Oculus
(Mike Flanagan Films DVD Screener)
(2005)
review by Don't Feed the Dead

We've already gone into detail why I favor reviewing Independent short films. However, with the upside of being able to avoid a major catastrophe by condensing content into a short amount of time comes the downside - the handful of short films that you wish would be full length feature films because they're so damn good! One such film is Mike Flanagan's Oculus, a harrowing account of one man who faces down a mirror that has a haunted
past.

Filmed in half documentary fashion, Oculus is a piece of artwork that is hands down one of the best concepts, both visually and intellectually, that I have seen in a while. The main (and only) character, Tim Russel (Graham), sets himself up in an experiment to test the effects of a mirror that has caused the deaths of many people over a good chunk of history. Detailing
accounts from Old English times up until the pont where the mirror made its way into his father's office, Tim recants the horrific incidents that followed the mirror's ownership. During this time of explanation, strange occurances within the experiment room begin to pop up, like Tim losing track of time, alarms blaring when they shouldn't be and the ever increasing
beligerence of the main character. To say that tension mounts at a steady pace is an understatement. Flanagan lays the terror on REAL heavy and doesn't relent until the end credits hit, which in my opinion, is all too soon.

Oculus is a clever story in that during the exploration of the mirror's past the audience is treated to the "side effects" it produces first hand on the well informed, yet unknowing Tim Russel. Scott Graham as Russel absolutely shines with a vast array of emotions that are deserving of serious acclamation. Graham's portrayal of Russel during the character's downward
spiral into delirium is both awe inspiring and frightening in that it's rare to find an actor/actress in an Independent feature that can convey their insanity so accurately and convincingly that one forgets they're watching a movie. From past experience, I can easily say that if Scott Graham unfolded in front of me like he did on camera I would have him committed. Funny thing is, Scott's as polite as can be in the emails that he's been corresponding in, but then again, it's the quiet ones you need to watch out for.

To compliment the incredible acting and plot execution is a very disturbing visual style created by Flanagan. The entire film takes place in the confines of a very small white room, which begins to grow darker and more gripping as the film progresses. Throw in some first class editing and better than average FX work and "violla!" - the finishing touches on a truly terrifying 32 minute opus. Again, if I had it my way, Oculus would be a full
length feature that I guaran-damn-tee you would sell out theaters and cause its fair share of wet spots in audiences' underpants.

For more information on Oculus, visit mikeflanaganfilm.com .