Audio
I was very impressed by the audio quality on this project.
There was no "tinny" quality to the sound (which
frequently happens when it's not absorbed properly, especially
in a bare room), and the dialogue was clear and articulated.
There wasn't a whole lot of ambient noise, which also
added to the feeling that Tim was separated from human
contact. There were some nice sound effects touches, particularly
in a scene in which Tim is surrounded in the dim, half-lit
room by the former owners the mirror has claimed; one
by one, each of them opens their mouths, emitting the
sounds of the alarms clocks, cell phones, etc. that Tim
has with him in the room. (That was an especially nice,
eerie touch!) The minimalistic and visceral music is very
effective as well, adding to the feeling of a mounting
tension and imminent doom.
Use
of Budget
And just how much would you expect to spend on such a
nightmare-inducing project? $10,000? $5,000? Well, now,
with sufficient creativity, you too can make something
like this for the low, low price of just $2,000! In all
seriousness, I was floored by just how effectively and
professionally that money was used. Not only did Mr. Flanagan
budget his money wisely--renting a location, cameras,
lights, and feeding the crew--but also his time, as well.
The amount of time and attention taken to post-production
(audio, video, special effects, etc.) is apparent and
very wisely spent.
The
more time Tim spends alone with the mirror...
...the
more difficult it becomes to distinguish reality
from fantasy.
Lasting
Appeal
Now, I know that suspense/horror is not everyone's cup
of tea. And while Oculus is more like a cross between
an M. Night Shayamalan movie and a Twilight Zone
episode than Nightmare on Elm Street, I know that
some people they won't be interested. However, even the
ones who think they aren't interested, are in for a surprise.
My husband really dislikes horror, yet he found himself
riveted to this compelling short, enjoying the feeling
of getting sucked into the story even though he knew it
would send shivers down his spine.
Would
I watch it again? Heck yes. (Although I might not
go around mirrors for an hour or so afterward!) Would
I recommend this to my friends to watch? Definitely.
Do I think this is good enough to be shown in theaters?
Oh yeah, baby. Are
we already in talks to with the director to make it part
of our next Ultra-Indie Film Weekend at the theaters?
Do you even have to ask???
Conclusion
An all-around great film. The story is creative, well-told,
and smooth-flowing, and Scott Graham's acting is downright
awesome. It has a simple but effective look, complemented
by inventive camera angles and well-paced editing. The
audio is wonderfully clear, with effective ambient sound
and background music. The use of both financial and time
budget were very effective, and I would definitely recommend
this film to others. I can't wait to see what else will
come from the camera of Mike Flanigan! (And what his finished
anthology looks like!)
A
powerhouse in management, Kari
Ann Morgan successfully produced a feature length film before
coming to work at Microfilmmaker as Assistant Editor. In addition
to writing for the magazine, she's been successfully working with
various distributors to get microfilmmakers the chance for theatrical
distribution.
