The trailer for the next Blumhouse release, Oculus, arrived on Yahoo Movies today. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be released in the US on April 11, 2014.

The trailer provides an eerie atmosphere that is more intriguing than the synopsis might suggest, which is a concept that feels a bit tired, especially coming from Blumhouse. Written and directed by Mike Flanagan, Oculus is the story of Kaylie Russell, a young woman (played by Doctor Who alum Karen Gillan) whose brother is tried and found guilty of murdering their parents. Despite his conviction, Kaylie is convinced that her brother didn’t commit the murders. Instead, she believes that dark forces, somehow tied to an antique mirror, were ultimately responsible for the death of her mom and dad. The film also stars nerd goddess Katee Sackhoff, Brenton Thwaites and Rory Cochrane.

Somewhat tired premise aside, the reviews that came out of the Midnight Madness screenings in Toronto last year were incredibly positive. This probably explains why the film claimed the mid-April horror release date owned by the Evil Dead remake in 2013 and The Cabin in the Woods in 2012. I know this because these releases fall on or around my April 12 birthday every year. Looks like I know what I’ll be doing to celebrate!

The official synopsis for Oculus can be found below:

“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.  Determined to prove Tim’s innocence, Kaylie tracks down the mirror, only to learn similar deaths have befallen previous owners over the past century.  With the mysterious entity now back in their hands, Tim and Kaylie soon find their hold on reality shattered by terrifying hallucinations, and realize, too late, that their childhood nightmare is beginning again…”