Flanagan's brain works on another level than most directors. The way he weaves two timelines together without killing the shows pacing was expertly done. He demonstrates this skill with the Haunting of Hill House. Cant wait to see more.
I did not realize the director went on to such success. Thats really nice to hear! He piad his dues, stuck to his horror principles and is making good content. It nice that we have a craven or a barker for this generation
The Director's statement about Movie studios not giving audience's enough credit is painfully obvious. I love the big movies that come out; but I would love that there were a balance between big action flicks and smart engaging thought provoking movies
The movie studios are right, don't you see which movies make the most money? Which films no matter the lack of plot or character development get praised because they have so much cgi and explosions? individuals are smart and appreciate story depth and development, the masses like bright lights and loud noises......and dem bitties.
Its painful obviuos how wrong it is. Movie audiences are fucking stupid. Just look at the success of Cameron or Nolan if you want an example. There is a small part of the audience that is intelligent, but it alone cannot drive a big budget film. Luckily for this film it had its budget low enough where it made a profit, but a film aimed at a smart audience will never make hundreds of millions because our society glorifies stupidity.
You can't really compare this movie to something like The Dark Knight. Horror movies in general don't rake in anywhere near as much money as other genres. Also since when is Christopher Nolan's stuff considered to be among the brain-dead, explain everything, tell and show Hollywood movies?
@@Siktopath That's where I'm sitting right now. I've watched it before, but remember not liking it, but seeing this video on it, I am thinking I'll give it another shot.
@@fumblztv8979 Come to think of it, it might be some kind of "confirmation bias" on my part. When you surround yourself with people of similar taste in movies, you're bound to have the same opnion of a movie. That doesn't mean people that don't like it are wrong, it's just different preferences. I don't mind meandering, it's more about the experience than getting from point A to point B. For me. I think that can very well be frustrating to others.
Just watched it prior to watching this and would rate it as a well above average horror movie but that still is not saying much as most horror movies are dreadful
Oculus was so cool on how the timelines merged! And Mike Flanagan became my new favorite director with a steady stream of awesome varied films. Before I Wake is highly underrated I think, it's a great dark fairytale.
I absolutely hated this movie but I loved your deep dive into it. Makes me appreciate something I am not a fan of, which says something about your content.
Leonidas L. It’s been along time since I’ve seen it, I just remember not enjoying it. It came up in conversation recently and my fiancé loved it. Maybe I’ll watch it again
I love this movie because of the fact that they didn't explain why or how the mirror was evil it just was. It leaves ur mind open to all the possibilities that our minds can come up with which is great because then when talking to friends about the movie it makes for a great conversation that u can have with friends and that's what makes a film especially horror an awesome film. 😎
Employee: I have the flu. Any normal business: Stay home. Don't bring that crap here. Actor: I have the flu. Movie industry: Excellent! We can use that. Call time is 4 am.
@Coley Durham Only big-name actors. Most actors are lucky if they even get background work on film and even then, how much you're paid depends on how long you're on set and most of that time is spent waiting to be called to film. Still, you *have* to show up whether you're sick or not because a lot of money is being put into filming (i.e. cameras, lighting, makeup artists, rent if you're renting a certain set, etc.) and they can't afford to put that all on hold for one person. The only way you can get a sick day in film/theatre is if it's *really* bad like a ruptured appendix or something, or if you've lost your voice and can't speak your lines. My boyfriend's an actor, so I know these things.
I saw Oculus for the first time and loved it so much that I saw it again the next weekend with my friends. It's such an incredible movie and I am so happy that productions like this exist!!
This fact was overlooked in this otherwise great video, both Mike Flannagan and his Wife Kate Seigel's voice acted as the leads in the No sleep podcast story, the NoSleep Podcast production of C.K. Walker's "Borrasca". Which was an amazing story and fit his style of directing. "Borrasca" written by C.K. Walker. Awesome video by the way I am glad that Flannagan is getting the respect he so much deserves. Occulus reminded me of a no punches pulled horror film Burnt Offerings by Dan Curtis, the disintegration of the family is a theme in horror that has always scared me, and Flannigan nailed it out the park with Occulus, Glad this movie was covered here.
5 million budget, add another 5 for marketing, 27 mil domestic gross (around 13 mill back to studio) + 16 mil international (around 1,6 mil back to the studio) makes this a 14,6-10=4,6 million in profit. Do note that the opening was only 12 million, it grossed most of it revenue afterwards. Data taken from box office mojo.
