A tense, clever horror that runs out of steam before the credits roll.
Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Not streaming in India
Critic consensus
Critical reception for Oculus is moderately positive, with most reviewers finding it an effective low-budget horror thriller. Critics most commonly praised its intelligent writing, atmospheric style, and its ability to sustain tension by blurring objective and apparent realities. The most consistent criticism is that the film loses some of its power as it progresses, and several reviewers felt the story was too familiar or could have been tighter in its execution.
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 7 critic reviews · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyFrom the papers
Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
Oculus's success as a horror thriller lies in how well it keeps its characters and consequently the audience on their toes. It raises the questions that matter without letting you feel settled about any of the answers it offers.
Top critic
Film review ·
Whether you're a horror buff or not, you should seriously consider watching Oculus on the big screen. It's a really fun film with a lot of aural and visual style, and that means all the aesthetics, and not just Karen Gillan.
Film review ·
Smart and intelligently written, Oculus raises the right scares to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Film review ·
If you find mirrors spooky, stay away. And if you love to check yourself out in the mirror, this low-budget thriller will compel you to think otherwise.
Film review ·
"Oculus" is a well-crafted small budget film that delivers. While the visuals have a poetic quality at first, they gradually get frequent and the film's tension between objective and apparent realities loses some of its power. Nevertheless, the film stays focused to its emotional quotient.
Film review ·
Oculus is a story that has its fair share of goosebump-inducing moments but it would have been told better if it were cut short.
Film review ·
Semi-scary, watch it if films of the genre strike a chord in your heart. The scare affair could have fared a lot better had it been for the less-than obvious, never-seen-before kind of story.
From our readers
1 rating · user score 7.0
"Oculus" is haunting because it messes with your head. That's where the ghosts are.It has twisted Story with Excellent Performances ,an intense,devastating experience that relies as heavily on its character-building as its scary imagery.
Credits
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