Oculus *** (2013, Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites, Katee Sackhoff, Annalise Basso, Garrett Ryan, Rory Cochrane, Kate Siegel, Miguel Sandoval, James Lafferty) – Movie Review

A haunted mirror, that’s the big problem here. It’s an ornate antique that throughout the ages makes its owners kill themselves and other. Now that’s really not nice, is it? And it’s nothing new either, maybe. Yet Oculus is a smooth, gripping, well-crafted chiller ride, with strong, effective performances, imaginative direction, a creepy atmosphere and an excellently eerie score.

Moving between the two time scales, the present and 11 years ago, and mixing and merging them is a difficult trick to pull off. But it works nicely here, with co-writer-director Mike Flanagan evidently enjoying himself criss-crossing between the two timelines.

Karen Gillan and Brenton Thwaites star as Kaylie Russell and her brother Tim, with Annalise Basso and Garrett Ryan as the younger versions of the characters. Gillan gives a very spunky, tough performance and, though in the subsidiary, rather passive star support role, Thwaites makes his mark as the gentler-seeming brother. The last victims were Kaylie and Tim’s parents 11 years ago, seen in flashbacks, and in the present the siblings try to battle the all-compelling power of the evil mirror.

Oculus is admittedly only so-so, and entirely disposable and forgettable, even worth a few giggles occasionally as it doesn’t really make any sense at all. But, nevertheless, it keeps motoring along inventively and smoothly enough, never flagging for its 104 minutes. It’s very easy to watch and quite diverting, entertaining and enjoyable.

It won’t appeal to horror buffs looking for blood, trick work and visual effects, because it doesn’t really have any to speak of. Apart, that is, from the broken light bulb Kaylie mistakes at one key point for an apple. But the mood is mesmerisingly creepy, tense and quite chilling. By expert handling, it transcends its only very moderate premise to become an entertaining little horror movie.

The low budget ($5 million) film did well to gross $27 million in the US and a total of $41 million worldwide.

The film is based on Flanagan’s earlier short film, Oculus: Chapter 3 – The Man with the Plan.

The definition of Oculus, from Latin meaning eye, denotes a circular opening in the centre of a dome or in a wall. Originating in antiquity, it is a feature of Byzantine and Neoclassical architecture. Annoyingly, none of which has any meaning or significance in the film. It’s a good movie title, though, nonetheless.

Scottish actress and former model Gillan (born 28 November 1987) was cast as the Eleventh Doctor Who’s first companion, Amy Pond, in May 2009. In 2017, she plays Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 and Martha in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Movie Review

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more film reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/

Karen Gillan with Matt Smith, promoting Doctor Who in March 2010.

Brenton Thwaites plays the gentler seeming brother Tim in Oculus.