Director: Mike Flanagan
Writer: Mike Flanagan, Jeff Howard
Cast: Elizabeth Reaser, Lulu Wilson, Annalise Basso and Henry Thomas
Widow Alice Zander makes a living comforting the bereaved by performing seances. Unfortunately, Alice has no supernatural abilities and has to rely on help from her young daughters to aid her endeavors. On an impulse, Alice decides to freshen up her act and incorporates an Ouija board into the show. The seemingly innocent board proves to be a gateway to the afterlife which summons an entity hellbent on tormenting all who enter the house. When the vengeful spirit takes hold of Alice’s youngest daughter, little Doris Zander, the family is forced to confront the demons they unleashed and face a threat they never believed existed.
Ouija: Origin of Evil is the prequel to Ouija (2014). This new installment provides the backstory to the spirit haunting the first film. Fans of Ouija will recall the story of a vengeful spirit. This film is the story of how that spirit was created and the atrocities surrounding the spirit that created it. Horror prequels are often like funhouse mirrors offering a never-ending reflection with limitless possibilities while maintaining a central theme. The story here is familiar and predictable to most horror fans with a few twists and terrifying turns. True quotecorner.com/vardenafil.html horror aficionados will enjoy counting the various nods to other films like Poltergeist, The Exorcist, and Amityville Horror. The director obviously loves horror films and it shows in the creepy disturbing imagery of this film. The creepiest element of this film is Lulu Wilson’s Doris. At the start of the film she’s a sweet adorable little girl but by the end, you want to forget her and her disturbing new friends. Wilson is the vehicle driving this movie and she is stupendous. One of the best scenes in the film is her warning monologue to her big sis’s new suitor in which she describes death by strangulation in alarming detail then ends her speech with a creepy smile. In addition to Doris’ antics, the film uses shadows, disembodied voices and our own fear of the afterlife to terrify audiences.
Anyone who still jumps at loud noises, talks to the screen, and sleeps with the lights on after a horror movie will enjoy Ouija: Origin of Evil. If you’re a jaded horror film know it all, who counts movie references, predicts the entire film and points out plot holes, this movie will provide just enough missteps to keep your black little heart entertained. Ouija: Origin of Evil opens nationwide Friday, October 21st.