Flanagan is becoming one of my favorite modern directors. I need to see more of his work. This is one of my favorite horror movies and Haunting of Hill House is perhaps my favorite series to date
I love it when a horror movie has characters who treat supernatural events as a any normal person would. By which I mean they are sceptical, and try and find a logical explanation for everything right up until the point that it can no longer be denied. That's truly scary
I loved Oculus. One of my favorite recent horror movies. I remember the hollow feeling I had when my friend and I were leaving the theater after it was over. The silence of the ending and how hopeless it feels was a great decision. My mom doesn't like it, but I'm not sure about her taste in horror movies. The actors did a fantastic job throughout and I'm glad it wasn't a typical horror movie.
Hyuna The Hyena no, you think he sucks, it's totally different from really sucking...Hush and Gerald's Game are better than Oculus. And The Haunting of Hill House is his best work.
The first youtube advice I followed. I went and watched the movie, loved it and came here to appreciate the research and well-delivered story about the making of the movie.
Oculus deserves more attention! This was a really good film! Is it perfect? Not at all. But it's still a great movie! I also do agree on Mike Flanagan, in the near future, he could stand out being one of the greatest horror film directors alongside with John Carpenter, Wes Craven and many others like them! Thanks for exploring Oculus, GoodBadFlicks! This movie deserved it!
I was a big horror movie fan growing up in the 80's. Of all the scary movies I watched, there were only two which gave me nightmares or affected me in any way. One was a stupid low-budget affair called Shocker, about a serial killer electrocuted in the chair who becomes an 'electrical ghost' and continues murdering. The other wasn't even a movie, it was an episode of a tv series called Amazing Stories. In this episode, a man starts seeing a figure behind him in the distance whenever he looks in a mirror (any mirror - not a specific one). Every time he see the figure, it appears to be slightly closer. He starts going mad, locking himself in his house and destroying or covering every reflective surface in there. In the end, his love interest spends the night with him and, while staring lovingly at her, he sees the figure right behind him in the reflection of her eyes. He freaks out and jumps out the window to his death. Ever since then I've had a horrendous fear of mirrors. After all these years (30 or so?) it still sticks with me to some extent. As you can imagine, this movie has piqued my interest, lol.
When this movie came out back in 2014 I have been following Mike Flanagan's career as a filmmaker. Since then he has made numerous movies/tv series I loved and became one of the best horror voices to come out 10 years ago.
Yeah, this one got a lot of positive talk but when I finally saw it I was very disappointed. Mirrors just aren't scary. The actors did a good job, but the concept didn't work for me. Very much a "scary desk lamp, whoooo" film for me.
I have my own pet theory that this story drew inspiration from Moby Dick and that Kaylie is our Captain Ahab. * SPOILERS BELOW * Kaylie is obsessed with hunting and killing her White Whale - which took away something dear to her in the past (for Ahab it was his leg, for Kaylie, her mother and father). But in spite of all her efforts, she still underestimates the power of the whale/mirror and continues to pursue it, ultimately, dying an Ahab-like death (complete with being pinned onto her Whale, just like Ahab) because of her obsession and taking her doomed crew (Her husband and brother) down with her. Then there's the use of the anchor itself, which planed a "nautical" reminder in my head. Oh, and for good measure, Kaylie smashes Tim's phone the way Quint, another Ahab character, smashes the radio in Jaws, cutting off any possible help from outside..
I've probably seen a million horror movies and I went into Oculus thinking it would be a jumpscare fest without any redeeming qualities... have to say, after watching it a couple times it's really a good movie, it can sometimes be formulaic but overall a very original story and a fresh take on cursed objects. Also love the fact that they go about it in a scientific way! Keep up the good work Cecil, your channel is simply amazing.
I saw the original oculus film at a local festival in RI . Bought the DVD and rewatched it so many times. Was so happy to see a feature length version in the theater years later.
Thanks for recommending this one Cecil!! Oculus is the best example of how to create a truly scary, modern horror masterpiece! We need more directors like Mike Flannigan! Another gem from Blumhouse. Nowadays, Blumhouse seems to be the best place to turn for horror.
I rented this movie from a red box out of a whim. I was so shocked at how good this movie was. Truly one of the most unique horrors of the 21st century.
I remember my wife and I renting Absentia with the expectation it would be a schlocky, campy mess (based on the box art of the woman crawling on the ground). Imagine how surprised we were to discover it was an intelligent, thrilling suspenseful horror film. It is now one of our all-time favorite horror films, and we compare indie films we watch to it often (with most of those films failing to measure up).
I stopped this 5 mins in to watch the movie and it was great. I the finished this vid and hadn't realised how successful the Director has been. I loved Hill House and Doctor Sleep. I also didnt know the cast so enjoyed seeing Robin and Nebula team up.
This is an amazing movie that totally surprised me! And I really love your videos. I find it absolutely fascinating to learn the backstories to many movies and the process of how they were made. (Your videos have actually changed my view on some movies just knowing how much passion and work went into them.)
