MovieChat Forums > Oculus (2014) Discussion > [SPOILERS] The problem with the ending i...

[SPOILERS] The problem with the ending isn't that it's a downer...

posted 8 years ago by GasmaskAvenger
5 replies | jump to latest

...but rather that the wrong sibling died.

Had Tim been the one to get killed the device, leaving Kaylie to not only get blamed for her brother's death, but also the death of her fiance, the film would've become an absolute masterpiece of modern horror.

Think about it. The girl who seemingly led a normal life after the her parents' deaths and her brother's institutionalization, suddenly snaps after reuniting with her recently released brother, would've been quite the profound closing statement.

Instead, the ending goes for some lame "repeating the cycle" garbage that weakens the final product a little. Despite that idiocy, the film is still very excellent and chilling enough for me to enjoy it immensely.

I just personally think one vital change would've made the film absolutely perfect for me on every level.

"What's the ugliest part of your body? I think it's your mind."

[–] ichbinsisyphos 8 years ago

I think, the way it turned out was the most possible complete win for the mirror: from the outside it is just a guy who recently got released from a prolonged stay at the asylum who killed his father in the past that now killed his sister with the same kind of delusions of a murderous mirror, yelling the same insane *beep* while being dragged away. No reasons to doubt at all.

I will now end this debate with you.

[–] ldarrisa-1 8 years ago

I liked the way it ended too- the poor guy, he was completely *beep* with, he not only lived and 'got through' a terrible childhood experience, he then has to contend with the complete mind *beep* that his sister presents- that all his nightmares WERE real- and he totally grapples with it, he's trying so hard to be the voice of reason but the mirror tricks him!! It completely played him!! And the kicker is, because of his past- NOBODY WILL BELIEVE HIM. It was beautiful, a complete tragedy. I loved this movie, it was heartbreakingly and creepy, all those good things. I kinda wished though there was an extra post credit scene where the mirror is stored as evidence at the police station and they all go slowly mad....Oh oh- sequel!!!!!!

[–] dwellman21 8 years ago

You know what, I think I agree with this alternate ending. It would've been such a gutpunch to see her try SO hard to prove this mirror evil, only for it to turn the tables on her and take out another family member, her brother that she had to guilt-trip to even be there in the first place. Maybe it was a good thing that she tried to destroy the mirror so it wouldn't destroy another family, but at the same time maybe it was a bit selfish of her to put that task upon herself and drag a reluctant Tim into it. She was indeed taking it VERY personal, so that would've been the ultimate *beep* You victory for the mirror with your ending.

[–] Emathy 8 years ago

I agree that Kaylie being the survivor would have been a better ending for the dramatic reasons mentioned, but I'm surprised no one mentioned the real problem with this movie: the mirror is too damn powerful. It doesn't seem to have a single weakness. I hated the ending not because they lost, but because there was nothing they could do to keep their promise. If a clear method to destroy the mirror *even while under its influence* (<-- necessary or the film would be 2 minutes long) was discovered, and they tried but failed at carrying out that method, then cool. The mirror wins. But instead it was just a waiting game for the inevitable loss of the siblings, with the mirror manipulating them the whole damn time.

The crack on the mirror even seemed like foreshadowing that they would "finish" the job, so this along with the invincible antagonist were the biggest disappointments. I also hoped for an explanation as to why it didn't make them hallucinate (except for seeing the woman) as children, but I suppose the mirror might not have accumulated quite enough power to go beyond its first two chosen victims yet, so I give that one a pass.

[–] NovakGrey 8 years ago

When the siblings where younger they were not allowed anywhere near the mirror, i took that as to why the mirror didn't 'play' with them back then. I think IT needs to have the victims look into the mirror to actually start the phenomenons.

At the beginning, it only started when Kaylie uncovered the mirror at the storehouse and looked into it that she started to see those 3 statues with blankets.

It's like the mirror is sucking the life of everything in his vicinity, the siblings only felt it way faster because they were confronting it.