The Quiet Ones Poster

Coming soon, I love the poster design for this! 

Oculus Review

From what I can recall this may be my first horror film I have seen this year in theatres. Others I wanted to see were Devil's Due and The Marked Ones (Paranormal Activity Spanish Spin-off) but the reviews kind of scared me off, still, I plan on watching The Marked Ones (after I see Paranormal Activity 4). 

As far as Oculus goes (a film with a similar entity to the movie ironically named Mirrors) it takes the idea of a mirror that kills people and really works with the manipulation of mind side of things. I have never seen a movie that really worked its way into my head like this one did. It's a real, trippy kind of ride. 

The film stars Karen Gillan (Dr. Who and the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy) and Brenton Thwaites (The Giver and The Signal) star as brother and sister Kaylie and Tim Russell. The story starts off after an adult TIm finally comes to terms with what he had done, he had killed his father. This he had done in self defence as his father had killed his mother and was about to kill his sister. Kaylie, however, remembers that night, and she believes that the mirror manipulated the family into killing one another. 

From there the siblings eventually come together and start to discuss what really happened that night. We're flashed back and forth from the present to 11 years prior before the murders. Katee Sackhoff plays the mother and she is brilliant, she gives a heart wrenching and believable performance. James Lafferty is just as menacing in the role of the tormented/manipulated father, who eventually kills the mother and then the two siblings. 

Brent and Karen hit it off instantly, they are great together. Karen has a ferocity like a tiger, same with Brent and they work off each other in such a real manner that for a moment you feel they could be brother and sister. Brent I loved, due to his interesting portrayal as it reminded me of Sam Winchester (Supernatural) Now I took it has a plus that he played the part similar to that character, it made me really enjoy him develop on screen. Karen is a beauty and was excellent as well in the role of the confidant sister who knew the truth. 

Events do spiral out of the siblings grasp as they both begin to loose sight of whats real and what's not. Oculus is such a fascinating movie in how it digs into the mind and makes you believe things and then turn the tables. I would actually go as far as saying that this is close to being in Alfred Hitchcock territory. I know I am saying a lot when I say that guy's name but hear me out. The film does not play out like a normal movie, it manipulates the viewer, turns the table back and forth, and what is really happening might not be. 

The whole idea about how fragile the mind can be and how easily people can be played into believing something that isn't true is a truly tantalizing idea. The mirror fights for its survival by messing with the minds of its distrusters until it kills them. I believe the mirror was building a sort of spiritual cult. It drains the plants of life and does take animal sacrifices but uses past victims to manipulate future victims. I would love to see an origins movie on this mirror. 

Oculus is directed by Mike Flanagan and is actually based off his short "Oculus: Chapter 3 - The Man with the Plan about some guy who sets out to prove a mirror is haunted. That sounds like a good idea for a sequel. I'd call it Oculus: Rift. Yes, that name is also of the new gaming platform but the subtitle would stand for the rift that is formed between the mirror and its ability to manipulate its currant owners. The idea for a sequel for me would be that of a specialist into unknown artifacts would hear through word of mouth or a friend about it and he would try to solve it. Who would I cast as the lead, Hugh Dancy (who's by far given the best portrayal ever of Will Graham on the show Hannibal). 

Oculus is a mind-bending horror show with some great acting and a terrific third act. You may be shocked at how it ends, it all builds up to a surprising twist. What the film may have benefited from, possibly is a better build on the family dynamic, some slightly better character development and a few more scares. The movie was dark but it didn't really have me screaming with fear. 

Horror has its rare treats "Your Next, The Innkeepers" and this is another one. 

Rating: A- 

Horror movies I have but not watched

The new Riddick movie has been out for a while and I have yet to see it. I also have to watch The Purge.

So, as far as reviews for horror movies go:

Oculus
The Marked Ones
The Purge
Riddick

The Marked Ones

And also this was a movie I had planned on seeing but never got the chance, its out on dvd and Blueray now so maybe I'll give it a watch! 

Movie Reviews to come

Hello all, I know this blog has been low of late but I am planning on doing more on this blog. I will hopefully get the chance tonight to see the new horror movie, Oculus. And possibly to do more on this site I may even review horror shows and comic books / books as well.