"Oculus"

 2013 * R * 1h 44m If you’re looking for a horror film that’s a bit different, you might enjoy this one. I liked the fact that there was little actual blood, violence, or swearing in it. But it did manage to scare me to pieces nonetheless.

At the heart of the story is a mirror, known as the Lasser Glass mirror. It’s 400-years old and some folks believe it’s responsible for countless mysterious deaths over the years. We meet Tim (Brenton Thwaites, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”), who’s just been released from a mental institution. He was accused of murder and had been institutionalized for the past 10 years. His sister Kaylie (Karen Gillan, “Avengers: Endgame”) takes him back to their childhood home, which was witness to the murder of their parents. She has the alleged haunted mirror delivered to their home and is out to prove there’s an entity living in the mirror that caused the deaths.

The film jumps back and forth from the present day to when they were children, and we see their parents’ lives descend into madness. It’s a bit confusing at times, but by the end of the movie, it all makes sense. I thought the acting was excellent, especially from Annalise Basso (“The Life of Chuck”) and Garrett Ryan (“Insidious: Chapter 3”), who played the younger versions of the siblings.

Streaming on Kanopy (free with your library card), Netflix, and Prime, and to rent on Apple TV, YouTube, Fandango, and Prime.

3 1/2 stars

"The Boogeyman"

 2023 * PG-13 * 1h 38m This film is based on a short story by the master of horror, Stephen King. I can’t recall any movie based on his writings that wasn’t totally creepy. Just the first couple minutes of this film alone are a good indication that you’re in for some disturbing events. Watching it on my laptop was spooky enough--I can’t imagine seeing it on the big screen. 

The story is about two young girls Sadie (Sophie Thatcher, “Heretic”) and Sawyer (Vivian Lyra Blair, “Bird Box”). They’re being raised by their father Will, a therapist played by Chris Messina (“Argo”). Their mother recently died in a car accident and the family is in total denial. Then one day, Will gets a visit from Lester (David Dastmalchian, “Oppenheimer”) who was blamed for the deaths of his three children. After he hangs himself in their house, a mysterious creature begins haunting the two girls. 

The rest of the story involves the sisters investigating the boogyman and then plotting to destroy it. As you’d expect from a Stephan King project, it’s well written and has great production values. Rob Savage (“Host”) did a commendable job directing the film. My only negative comment is a lot of the movie is dimly lit, making it hard to see what’s going on on a small screen. 

***1/2 stars

Streaming on Netflix and Hulu, and to rent on Apple TV, YouTube, Fandango, and Prime.

"Good Boy"

 2025 * PG-13 * 1h 12m What an interesting take on a horror film—a story as seen through the eyes of a dog. It’s from a dog’s perspective and not told in his voice. And what a great performance. If there were Oscars for animals, Indy, the star of the movie would get it hands down (or should I say, paws down?).

Todd moves into the family’s rural home with his loyal dog. There he encounters a mysterious entity lurking in the shadows. Being his trusted companion, the dog does what it takes to protect his master. It turns out to be your basic Good vs. Evil plot, and lets the viewer try to figure out the details of the story. The excellent camerawork and slick editing of Ben Leonberg added to the overall tension of this award-winning movie. Leonberg also directed.

If you’re a horror movie buff and are in the mood for something unusual, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

Streaming for free on Kanopy and Hoopla (with your library card), and Hulu. Also to rent on Apple TV, YouTube, Fandango, and Prime.

4 out of 5 stars

"Bring Her Back"

 2025 * R * 1h 44m I've seen quite a few horror films in my days. But this recent film from A24 has to be among the scariest and most disturbing movies I've ever witnessed. Warning: "Bring Her Back" is pretty much guaranteed to scare the living bejesus out of you.

Two young kids Andy (Billy Barratt) and his sister Cathy (Mischa Haywood) are sent to live with their new foster mom Laura, played brilliantly by Sally Hawkins. She vascilates between a sweet mother and a terrifying possessed she-devil. Also at the home is a super creepy, bug-eyed kid Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips) who doesn't say a word. Laura recently lost her daughter and we suspect she's in some dark magic to bring her back.

There's a scene near the beginning where Andy cuts a piece of melon for Oliver. He hands him a knife with the fruit on it. He turns his back for a minute, and when he turns back. Oliver has sliced his mouth to pieces. It's a gruesome scene that hints at what's to come. 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Streaming on HBO and to rent on Apple TV, Fandango, YouTube, and Prime.