Despite some questionable logic and character motivations, Oculus delivers an intense descent into madness and fear as it deftly juggles two terrifying timelines.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 15, 2025

A master class in affecting dread.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Oct 22, 2024

While it may have taken unconventional approaches to the visual language of haunted house movies, the narrative is messy and never offers up anything more than surface-level intrigue.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 20, 2023

We’re left with the terrifying fear that if Tim and Kaylie can lose themselves in the mirror’s reflection, so can we.

| Original Score: A | Feb 18, 2023

Flanagan's treatment elevates the material, both in his use of mind games and emotional complexity.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Feb 12, 2022

It may sound a bit ridiculous, but Flanagan and co-writer Jeff Howard do a fantastic job of making people question whether the threat to our characters is real or imagined right up until the very end of the film.

| Apr 14, 2021

The horror elements work because this is a character driven story and while there are blood and guts aplenty it is the intensity of the story and the performances that will stay with you.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Feb 1, 2021

Mike Flanagan's debut to mainstream audiences is a tour de force of horror, seamlessly weaving between two timelines as he prepares us for a devastating gut-punch of an ending.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Dec 29, 2020

While there are some solid scares and creepy scenes, considering the pieces, they never amount to much.

| Original Score: C+ | Jul 8, 2020

Oculus is an ambitious horror film that doesn't quite reach its potential. While it has a strong cast ... the story just feels like it's spinning its wheels, trying to find the traction it needs to propel forward.

| Jul 6, 2020

Oculus is a smartly-plotted evil mirror film which slowly reveals itself as a haunting portrayal of child abuse. It's a nice light movie!

| Jun 30, 2020

The biggest misfortune in Oculus is that it's almost a good movie.

| Original Score: 2.7/5 | Nov 22, 2019

The final product is a beautifully shot and wonderful acted entry in the never-ending pool of niche horror movies looking to shock, scare, and unnerve.

| Original Score: 6.5/10 | Aug 8, 2019

Horror fans shouldn't miss Oculus; films as creepy as this one don't come along too often.

| Original Score: 7.6/10 | Jun 21, 2019

Mike Flanagan's Oculus does more to a familiar premise than most standard-issue scary movies out there.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 14, 2019

Ultimately, though, it is the characters that count, and Flanagan gives emotional resonance to the story of charming family undone by unexplained forces; and his actors go a long way in portraying this with honesty.

| Mar 5, 2019

A clever storyline keeps the pace, although it could be argued the film had too many storylines going for its running time.

| Feb 1, 2019

Oculus was actually awesome, even though I didn't have any expectations for it at all...happy to tell you that this one was well thought-out with some great performances.

| Jan 5, 2019

In some off-the-wall realm, Oculus works its seedy magic because the concept of frightening furniture and childhood disillusionment is not exactly what one would expect as a passable taunting tie-in of sorts.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Nov 11, 2018

The acting and characters are solid enough, the general idea of the story is captivating and the atmosphere of the piece is genuinely disconcerting.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Nov 1, 2018