Oculus
A determined young woman recruits her newly released brother to destroy the haunted mirror she believes caused their parents’ ruin.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- dread-filled
- oppressive
- paranoid
- late night horror viewing
- haunted house movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film elegantly photographed, intelligently constructed, and effective at building psychological dread through its intercut past-and-present narrative, though some viewed its premise and ending as familiar.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Kaylie and Tim attribute their parents' behavioral changes and family tragedy to an ancient mirror they seek to destroy.
The siblings' present-day plan is repeatedly interrupted by fragmented recollections of the mirror's arrival and their childhood catastrophe.
Alan and Marie's personalities and relationship deteriorate after the mirror enters their new family home.
Tim's psychiatric recovery and Kaylie's certainty that the mirror is responsible create an ongoing conflict between clinical and supernatural interpretations.
Films like Oculus, and why
The Ring
supernatural artifact horror, psychological destabilization, and family trauma
The Conjuring
haunted domestic space, grief-driven investigation, and escalating supernatural dread
The Babadook
childhood trauma, unreliable perception, and an elegantly constructed supernatural threat
Movie Details
- Director
- Mike Flanagan
- Release Date
- 2014-04-03
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (3296)
Cast
- Karen Gillan
- Brenton Thwaites
- Katee Sackhoff
- Rory Cochrane
- Annalise Basso
- Garrett Ryan
- James Lafferty
- Miguel Sandoval
- Kate Siegel
- Scott Graham
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Oculus about?
- A determined young woman recruits her newly released brother to destroy the haunted mirror she believes caused their parents’ ruin.
- What is Oculus like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Oculus as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Oculus violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Oculus as brutal.
- What did critics think of Oculus?
- Critics broadly found the film elegantly photographed, intelligently constructed, and effective at building psychological dread through its intercut past-and-present narrative, though some viewed its premise and ending as familiar.
- Which films are like Oculus?
- Films with a similar feel include The Ring, The Conjuring, and The Babadook.
- How long is Oculus?
- Oculus runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch Oculus?
- In United States, Oculus streams on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
