Extra Cinema: Oculus (15)

Starring: Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites, Katee Sackhoff

She was the flame-haired heroine to the mysterious “raggedy-man” who was Doctor Who and proved to be one of the most memorable of companions.

However, Karen Gillan has moved on — no more Daleks.

Her first foray into Hollywood sees her battling another form of evil.

Something terrible happened to Kaylie and her brother Tim when they were young: something to do with an ornate mirror in their father’s study.

The siblings soon realise the mirror contains some form of evil which is manipulating their parents.

An incident occurs and Tim shoots his dad (Rory Cochrane) and is promptly incacerated for the crime.

Before being taken by the police, he and Kaylie make a pact to destroy the mirror (and its evil secrets).

Tim is finally released on the occasion of his 21st birthday and, much to his annoyance, his sister reminds him of his promise.

Initially skeptical, Tim is slowly drawn back in to believing there is a battle to be waged: but what is the terrible price that must be paid?

This movie won’t be short of sci-fi geeks lining up to see it as it has two icons from that sphere — Gillan and Katee Sackhoff.

The film looks like it began its existence as a short and was expanded upon, but the cast manage well despite the limitations.

It just didn’t seem that scary, at the end of the day, and that’s what it needed to be.

Rating: 7/10