I was home from work sick and flipping through channels. This movie had just started. I'd never heard of it, but I decided to watch. It's not amazing, but its definitely entertaining. At least, if you've got a bunch of Nyquil in you.
Yeah that was the only thing he didn't talk about and when he was mentioning production studios and he didn't say anything. I first learned about this movie because WWE was heavily showcasing it on their programming before it went into theaters they would show clips and trailers. I always just assumed they either fronted the money for it to be made or they had a hand in making it like their other Horror film See No Evil.
Maybe they used the mirror prop at some point as a table to smash someone through? Maybe that was the whole point of this movie: To hype up that table.
I saw this in the theater with a dumb guy I was dating at the time, I remember liking it and thinking it was really well done with the time jump editing, but he just said “meh”. We broke up soon after and I have gone on to love Hush and the Haunting of Hill House 😁 an upgrade in my opinion.
My great great grandparents had a house built pre civil war .. they had a mirror in the music room that was similar. When Oculus came out, I saw the poster for this film, and it was horrifying.. I was scared of that mirror. It had a crawling way of making me (at the age of 6 years old), feel like someone was watching me from behind the glass.. I never ever walked in front of it. I saw a dresser walk, an Armoire - a big cabinet with wood feet, WALK.. and never thought about it until this film came out.. Great episode thanks for your hard work on your channel.
I watched Goonies at the Fargo theater in about 2000. They were playing it and other throw back movies and the place was packed. People were screaming and really getting into the movie. One of the best movie experiences I've had.
Such a great movie, done in such a clever way. I love the horror genre, but I feel that genuinely scary (not jump scary) horror films like Oculus are far and few between.
Yes, that's the biggest problem with most of today's horror films, besides lack of originality, & many other things. Oculus is a perfect example of how you do a genuinely scary modern horror film.
Loved this movie since it was released. I actually found the Blu-ray 4 days ago in a pharmacy bargain bin for 4 bucks. And now this video. This must be my week! Love your work Cecil. Keep it up my man
dude haunting of hill house is one of the best horror movie/short series thats come out - the actual horror is only on the side and the long term effects of trauma explored is the true horror - he also used his jumpscares really well in that show
Proud to have supported this film on release... And consequently most of Mike's other productions... Didn't know he was doing Doctor Sleep, knowing that I will check it out.
i remember really liking this movie! it wasnt lowest common denominator horror. i didnt realize mike flanagan had done so many other things ive loved too!
Saw this in theatres. Was very happy when I left feeling uneasy. Sure, I like whole mythologies and backstories..but sometimes you just dont know and will never know. I can still rewatch this..not many horror films I can, and still be weirded out.
I loved this movie. It was so well thought out and kept you fully invested in the movie from beginning to end. I would love to see a sequel or prequel.
He Did Dr SLEEP? Thats one of the very best movies Ive seen in a minute and a a respectable tribute to Stephen King's genius. This is my favorite youtube channel. Movies come to life with these videos. I also appreciate how he said Flannegan told the studios audiences aren't as dumb as the studios think. I hope this kind of film and film making picks up traction and we see more work like this in the future.
One mirror horror movie you missed: Amityville 7 (aka A New Generation), part of a trilogy with the fourth one with the evil lamp and the sixth one with the evil clock.
A great horror film. The fake-out illusion scenes have a wonderfully nightmarish quality to them, especially when he tries to call the police outside and hears the same message he did as a child.
I just watched Doctor Sleep. Flanagan definitely will go far in the horror genre. He handled King’s material masterfully! If King allows more adaptations of his work, it’s obvious Flanagan is the one he’ll work with. :) Once again, thanks for all of the great and insightful videos!
From IMDB: During the auction where the mirror is sold the auctioneer mentions that the mirror was acquired from the Levesque Estate. WWE Superstar HHH's real name is Paul Levesque and WWE Studios is one of the producers of this film. This is, however, just a strange coincidence... as WWE was not involved with the film at all until after it was completed and had already premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.
I have been watching horror since I was about 7 years old. That's over 30 years of horror. Oculus is one of my very favorite. An excellent movie all around. Thank you for this deep dive!
