FILM · 2013 · USA
Oculus
15 archived facts 3 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
15 Interesting Facts About Oculus
Interesting Facts (11)
- #001
Director Mike Flanagan has used the Oculus mirror as a hidden reference in most of his films and TV shows: it appears in the basement of Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016), on the headboard in Gerald's Game (2017), on the walls of The Haunting of Hill House (2018) and inside the Overlook Hotel in Doctor Sleep (2019).
- #002
This was Karen Gillan's first American role.
- #003
Karen Gillan had to wear a wig for additional scenes because she had cut her hair for Not Another Happy Ending (2013); after production ended she shaved her head for Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).
- #004
When Kaylie (Karen Gillan) shows her brother photographs of the Lasser Glass's previous victims, one of the last victim photos is actually a photograph of actress Kate Siegel, the wife of writer/director Mike Flanagan.
- #005
While writing the two different timelines in the script, Mike Flanagan deliberately wrote the past scenes in italics to avoid confusion.
- #006
It was shot in October 2012 and premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2013, but it did not go into full release until April 2014.
- #007
Stephen King liked the film very much.
- #008
After Kaylie has a night terror near the beginning of the film, in the final shot, as she lies face down, her hands are crossed over her chest like a corpse, foreshadowing her ultimate death.
- #009
At the end of the film, one of the police officers is played by Zak Jeffries, an actor who appeared in the first three films Mike Flanagan made during his college years: Make Believe (2000), Still Life (2001) and Ghosts of Hamilton Street (2003). One of the mirror's past victims is named Oliver Jeffries, which is the name of Zak's son.
- #010
The Bollywood remake of the film is titled Dobaara: See Your Evil (2017).
- #011
"Oculus" is of Latin origin and means "eye".
Characters & Cast (2)
- #012
Karen Gillan was the first choice for the role of Kaylie because Mike Flanagan was a big fan of her work on Doctor Who (2005).
- #013
Garrett Ryan, the actor who plays young Tim, appears in two films in which he feels his future and his old age. The first is this film. The second is Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013), in which he plays young Josh.
Deeper Meaning (2)
- #014
At the auction where the mirror is sold, the auctioneer states that the mirror was taken from the Levesque Mansion. WWE superstar HHH's real name is Paul Levesque, and WWE Studios is one of the producers of this film. However, this is just a strange coincidence… WWE had no involvement with the film until it was completed and premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.
- #015
Making a film centered around a mirror comes with a series of production difficulties, because everything is reflected in the mirror.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- IMDb
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