Although I’m not normally one for horror movies, I was intrigued by the trailer for the movie “Oculus.” Knowing only that the movie had something to do with a killer mirror, I went in with no idea of the plot and low expectations.

Karen Gillan and Brendon Thwaites star as a brother and sister who suffered a family tragedy in their preteen years that left their parents dead and one of the siblings in jail. They claim a mirror in their childhood home held a strange power over them and directly caused the tragedy that left them orphans.

The film flashes back and forth from the months leading up to the life-altering tragedy of the siblings’ childhood to the present. These rapid flashbacks/flashforwards confuse the characters just as much as the audience. Our sense of reality is toyed with, as we wonder if the mirror actually committed the crimes in question or if the siblings are just insane.

Overall, the movie exceeded my expectations. It was unpredictable enough that the ending was still a surprise, and everyone left the theatre a little shaken. However, it does still fall victim to some horror movie pitfalls, namely that the main characters refuse to simply leave the house and instead insist fighting back against a monster they don’t really understand.

If you’re looking for a horror movie that will make you jump in your seat and scream in the middle of the theatre, this is not the movie to watch. But if you’re in need of a good scare that’ll leave you afraid to sleep with a mirror in your room, look no further than “Oculus.”