Mike Flanagan is a Modern Horror movie POWERHOUSE of a Director. As far as horror goes, he has become a national treasure. He has (for me, anyway) single handedly restored my hope in modern horror film storytelling by SIGNIFICANTLY raising the bar on the quality of horror films, redefining immersion with his cinematic character building techniques and pushed the boundaries of horror movie narratives and storytelling to ascended levels beyond what I have rarely seen take place in modern horror. His ability to help you forge an empathetic connection to the characters in his films through thoughtful and compelling dialogue and storytelling whilst driving the mystery and horror of what's happening through EXTREMELY unique and effective scares and memorable moments is utterly masterful, beyond what most Horror directors could even DREAM or even care about doing. Mike Flanagan has made horror movies scary again. One of the BEST Directors to happen upon horror movies since John Carpenter. In my opinion, EVERY Stephen King movie adaptation should be IMMEDIATELY handed to him.
"Some of the distributors didn't like that there was no explanation for the mirror - where it came from or what it was. They assumed the audience would want answers. Flanagan insisted that audiences are smarter than studios give them credit for, and if they're respected and treated intelligently, they'll appreciate something not being spelled out for them _way_ more than an easy answer. By not explaining the monster, the themes will stick with them beyond just the movie." I couldn't agree with Flanagan more! 👏 I loved _The Haunting of Hill House_ and _The Haunting of Bly Manor_ as well. He's an incredible storyteller.
Flanagan's brain works on another level than most directors. The way he weaves two timelines together without killing the shows pacing was expertly done. He demonstrates this skill with the Haunting of Hill House. Cant wait to see more.
I did not realize the director went on to such success. Thats really nice to hear! He piad his dues, stuck to his horror principles and is making good content. It nice that we have a craven or a barker for this generation
Outright shocked by how great this was.
@Jason Larsen Relax, it's just lingo, every generation has its own, it can't hurt you.
@@Overwar100 i cant love your comment enough. lol
Masterpiece
@@positivepsycho2932 what about literally
Ditto
The 13 minute long scene is one of my favorites in the movie. Glad he decided to keep it in.
The Director's statement about Movie studios not giving audience's enough credit is painfully obvious. I love the big movies that come out; but I would love that there were a balance between big action flicks and smart engaging thought provoking movies
You know Hollywood all they see is green and nothing more
The movie studios are right, don't you see which movies make the most money? Which films no matter the lack of plot or character development get praised because they have so much cgi and explosions? individuals are smart and appreciate story depth and development, the masses like bright lights and loud noises......and dem bitties.
OldLeatherHands&Friends it’s dem titties :3
Its painful obviuos how wrong it is. Movie audiences are fucking stupid. Just look at the success of Cameron or Nolan if you want an example. There is a small part of the audience that is intelligent, but it alone cannot drive a big budget film. Luckily for this film it had its budget low enough where it made a profit, but a film aimed at a smart audience will never make hundreds of millions because our society glorifies stupidity.
You can't really compare this movie to something like The Dark Knight. Horror movies in general don't rake in anywhere near as much money as other genres. Also since when is Christopher Nolan's stuff considered to be among the brain-dead, explain everything, tell and show Hollywood movies?
I wasn't aware this was considered a bad movie by anybody. Thought everybody loved it.
I remember seeing this in theaters and thinking it was stupid lol might have to rewatch it and come back to this video.
@@Siktopath That's where I'm sitting right now. I've watched it before, but remember not liking it, but seeing this video on it, I am thinking I'll give it another shot.
It's pretty bad. Meandering, obvious, and frustrating. Although, I might watch it again after seeing this video.
@@fumblztv8979 Come to think of it, it might be some kind of "confirmation bias" on my part. When you surround yourself with people of similar taste in movies, you're bound to have the same opnion of a movie. That doesn't mean people that don't like it are wrong, it's just different preferences. I don't mind meandering, it's more about the experience than getting from point A to point B. For me. I think that can very well be frustrating to others.
Just watched it prior to watching this and would rate it as a well above average horror movie but that still is not saying much as most horror movies are dreadful
I loved Oculus, and it was the film that finally pulled my wife into the horror genre. Probably one of my top 10 horror films.
Oculus was so cool on how the timelines merged! And Mike Flanagan became my new favorite director with a steady stream of awesome varied films. Before I Wake is highly underrated I think, it's a great dark fairytale.
I really think this is one of the best, most underrated horror movies of the last decade. Very scary also!
Agreed!!
I absolutely hated this movie but I loved your deep dive into it. Makes me appreciate something I am not a fan of, which says something about your content.
It was too much of a talking film from the start, and the premise told the story so there wasn't a need to watch.
:)
what did you hate about it?
Leonidas L. It’s been along time since I’ve seen it, I just remember not enjoying it. It came up in conversation recently and my fiancé loved it. Maybe I’ll watch it again
@@Squidaniel I've also watched it a while ago but I remember it very fondly, maybe I'll rewatch it aswell. Definitely give it a go
Genuinely one of the best horror films I've ever seen, what a work of art. So unique, so tense, so trippy.
