Oculus (2013)

 

Some scary films tend to fly under the radar without them actually deserving it. Sure, there's a lot of mediocre to bad stuff out there but every once in a while you can find a sort of gem hidden amidst the trash. I'm happy to say 'Oculus' is one of those gems that manages to invoke feelings that most creepy films can't.

And all that with a simple premise and a minimum of effects. Nicely done, people.

It all revolves around two orphaned children, Kaylie and and Tim. They lost their parents in a pretty awful murdercase. Well, their father shot their mother and Tim shot their dad. Tim got put in a mental hospital and after ten years of grueling therapy, he's ready for the outside world again. He meets up with his sister, who had to find her own way through foster familes, yet who has always obsessed over the events of the past. 

See, things started to go sideways when their father bought an antique mirror and Kaylie is convinced that the mirror is to blame for the death of the parents. She has even done extensive research into the previous owners, who have all either died under mysterious circumstances or have vanished. She even managed to find a job at an auction house to track down the mirror and now she can finally have it in her possession for a few days before it moves to a new buyer. She wants her brother to help her prove to the world that the mirror is haunted by a demon and that it is pure evil. But her brother isn't all that enthusiastic about the entire prospect, yet he can't really leave his sister to find out things on her own. But there are absolutely things that go bump in the night...

You might think: how scary can a bloody mirror be? But director Mike Flanagan knows that old adage of classic horror: the less you show and the more you suggest, the creepier it becomes. This massively works in the film's favour, as the careful editing and clever writing leave viewers on edge about what is going to happen next and perhaps even more importantly: what is real and what isn't?

I mean, sure: the finale sort of gives it away, but until you get there, it is one heck of a suspenseful ride. 

This is helped immensely by the acting of both Karen Gillan and Brenton Thwaites, who carry the entire film, as it is mostly just them. The flashbacks with their parents help set the tone, and eventually the past and present begin to merge, making viewers feel a bit discombobulated yet entranced.

Yes, this is one good flick that knows how to keep you invested. It even has a couple of wince-inducing gore. This isn't overplayed, but by golly does the film make you feel it. 

If you are in the mood for a ghost story of sorts and like your horror/thriller supernatural, creepy and riveting, then you could do a lot worse. 'Oculus' hits the right notes and never overstays its welcome, making it one of the more enjoyable creepy films out there.