History Film / Oculus

* AttackoftheKillerWhatever: A evil mirror

* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: [[spoiler: Kaylie's idea of having a 'gun' to the mirror's head in the form of an uncorruptable physics object would have worked on its own]], but by deciding to stay within the mirror's realm of influence, [[spoiler:FailureIsTheOnlyOption]].

*** It's reasonable to assume that shattering the mirror would end the haunting. If not, why does it [[spoiler: do everything it can to trick people out of breaking it?]

* YanktheDog'sChain: The Mirror seems to delight in doing this.

*** FridgeLogic: [[spoiler:As long as they THINK the automatic mirror smasher is protecting them they remain close to the mirror. The device is making them think exactly what it wants them to think in a sort of demonic XantosGambit.]]
** An even better example would be her plan to prove the mirror is actually supernatural. As a safeguard, she sets up cameras that provide an objective view of what's going on, since cameras aren't susceptible to the mirror's hallucinatory power. The problem with this is clearly illustrated by the scene where [[spoiler:she and Tim block out the cameras while they believe they're talking in another room]]. So Kaylie...you want to prove the mirror causes paranormal hallucinations by capturing it on video with cameras that can only show you acting crazy because you're seeing things, not the illusions themselves. [[SarcasmMode Good idea!]]

* InvincibleVillain: A common complaint leveled at the film is that [[spoiler:all of the characters' precautions ultimately prove ineffective by the end.]]

* BodyHorror: The mirror tends to do this to its victims.

*** FridgeLogic: [[spoiler:As long as they THINK the automatic mirror smasher is protecting them they remain close to the mirror. Perhaps the device is making them think exactly what it wants them to think in a sort of demonic XantosGambit.]]

*** It's reasonable to assume that shattering the mirror would end the haunting. If not, why does it [[spoiler: do everything it can to trick people out of breaking it?]]

'''''Oculus''''' is a 2014 horror film directed by Mike Flanagan (''Film/{{Absentia}}'') and starring Creator/KarenGillan (''DoctorWho'') in their mainstream film debuts.

'''''Oculus''''' is a 2014 horror film directed by Mike Flanagan (''Film/{{Absentia}}'') and starring Creator/KarenGillan in her mainstream film debut.

** An even better example would be her plan to prove the mirror is actually supernatural. As a safeguard, she sets up cameras that provide an objective view of what's going on, since cameras aren't susceptible to the mirror's hallucinatory power. The problem with this is clearly illustrated by the scene where [[spoiler:she and Tim block out the cameras while they believe they're talking in another room]]. So Kaylie...you want to prove the mirror causes paranormal hallucinations by capturing it on video with cameras that can only show you acting crazy because you're seeing things, not the illusions themselves. [[WhatAnIdiot Good idea!]]

* DidntThinkThisThrough: [[spoiler:The plan to use a weight attached to a timer as a sort of dead man switch to destroy the mirror. Given the mirror's power to distort reality it difficult to see how they EVER thought that it would work.]]

* Didn'tThinkThisThrough: [[spoiler:The plan to use a weight attached to a timer as a sort of dead man switch to destroy the mirror. Given the mirror's power to distort reality it difficult to see how they EVER thought that it would work.]]

* IAteWhat: The scene where the mirror tricks Kaylie into eating a lightbulb instead of an apple.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/oculus_8936.jpg]]

'''''Oculus''''' is a 2014 horror film directed by Mike Flanagan (''{{Film/Absentia}}'') and starring KarenGillan in her mainstream film debut.

Eleven years later, Kaylie (KarenGillan) recruits her brother Tim, recently released from the asylum, to help prove the mirror's power and then destroy it, believing it caused the deaths of their parents and scores of other people over the past three centuries. Tim's version of past events differs, offering a more realistic view of their childhood trauma.

* TheWoobie: Kaylie and Tim, so much so.

'''''Oculus''''' is a 2014 horror film directed by Mike Flanagan (''{{Film/Absentia}}'').

Eleven years later, Kaylie recruits her brother Tim, recently released from the asylum, to help prove the mirror's power and then destroy it, believing it caused the deaths of their parents and scores of other people over the past three centuries. Tim's version of past events differs, offering a more realistic view of their childhood trauma.