Right of the bat, Oculi is a great film. Dont' let the words "low budget" scare you. It doesn't define the movie. It's just the framework that the director Joachim Askjer had to work within. And like any framework, if you know your subject matter well, you can make wonders. Just like a good chef can make flavorful tasting food with little to no ingredients, a good director can make a story shine.
And Oculi shines indeed.
It doesn't waste time, and it pulls you straight in.
The introduction of the main character is immediate and impactful: Martin, a blind guy, who's kind of lonely, and who wants to find someone to love.
Now if you're like me you would't expect much of that premise alone. Well, this is where Joachim takes you on an unexpected journey. First, let me note the visual toolbox used here. You are almost always viewing the world and other people from the perspective of Martin. The people Martin talk to are some times shot out of focus, and some times with extreme close ups, or with dutch angles. It's not off putting. You almost feel like you get to experience what a blind person is experiencing. This is incredibly effective storytelling.
Now, the fact that Martin is blind is the actual premise of the film in my opinion, or it's the great obstacle to overcome, the source of high tension, and also the strength of the movie. This is really clever, and it just works.
Martin steps into a dangerous and mysterious plot, and with some help of a good friend, they manage to maneuver through the story in a way that both keeps you on the edge of your seat and it also makes for some good laughs.
I actually felt tension when I saw this in the theater. That's an impressive feat, and a rare one these days. And for a low budget film, where the director did everything himself, it just makes me more impressed.
I mean when you actually care about the characters, about what happens to them, and you also don't know what the outcome will be..
Oculi is this and more.
If you have a chance to see it in a theater do it.
