The story revolves around siblings Kaylie Russell (played by Karen Gillan) and Tim Russell (played by Brenton Thwaites), who experienced a traumatic childhood incident involving a haunted antique mirror. Tim was accused of murdering their parents, but Kaylie believes that an otherworldly force within the mirror was responsible.
As an adult, Kaylie sets out to prove the mirror’s malevolence and clear her brother’s name. She retrieves the mirror, which is known as the Lasser Glass, and sets up an elaborate plan involving cameras and timers to document its supernatural effects. Tim, recently released from a psychiatric institution, is initially skeptical but agrees to support his sister.
In a series of interconnected flashbacks and present-day scenes, the film weaves a complex narrative that blurs the lines between reality and the supernatural. As the siblings confront the mirror’s influence, they grapple with their traumatic memories and the possibility that the mirror is manipulating their perceptions.
In the climax, the past and present converge as the siblings confront the mirror’s malevolent force. The resolution involves a revelation about the mirror’s power and the devastating consequences of trying to prove its supernatural properties.
“Oculus” received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its atmospheric tension, psychological horror elements, and inventive storytelling. The film explores themes of trauma, family, and the unreliability of memory in a horror context.