‘Oculus’: Katee Sackhoff & Rory Cochrane Talk Fear, Empathy and Ugliness (Exclusive Interview)

Even the biggest fan of the genre will admit that most horror movies are, well, horrible. Because of the low budget required and its appeal, both sincere inexperienced filmmakers and cynical businessmen choose to tell dark stories.

But each year a few of these cinematic creatures rise to the top. “Oculus” (in theaters April 11) is one of those horror flicks that is ambitious, effective and engaging. The story follows two young adult siblings that survived a malevolent magical mirror when they were kids.

I sat down with the actors that portray their parents, Katee Sackhoff (Riddick) and Rory Cochrane (Argo). In the exclusive video interview we talk about the elements that drew them to a project that mixes reality with illusion, and much more.

“Ten years ago, tragedy struck the Russell family, leaving the lives of teenage siblings Tim and Kaylie forever changed when Tim was convicted of the brutal murder of their parents. Now in his 20s, Tim is newly released from protective custody and only wants to move on with his life; but Kaylie, still haunted by that fateful night, is convinced her parents’ deaths were caused by something else altogether: a malevolent supernatural force­­ unleashed through the Lasser Glass, an antique mirror in their childhood home.”