"If you're looking for a movie that will emotionally destroy you in every way possible within 5 minutes...... yeah, go see this."
On Friday the 11th, the new horror film Oculus was released to theaters nationwide. Does the film have what it takes to join the ranks of acclaimed horror films before it have reached? Find out below.
Small Plot Synopsis (No Spoilers):
The film centers around an antique mirror that appears to wreak havoc upon all of its owners shortly after it is obtained. A brother and sister duo whose entire family was haunted by it in years past attempt to prove the mirror was responsible for deaths in their family blamed on others through a number of tests they conduct in the house the mirror had previously resided in with them during their childhood.
Review:
The film is able to drift in between present time and past time throughout the movie, using the siblings' childhood house as a static setting through out both time periods shown in the film (the two living in the house as children, and them returning to the house years later to conduct the tests). The transitions are produced flawlessly, with the past and present versions of the two often passing each other through out the house to switch into a different time. The seamless transitions are an interesting element found often through out the movie, and add a level of originality to the film sometimes lost in the production of many modern horror movies.
The film, as do most horror movies, starts out slow, and continues to build upon itself through out its duration. However, this film starts out strong from the beginning, and caused me to jump a few time only 30 minutes into the story. Speaking of, the plot is very well executed, and while the ending of the movie left me with questions, there were no obvious plot holes or cop outs present through out its hour and forty-five minute run-time. The solid, quickly developed plot allows for the film to put the scares first throughout the later half of the movie, and the scares well... they flat out terrify.
The film features a wide array of horror movie scare tactics, including suspense build-up, pop ups, hard cuts, and straight up terrifying chase scenes. Through out the film I found myself in various situations that included: rolled up in feedle position sobbing, so close to my friend I was practically sitting on their lap, and just grabbing on to my friend's shirt out of pure terror. I may have ripped it in one or forty places. Anywho, all the different scare tactics were used in very diverse and different ways, spread through out the film very evenly, and were all delivered solidly, with none feeling phoned in or fake.
^ Same.
As with most horror films, the movie ended off with a huge bang of a climax, and the shocking ending still has my head reeling. I mean, with a face like that one up there, you can't exactly expect a fun ending.... but I mean... you can hope right? Anywho, the film ended off with a flawlessly executed bang that couldn't have been any more well produced.
Overall, I really, really enjoyed this movie. The film featured solid production, incredibly well executed acting (one of the biggest highlights of the movie), a great story, and an incredible scare factor, and overall, was my favorite film of 2014 yet. Basically, if you're looking for a movie that will emotionally destroy you in every way possible within 5 minutes...... yeah, go see this.
Have you seen Oculus? What did you think of the film? Post your thoughts in the comments below, and I'll see you next time!
