come back to life ''once'', but only managed it after having decayed into a skeleton; thus he is physically (shape, mass) "just bones" but at the same time ''biologically'' fully human; long story short, he can see without eyes (and eat/poop without a GI tract, etc.), a fact he constantly [[LampshadeHanging jokes about]].
* The ''HighSchoolOfTheDead'' zombies are [[AvertedTrope completely blind]] and in fact won't know you're right next to them as long as you stay completely silent. They hunt via sound only.

[[folder: Film]]

* Subversion: In ''[[Film/BurialGroundTheNightsOfTerror Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror]]'', the zombies are uniformly eyeless.

* Averted in the 1972 [[HammerHorror Amicus]] film version of ''[[{{Film/ECComics}} Tales From The Crypt]]''; the two times we see characters who have been dead for a while, their eyes are completely gone (PeterCushing's character is the most memorable example).
* Despite spending time rotting in a grave, Jason in ''Film/{{Friday the 13th}} Part VI: Jason Lives'' has one functional eye ready for an EyeAwaken scene when revived.
* Interestingly, it was the Italians who tended to be the only ones averting this trope in the 70s and early 80s, because they tended to go for maximum {{Gorn}}. As a result, EyeScream dictated the nastiest eyes possible. One notable example is the ancient conquistador corpse in {{Lucio Fulci}}'s ''[[{{Zombi 2}} Zombie]]'' (aka ''Zombie Flesh Eaters''), with rotted-out eye sockets full of dirt and worms.

[[folder: Literature]]

* Oshare Bones of the ''[[PuyoPuyo Puyo Puyo]]'' series has one intact eye. His other eye seems to have rotted away and instead is a [[GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath glowing eyelight of undeath]].
* Gruntilda in ''[[BanjoKazooie Banjo Tooie]]'' spent two years under a giant boulder, arising as a skeleton, and aside from popping out now and again, her eyes are fine. Played with again in ''Nuts & Bolts'', her skull is cracked and bleached after 8 years of hopping back to Spiral Mountain, but her one good eye is perfectly fine and dandy.
** If you were wondering about the other eye, it popped out at the end of tooie when [[{{CrossesTheLineTwice}} they were playing kickball with her head]].

[[folder: Webcomics]]
* The lich and necromancer Xykon from ''OrderOfTheStick'' has eyes despite being a skeleton. Mainly so that he can have a facial expression.

* The zombies in ''SluggyFreelance'' have human intelligence and who can pass for humans... under medium/heavy zombie makeup. One even mentions they need to eat the tissue they want to repair/maintain for it to stay "healthy". So most zombies who only eat muscle go blind and deaf (and very dumb) after the first few years.

* [[{{TheNightmareBeforeChristmas}} Jack Skellington]] can see and hear just fine without eyes and ears. In the commentary, TimBurton mentions that Disney wanted him to add eyes for more expression, [[AvertedTrope but]] [[UncannyValley luckily]], Jack's eyesockets were expressive enough to not need them.

[[folder: Other]]

** Those aren't actually eyes, they're glowing points of light, as liches are supposed to have in D&D. That doesn't explain how he can change the shape of his eyesockets, though.

* One of JeffDunham's characters, Achmed the Dead Terrorist, has [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]], even after being reduced to a skeleton.

[[FridgeLogic Think about it.]] A newly risen zombie, magically animated skeleton or mummy should be no more able to see victims than a bat... okay, [[DidNotDoTheResearch bad example.]] There is a good reason behind this though: who would be afraid of a blind and deaf zombie? And, to be perfectly fair, there are plenty of other problems with the undead anyway- [[YouFailBiologyForever UnBiology]], anyone?

* Sir Daniel Fortesque, the player character of ''{{Medievil}}'', is a literal half-example: Despite being dead for a century and having lost all the skin and muscle on his head (plus his jaw), he still has one good eye left in his socket. His other eye, however, is missing because he was killed by getting an arrow through it.

* Subversion: In ''[[BurialGroundTheNightsOfTerror Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror]]'', the zombies are uniformly eyeless.

-->-- ''TheCurseOfMonkeyIsland''

* Lampshade Hanging in ''TheCurseOfMonkeyIsland.'' Guybrush asks Murray, a talking skull, how he can see without eyeballs. Murray snaps back "How can YOU walk around without a brain?" but then admits that there's some things no one can answer.

* Subversion: The movie ''The Blind Dead'', they hunt you by sound alone.

** One of the options for playable undead of Both genders (And [=NPCs=] shareing the same models), is an X shaped leather strap bound to their face covering the eyes. They can still apparently see.

* Despite spending time rotting in a grave, Jason in ''{{Friday the 13th}} Part VI: Jason Lives'' has one functional eye ready for an EyeAwaken scene when revived.