I love this movie because of the fact that they didn't explain why or how the mirror was evil it just was. It leaves ur mind open to all the possibilities that our minds can come up with which is great because then when talking to friends about the movie it makes for a great conversation that u can have with friends and that's what makes a film especially horror an awesome film. 😎
Employee: I have the flu.
Any normal business: Stay home. Don't bring that crap here.
Actor: I have the flu.
Movie industry: Excellent! We can use that. Call time is 4 am.
gutspraygore yeah if I got paid movie star money I’d never call off either
Me: I have the flu
My boss: wash your hands and wear a face mask. I ain't filling in for you.
My boss: Oh, and you DON'T make a million dollars.
@Coley Durham I doubt anybody who worked on this movie got paid millions.
@Coley Durham Only big-name actors. Most actors are lucky if they even get background work on film and even then, how much you're paid depends on how long you're on set and most of that time is spent waiting to be called to film. Still, you *have* to show up whether you're sick or not because a lot of money is being put into filming (i.e. cameras, lighting, makeup artists, rent if you're renting a certain set, etc.) and they can't afford to put that all on hold for one person. The only way you can get a sick day in film/theatre is if it's *really* bad like a ruptured appendix or something, or if you've lost your voice and can't speak your lines.
My boyfriend's an actor, so I know these things.
I saw Oculus for the first time and loved it so much that I saw it again the next weekend with my friends. It's such an incredible movie and I am so happy that productions like this exist!!
Oh thank god you did one on Oculus. It's so good and honestly Mike flannigan is super underrated.
How so lolz? The only modern horror director who gets more praise than him is james wan...
Actually one of the scariest movies when I first watched it. I loved everything about this movie
Love this film and your characteristically great deep dive into its creation.
This fact was overlooked in this otherwise great video, both Mike Flannagan and his Wife Kate Seigel's voice acted as the leads in the No sleep podcast story,
the NoSleep Podcast production of C.K. Walker's "Borrasca". Which was an amazing story and fit his style of directing. "Borrasca" written by C.K. Walker. Awesome video by the way I am glad that Flannagan is getting the respect he so much deserves. Occulus reminded me of a no punches pulled horror film Burnt Offerings by Dan Curtis, the disintegration of the family is a theme in horror that has always scared me, and Flannigan nailed it out the park with Occulus, Glad this movie was covered here.
It opened with $44 million...
Damn the studio for thinking it was a bombed movie despite earning more than half of the budget.
5 million budget, add another 5 for marketing, 27 mil domestic gross (around 13 mill back to studio) + 16 mil international (around 1,6 mil back to the studio) makes this a 14,6-10=4,6 million in profit. Do note that the opening was only 12 million, it grossed most of it revenue afterwards. Data taken from box office mojo.
Im curious why WWE studio’s wasn’t brought up. Or was the involvement so little that it wasn’t worth bringing up.
I believe they only distributed it
Such a good film and the history scene was one of my favourites.
Oculus is a classic.
Watched it because Karen Gillan was the lead, loved it. One of the few modern horrors I actually found compelling and not as predictable.
Flanagan is becoming one of my favorite modern directors. I need to see more of his work. This is one of my favorite horror movies and Haunting of Hill House is perhaps my favorite series to date
The only horror film that rightfully needs a sequel
I love it when a horror movie has characters who treat supernatural events as a any normal person would. By which I mean they are sceptical, and try and find a logical explanation for everything right up until the point that it can no longer be denied. That's truly scary
I loved Oculus. One of my favorite recent horror movies. I remember the hollow feeling I had when my friend and I were leaving the theater after it was over. The silence of the ending and how hopeless it feels was a great decision. My mom doesn't like it, but I'm not sure about her taste in horror movies. The actors did a fantastic job throughout and I'm glad it wasn't a typical horror movie.
Mike Flanagan is one of the best modern day horror directors
No he's not, and Doctor Sleep is going to suck hard
Hyuna The Hyena yes, he is...and the book already sucks
@@jotaferreira4848 hes not terrible and I guess that makes him one of the best? Oculus is his by far best film, most of his filmography sucks.
Hyuna The Hyena no, you think he sucks, it's totally different from really sucking...Hush and Gerald's Game are better than Oculus. And The Haunting of Hill House is his best work.
@@jotaferreira4848 I didnt say he sucks, moron
The first youtube advice I followed. I went and watched the movie, loved it and came here to appreciate the research and well-delivered story about the making of the movie.
Oculus deserves more attention! This was a really good film! Is it perfect? Not at all. But it's still a great movie!
I also do agree on Mike Flanagan, in the near future, he could stand out being one of the greatest horror film directors alongside with John Carpenter, Wes Craven and many others like them! Thanks for exploring Oculus, GoodBadFlicks! This movie deserved it!
