Review of Oculus (2014) by Michael S — 31 Jan 2015

Not bad. Not bad at all. Oculus is a low budget horror movie (well if you consider 5 million low budget) that took the whole one location haunted house idea and gave more than a few new ideas and fun twists.

The film tells the story of two separate timelines one in which two kids (brother and sister 10 years old) must deal with one or both of their parents going crazy and or being possessed by a mirror. A mirror possessing people? Sounds kind of silly but that is one of the movies charms. Characters point this out, not in a post modern annoying way but in a genuine way saying things like "you can't blame a mirror. Your mind is just trying to find a scapegoat", etc. which makes us as an audience really question whether the mirror IS cursed or the parents have just lost their minds.

The second story involves the two kids, now grownups, confronting the mirror in their now empty childhood home. This like I said was a slick take on the one location haunted house idea in that having the one location look vastly different it never felt, unless the filmmakers pointed it out, that the two stories took place in the same space. (Amazing what some redecorating can do for making a space seem new).

As the movie rolls on the two separate timeline start to overlap as the characters in both story-lines start to loss their grips on reality. This makes for some really slick, cool, inventive ways of editing, staging and keeping you guessing as to what is happening in what time period. The movie makes you work for your meal, as they say. Always involving and always a puzzle to quickly piece together as the two story-lines become more and more involving. Nice.

Which brings us to the two story-lines. Is it the clever staging and editing that made this movie worth watching? Actually, on first viewing I kind of think so. The separate story ARE involving but I think that tends to be more of a victory for the four main actors than the separate stories themselves. All four main actors are pretty tops here. Oh, wait. I forgot. Their are SIX main actors. The children actors who play our heroes as 10 year-olds should more than be mentioned as they were not annoying or awkward to watch. Good job, little guys. Especially the little girl. There could be a real thespian in that little ginger.

They separate story-lines ARE good. Not great but very good in the whole "is he/she/they crazy or really haunted" type of way. Alas as the credits roll and you know which was real it kind of will hurt the second viewing (yes, I think this movie deserves to be watch twice and THAT is about the highest compliment I can pay it). But one first viewing the movie was fun, freaky, thrilling and full of low tech but none the less impressively slick movie magic, but isn't that kind the most fun to watch anyways?

Karen Gillian WILL be a star someday (probably soon) and the other actors should be eagerly lined up for more flicks as I can imagine directors will be very impressed with the cast all around. The filmmakers will be on my "writers/directors to watch" list as, if nothing else, this movie just REEKS of talent not fully come to blossom. I can not wait to see what director Mike Flanagan comes up with next.

All in all "Oculus" was not a waste of time. It had four (nope SIX) main actors that were easy and involving to watch, it has fun yet not annoying post modern humor and irony to it (fun for all of us that have seen EVERY damn haunted house movie ever). I especially loved how in 99% of horror flicks the characters are totally unprepared for what they are getting themselves into but in Oculus much time is used in showing just how CRAZY PREPARED this one chick was for any and all possible outcomes. Did she prepare well enough to save her own life and the life of her brothers?? That is one of the joys of the movie. Are we crazy or our we really at war with something sinister that wants to drive us crazy?

A cool movie. Check it out for a nice mind exercise and some creepy as moments that made me flinch more than once. All about that "apple" bit, that's all I will say, "watch for the apple bit".

Good times.