Oculus (film)
Oculus | |
---|---|
Directed by | Mike Flanagan |
Written by | Jeff Howard |
Produced by | Marc D. Evans Trevor Macy |
Starring | Katee Sackhoff Karen Gillan Brenton Thwaites Rory Cochrane |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Relativity Media |
Release date |
|
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Oculus is a 2013 American horror film directed by Mike Flanagan.[1] The movie had its world premiere on September 8, 2013, at the Toronto International Film Festival and will have a theatrical release on April 11, 2014.[2] The movie stars Karen Gillan as a young woman that is convinced that an antique mirror is responsible for the death and misfortune her family has suffered.
Plot
Ten years ago Tim Russell (Brenton Thwaites) shot his father (Rory Cochrane) after he witnessed him killing his mother (Katee Sackhoff). He's sent to a mental hospital because of the shooting but also because he believed that his parents' deaths were due to an evil supernatural entity that possessed an antique mirror in their home. This leaves his sister Kaylie (Karen Gillan) to face life alone until, years later, Tim is finally released. All he wants to do is move on from that fateful night, but in his absence Kaylie has become convinced that the mirror is indeed possessed, as she has discovered that the mirror's previous owners throughout the centuries have had similarly bloody pasts. Kaylie is determined to prove that the mirror is responsible for the murders as opposed to Tim or her father.
Cast
- Katee Sackhoff as Marie Russell
- Karen Gillan as Kaylie Russell
- Brenton Thwaites as Tim Russell
- Rory Cochrane as Alan Russell
- James Lafferty as Michael
- Annalise Basso as Young Kaylie Russell
- Garrett Ryan as Young Tim Russell
- Miguel Sandoval as Dr. Graham
- Katie Parker as Annie
- Kate Siegel as Marisol
Production
On October 24, 2012, filming was underway in Alabama. Filming was reported to have wrapped up on October 27, 2013.[3]
Reception
Critical reception for Oculus has been positive and as of April 3, 2014, the film holds a rating of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes based upon 13 reviews.[4] Shock Till You Drop gave Oculus a positive review, stating that it was "smart and scary stuff".[5] Film School Rejects gave a mixed review and stated that it was "well-acted, looks quite good, and manages some moments of entertainment, but as the minutes tick by it grows weaker and weaker until its final cheat designed to allow for a shocker ending."[6]
References
- ^ "Hot Trailer: 'Oculus'". deadline.com. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
- ^ WWE® Studios, Relativity and Blumhouse Productions Partner on Intrepid Pictures' Oculus
- ^ "'Oculus', starring Katee Sackhoff & Karen Gillan, filming underway in Alabama". On Location Vacations. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
- ^ "Oculus". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ^ "SXSW Review: Ambition, Originality & Scares Drive Oculus". STYD. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
- ^ Hunter, Rob. "SXSW 2014 Review: 'Oculus' Is Horror Reduced by a Slimming Mirror". Film School Rejects. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
External links