Thanks for watching!
“The wig could’ve been worse”
Did Vlanigan predicted Fant4stic?
"Weren't too many mirrors used as a device in horror films"
*Candyman:* "Am I a joke to you?"
Oh shit!!!
@Zeus what?
I was thinking the same thing! Also Poltergeist used them as well.
And, ya know... Mirrors and Mirrors 2?
My favorite Mike Flanagan films are Oculus, Hush and Doctor Sleep
How is this channel not at a million subs yet?
Maybe one day.
I was a big horror movie fan growing up in the 80's. Of all the scary movies I watched, there were only two which gave me nightmares or affected me in any way.
One was a stupid low-budget affair called Shocker, about a serial killer electrocuted in the chair who becomes an 'electrical ghost' and continues murdering.
The other wasn't even a movie, it was an episode of a tv series called Amazing Stories. In this episode, a man starts seeing a figure behind him in the distance whenever he looks in a mirror (any mirror - not a specific one). Every time he see the figure, it appears to be slightly closer. He starts going mad, locking himself in his house and destroying or covering every reflective surface in there. In the end, his love interest spends the night with him and, while staring lovingly at her, he sees the figure right behind him in the reflection of her eyes. He freaks out and jumps out the window to his death. Ever since then I've had a horrendous fear of mirrors. After all these years (30 or so?) it still sticks with me to some extent. As you can imagine, this movie has piqued my interest, lol.
LOL, Shocker scared the crap out of me as a kid too.
one of my favourite horror movies. One that does not follow the tired old tropes
My friend’s dad is Bruce Larsen! The mirror used to hang in her room for years!
When this movie came out back in 2014 I have been following Mike Flanagan's career as a filmmaker. Since then he has made numerous movies/tv series I loved and became one of the best horror voices to come out 10 years ago.
I really didn't like this movie, but I appreciate your take on it.
:)
Same. I wasn't a fan of the movie. But I love this vid and love his other works.
Yeah, this one got a lot of positive talk but when I finally saw it I was very disappointed. Mirrors just aren't scary. The actors did a good job, but the concept didn't work for me. Very much a "scary desk lamp, whoooo" film for me.
@@richmcgee434 Its not the mirrors, but whats inside them thats scary.
@@StrazdasLT It's not the lamp that's scary, but what's inside them!
Behave
Mike Flanagan is a modern master of horror. Everything he's made is amazing IMO.
The Haunting of Hill House may just be the absolute best series Netflix has released.
@@CondorCap
Overall loved it
Wasnt fond of the end
I feel like they were constrained with wanting to ensure the last episode was as long as the others
I have my own pet theory that this story drew inspiration from Moby Dick and that Kaylie is our Captain Ahab.
* SPOILERS BELOW *
Kaylie is obsessed with hunting and killing her White Whale - which took away something dear to her in the past (for Ahab it was his leg, for Kaylie, her mother and father). But in spite of all her efforts, she still underestimates the power of the whale/mirror and continues to pursue it, ultimately, dying an Ahab-like death (complete with being pinned onto her Whale, just like Ahab) because of her obsession and taking her doomed crew (Her husband and brother) down with her. Then there's the use of the anchor itself, which planed a "nautical" reminder in my head.
Oh, and for good measure, Kaylie smashes Tim's phone the way Quint, another Ahab character, smashes the radio in Jaws, cutting off any possible help from outside..
I always had a genuine liking to this movie.
I've probably seen a million horror movies and I went into Oculus thinking it would be a jumpscare fest without any redeeming qualities... have to say, after watching it a couple times it's really a good movie, it can sometimes be formulaic but overall a very original story and a fresh take on cursed objects. Also love the fact that they go about it in a scientific way!
Keep up the good work Cecil, your channel is simply amazing.
Thank you!
I saw the original oculus film at a local festival in RI . Bought the DVD and rewatched it so many times. Was so happy to see a feature length version in the theater years later.
I love these deep dives. It takes your appreciation of films you already love to a whole new level.
Thanks!
Thanks for recommending this one Cecil!! Oculus is the best example of how to create a truly scary, modern horror masterpiece! We need more directors like Mike Flannigan! Another gem from Blumhouse. Nowadays, Blumhouse seems to be the best place to turn for horror.
Yeah, BH really has been doing a great job the past few years.
Thank you for doing this one. I have loved this movie for years, and was hoping you would do it eventually.
Thanks for watching!
I rented this movie from a red box out of a whim.
I was so shocked at how good this movie was. Truly one of the most unique horrors of the 21st century.
