Review of Oculus (2014) by Filipeneto — 11 May 2018

This film revolves around an old mirror and the death of Tim and Kaylie Russell's parents, who survived the killing of their family blaming supernatural forces attached to the object. The film has a dark and gloomy atmosphere that manages to introduce the audience and prepare it for the story and the scares. The atmosphere is cleverly constructed by the sound effects, by the naked settings of the house where the action takes place and by the cinematography, purposely constructed with cold colors.

The script is not based on a totally original formula. There is a haunted object that kills people and there are people interested in destroying it. Within this formula, the film tells two distinct but intertwined stories: the death of the parents of the main characters and their attempt to destroy the mirror, years later. The film blends them through flashbacks, but I think this turned out to be a wrong choice because it undermined the good understanding of both, although it made the film more dense and intense in the end. The film frightens us more by what it suggests and promises than by what it actually exhibits, and works well if we think so. It is not a graphic film, but tremendously psychological. It deals with obsessions, traumas, needs and anguish. Karen Gillan, who gave life to Kaylie, is excellent and dominates the film, pushing Brenton Thwaites (who played Tim) to a relatively more discreet position. The ending turns out to be confusing but intense. It is worth watching this movie.