Oculus: Review

Director: Mike Flanagan
Certificate: 15
Running time: 1 hour and 43 minutes

Psychological horror films have a tendency to begin very well and then gradually drag out from the middle point to the film's conclusion, when the whole thing blows up in its own face and rarely pays off. The best Psychological horrors should lure you inside of the darkest realms of a character's mind, and with the right story and build up of suspense, they really are the best type of horror film. A few Examples include The Shining, The Ring (both Japanese and American versions), The Others, Jacob's Ladder and Identity. Oculus is nowhere near the level of quality of these films, but it is a good one nevertheless.

The film is based upon an earlier short film by the same director, Oculus- The man with the plan. Set in two different timelines, eleven years between them, the film is Centred on Kaylie and Tim Russell (Karen Gillan and Brenton Thwaites). In one flashback story we see a family move into a new house, where a mysterious mirror begins to have negative effects on the parents. The second story is set eleven years later, Tim has been released from a mental facility after serving time for killing his father, brother and sister return to the house with the mirror. In an attempt try and reveal its supernatural powers and destroy it.

Oculus is a nice break from the usual quiet quiet, bang formula from such films as Paranormal Activity and Insidious. The film to its credit, does at least try to build up tension and bring the few scare moments into the story. The characters are engaging and interesting, Kaylie, wonderfully played by Karen Gillan, is the one who wants to prove that the mirror is of supernatural evil, she acts as the film's stubborn, often manic protagonist. Whereas her brother Tim, is seen as the voice of reason and doubt. The two conflict with one another to make for a very interesting narrative throughout.

While there are no genuine jump out of your seat scares, there are many scenes of slow tension and heart clenching moments. As with any good horror film, the story and build up are far more important than any individual set piece. There are only two scenes where blood is graphically shown, one of these involves an apple and a light bulb, the moment is very inventive, and watching it was the only time in the film where I had to grit my teeth and look away from the screen for a second.

It's common for films of this genre to really collapse in their last acts, as soon as they show their hands, the whole premise usually falls away. But the more surreal and mind bending Oculus became, the more interesting it was. Partly because the characters are written well enough to care about.

However. The film doesn't really tread on new ground, it doesn't try to be, its cliched set ups have been done and dusted before (appearing and disappearing things in a mirror, someone walking into the camera when the protagonist doesn't expect it, et etc). There's nothing wrong with this if the film brings something new to the content, which Oculus does not always do. And it just isn't scary enough, which is unforgivable when the film is about an evil supernatural force.

And while the history of the mysterious mirror is explored to some extent, the film never goes into detail as to why it does what it does, why does it have such overbearing and negative supernatural powers over people? we just never find out. Which somewhat diminishes the experience of the film a little.

Verdict- A solid film with a few surprises up its sleeve.
3/5