I remember my wife and I renting Absentia with the expectation it would be a schlocky, campy mess (based on the box art of the woman crawling on the ground). Imagine how surprised we were to discover it was an intelligent, thrilling suspenseful horror film. It is now one of our all-time favorite horror films, and we compare indie films we watch to it often (with most of those films failing to measure up).
I personally loved this movie. No need for an overload of jump scares or blood and guts. I hope to see a second film.
Oculus is awesome. Pretty much all of Mike Flanagan’s work is great.
The twist at the end shocked and angered me.
And that's how you make a great movie
I stopped this 5 mins in to watch the movie and it was great. I the finished this vid and hadn't realised how successful the Director has been. I loved Hill House and Doctor Sleep. I also didnt know the cast so enjoyed seeing Robin and Nebula team up.
This movie is a masterpiece. The mythology is amazing and on par with other horror masterpieces like 13 Ghosts.
Mike Flanagan is the Hitchcock of our generation. I'm not even kidding.
I feel this has done a much better job of selling me the movie, than the trailer I saw.
This is an amazing movie that totally surprised me! And I really love your videos. I find it absolutely fascinating to learn the backstories to many movies and the process of how they were made. (Your videos have actually changed my view on some movies just knowing how much passion and work went into them.)
Thanks! I'm doing my job then :)
I was home from work sick and flipping through channels. This movie had just started. I'd never heard of it, but I decided to watch. It's not amazing, but its definitely entertaining. At least, if you've got a bunch of Nyquil in you.
The only question i have where does WWE studios fit in
Did you saw H P Lovecraft's Dagon?
Yeah that was the only thing he didn't talk about and when he was mentioning production studios and he didn't say anything. I first learned about this movie because WWE was heavily showcasing it on their programming before it went into theaters they would show clips and trailers. I always just assumed they either fronted the money for it to be made or they had a hand in making it like their other Horror film See No Evil.
David Burns thank you, I give them credit because the fact WWE studios on it made me look more into it.
Maybe they used the mirror prop at some point as a table to smash someone through?
Maybe that was the whole point of this movie: To hype up that table.
The Snob approves!
i watched this vid when it came out before watching the movie. Now I finally went and watched the movie - so so good. Thanks for the recommendation
You are welcome!
I saw this in the theater with a dumb guy I was dating at the time, I remember liking it and thinking it was really well done with the time jump editing, but he just said “meh”. We broke up soon after and I have gone on to love Hush and the Haunting of Hill House 😁 an upgrade in my opinion.
Sounds like you made a wise choice ^^
Oculus is a classic. One of the scariest horror movies ever made. The film had good acting. I met Karen Gillan in 2015.
My great great grandparents had a house built pre civil war .. they had a mirror in the music room that was similar. When Oculus came out, I saw the poster for this film, and it was horrifying.. I was scared of that mirror. It had a crawling way of making me (at the age of 6 years old), feel like someone was watching me from behind the glass.. I never ever walked in front of it.
I saw a dresser walk, an Armoire - a big cabinet with wood feet, WALK.. and never thought about it until this film came out.. Great episode thanks for your hard work on your channel.
Thanks!
Haunting of Hill house was really good too. A must see, as is Oculus, if you have not.
It’s great to have a director like Mike Flanagan for the modern horror genre. His movies are really interesting
I watched Goonies at the Fargo theater in about 2000. They were playing it and other throw back movies and the place was packed. People were screaming and really getting into the movie. One of the best movie experiences I've had.
*Oculus and Hereditary are some of my favorite modern horror films*
I really enjoyed this movie. I didn't know about the 1408 inspirations, though I shouldn't be too surprised seeing how I also really enjoyed that!
Such a great movie, done in such a clever way. I love the horror genre, but I feel that genuinely scary (not jump scary) horror films like Oculus are far and few between.
Yes, that's the biggest problem with most of today's horror films, besides lack of originality, & many other things. Oculus is a perfect example of how you do a genuinely scary modern horror film.
Don't know if "genuinely scary" is a fitting term
Your Exploring-series are so god damn good! You're doing a tremendous job!
Thanks!
best birthday present ever! i love this movie its one of my favorites of all time
I haven't seen it. But I remember Rory Cochran from Dazed And Confused. "Check ya later" guy.
Loved this movie since it was released. I actually found the Blu-ray 4 days ago in a pharmacy bargain bin for 4 bucks. And now this video. This must be my week! Love your work Cecil. Keep it up my man
Thanks!
@GoodBadFlicks
thanks for pointing out a director I overlooked so far, despite him producing my favorite horror films: scary over gore
Such an excellent movie. In many ways a perfect modern take on Color out of Space. Love it.
