Mindless ‘Mind’s Eye’ cheesy, low-budget horror

If Joe Begos’ cheesy, low-grade, bargain-basement-budgeted horror tale “The Mind’s Eye” teaches us anything, it might be that super-telekinetic powers don’t necessarily equate to super-high IQs.

Take Zack (Graham Skipper) and Rachel (Lauren Ashley Carter), telekinetically gifted people on the run from insane Dr. Slovak (John Speredakos). He injects himself with spinal fluid that will give him their telekinetic powers — the ability to move objects through sheer will.

Former lovers Zack and Rachel escape his compound and flee to his dad’s house nearby. Dad (Larry Fessenden) says his house will be the obvious place that Dr. Slovak and his thugs will search first.

“Maybe we should go,” Zack says. But then, they stay anyway. Dr. Slovak and his thugs find them.

Cue the gory, mind-blowing, thinning-of-the-herd activities.

“The Mind’s Eye” represents an affectionate throwback to 1980s horror films: a little bit of Brian DePalma’s “The Fury,” a big dash of David Cronenberg’s “Scanners” and a tip of the hat to Chicago’s Organic Theater founder Stuart Gordon, who directed several low-budget creepies, among them “The Re-Animator” and “From Beyond,” both based on H.P. Lovecraft stories.

But let’s be clear. “The Mind’s Eye” doesn’t match up with those films.

The scariest aspect of “The Mind’s Eye” would be the shrill, hyper-pitched performances that Begos ruthlessly extracts from his poor cast members. Skipper

Film critic’s notebook

• Join me at the opening night festivities for the Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Convention. The event runs Friday through Sunday, Aug. 5-7, at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont. Check flashbackweekend.com for a full schedule.

As the fest’s perennial master of ceremonies, I’ll formally welcome patrons into the scary weekend abyss with a brief introduction and reasons why Flashback Weekend differs from most other horror conventions (such as the Bruce Campbell Horror Film Festival later this month).

I’ll join the legendary Svengoolie (Rich Koz) plus Chicago Film Critics Association members Nick Digilio of WGN radio and Steve “Capone” Prokopy of Ain’t It Cool news in presenting some of the special guests, all of whom can be found at the fest’s website, flashback weekend.com.

• The unbelievable true story of Anthony Weiner’s New York City mayoral campaign makes for one humdinger of a behind-the-scenes political documentary. The After Hours Film Society presents “Weiner” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. Admission is $10 ($6 for members). Go to afterhoursfilmsociety.com or classiccinemas.com.

• Dann & Raymond’s Movie Club is back with a rare summertime program, “Sweet Home Movies Chicago: Films Made in the Windy City.” It starts at 6:30 p.m.