After the huge success of last years’ The Conjuring and You’re Next, Oculus has some large shoes to fill if it wants to keep the upward horror trend’s progression. While the majority of the movie shows its strengths through originality and creativity, there are definitely some incoherent problems that will keep it from greatness.
Oculus ought to have decent first-weekend success because of its casting choices. The movie’s 20-something brother-sister leads are played by Brenton Thwaits and Karen Gillan. Thwaits may not be a known actor (but he very well may be after this summer’s Maleficent), but plenty of geeks out there know and adore Gillan from her stint as a Time Lord’s companion on Doctor Who – but she’s not the only cast member with geek appeal. Co-starring as their mother in the movie’s many flashbacks is Katee Sackhoff, the female version of Starbuck in the Battlestar Galactica remake. Between those two, plenty of nerds ought to flock out to theaters to support their passions.
Thwaits and Gillan play Tim and Kaylie Russell, siblings who lost both of their parents in an act of violence so tragic and disturbing that it separated the two for over a decade. We’re not exactly sure what happened to Kaylie over that period, but Tim was placed in a locked-down mental hospital. Now being released at the age of 21, Tim is about to reunite with Kaylie. Through psychological help, the events of that disturbing night from their childhood have been explained and worked-out, but Kaylie has been left all alone to stew over those demons. With time to plot and plan by her lonesome, now that Tim has been released, she’s ready to help him remember what his mind has forgotten. Together, the two of them are going to confront the evil that destroyed their family and ruined their lives.
It’s very fun to watch the plot of Oculus as it unfolds. It’s playful and unique. And, unlike most horror movies, the story is actually very well written. I’ve kept my synopsis of the movie pretty vague just so that you can have the same unspoiled experience that I had. The first two-thirds of the movie keep this momentum up, but the third act falters. What we’re shown becomes unintelligible and fickle. Cinematically, it loses its ground. The resulting elements feel as if they were ripped entirely out of Stephen King’s 1408 – which pulled it off in a much stronger manner. Oculus doesn’t nosedive and crash-and-burn like Mama, but its ending definitely isn’t as good as it should be.
If you’re a fan of horror, then you’re going to overall enjoy the majority of the movie. Even if you’re not a fan of horror, you’ll at least enjoy the thrills that come from the first two acts. The tension that’s created is brought about by your own mind, not graphic and disturbing images placed on-screen. But, unfortunately, the final act happens. What could be great ends up being simply okay. And if you’re up for an okay movie, then Oculus won’t disappoint.
(Photo credit: Relativity Media)