Good Bad Flicks an amazing constant in my life. Don't even have to get past the first 5 seconds to "like" the video. Lol
Glad to help :)
dude haunting of hill house is one of the best horror movie/short series thats come out - the actual horror is only on the side and the long term effects of trauma explored is the true horror - he also used his jumpscares really well in that show
Well now I understand why I so thoroughly enjoyed all these movies, thanks to this wonderful director.
This is one of my favorite horror films of all time; I can’t stop thinking about it and its eerie themes and ideas.
Proud to have supported this film on release... And consequently most of Mike's other productions... Didn't know he was doing Doctor Sleep, knowing that I will check it out.
i remember really liking this movie! it wasnt lowest common denominator horror. i didnt realize mike flanagan had done so many other things ive loved too!
Saw this in theatres. Was very happy when I left feeling uneasy. Sure, I like whole mythologies and backstories..but sometimes you just dont know and will never know. I can still rewatch this..not many horror films I can, and still be weirded out.
Absentia is such an underrated gem! Don’t let the low budget look of it fool you!
I *love* your longer videos! :-) Can't get enough of your stuff.
Greetings from Germany.
Saw this in the theatre. It was myself and 2 other people. I loved it, I spent a good 2 hours figuring it out.
I loved this movie. It was so well thought out and kept you fully invested in the movie from beginning to end. I would love to see a sequel or prequel.
Loved this movie. Great story about the director. It's nice to see a Kickstarter that did what the site is supposed to do.
He Did Dr SLEEP? Thats one of the very best movies Ive seen in a minute and a a respectable tribute to Stephen King's genius. This is my favorite youtube channel. Movies come to life with these videos. I also appreciate how he said Flannegan told the studios audiences aren't as dumb as the studios think. I hope this kind of film and film making picks up traction and we see more work like this in the future.
One mirror horror movie you missed: Amityville 7 (aka A New Generation), part of a trilogy with the fourth one with the evil lamp and the sixth one with the evil clock.
One of my favorite recent horror films, so glad you covered it!
A great horror film. The fake-out illusion scenes have a wonderfully nightmarish quality to them, especially when he tries to call the police outside and hears the same message he did as a child.
Thanks for yet another compelling Exploring.
Thank you for watching!
I just watched Doctor Sleep. Flanagan definitely will go far in the horror genre. He handled King’s material masterfully! If King allows more adaptations of his work, it’s obvious Flanagan is the one he’ll work with. :)
Once again, thanks for all of the great and insightful videos!
Thanks!
From IMDB: During the auction where the mirror is sold the auctioneer mentions that the mirror was acquired from the Levesque Estate. WWE Superstar HHH's real name is Paul Levesque and WWE Studios is one of the producers of this film. This is, however, just a strange coincidence... as WWE was not involved with the film at all until after it was completed and had already premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.
Your channel is so amazing I’m always shocked.
Thanks! :)
I have been watching horror since I was about 7 years old. That's over 30 years of horror. Oculus is one of my very favorite. An excellent movie all around. Thank you for this deep dive!
Intrepid pictures: *we really like ur short... as long it’s not found footage*
Mike Flanagan: *~opera music is playing~* ☺️
Mike Flanagan is a Modern Horror movie POWERHOUSE of a Director. As far as horror goes, he has become a national treasure. He has (for me, anyway) single handedly restored my hope in modern horror film storytelling by SIGNIFICANTLY raising the bar on the quality of horror films, redefining immersion with his cinematic character building techniques and pushed the boundaries of horror movie narratives and storytelling to ascended levels beyond what I have rarely seen take place in modern horror. His ability to help you forge an empathetic connection to the characters in his films through thoughtful and compelling dialogue and storytelling whilst driving the mystery and horror of what's happening through EXTREMELY unique and effective scares and memorable moments is utterly masterful, beyond what most Horror directors could even DREAM or even care about doing. Mike Flanagan has made horror movies scary again. One of the BEST Directors to happen upon horror movies since John Carpenter. In my opinion, EVERY Stephen King movie adaptation should be IMMEDIATELY handed to him.
I liked it and it also introduced me to Karen Gillan which was also nice.
The film was good in not removing the mystique of the mirror, but i had to say i saw how it will end 30 minutes into the movie.
Yeah it's Big Brain time.
"Some of the distributors didn't like that there was no explanation for the mirror - where it came from or what it was. They assumed the audience would want answers. Flanagan insisted that audiences are smarter than studios give them credit for, and if they're respected and treated intelligently, they'll appreciate something not being spelled out for them _way_ more than an easy answer. By not explaining the monster, the themes will stick with them beyond just the movie."
I couldn't agree with Flanagan more! 👏
I loved _The Haunting of Hill House_ and _The Haunting of Bly Manor_ as well. He's an incredible storyteller.