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Movie Review: “Ouija”

Published

9 years ago

January 17, 2015

In the paranormal horror movie spectrum there are movies such as“The Evil Dead” on one end, with its no-holds-barred gruesome playfulness. And on the other, “The Babadook”, with its slow, psychological build-up of atmosphere and tension. Universal’s “Ouija” falls somewhere safely in between, tucked like a stale chip in the couch cushions.

“Ouija” is out on DVD Feb. 3rd, but available to rent now on popular streaming movie rental sites.

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I have always been a fan of Asian paranormal horror movies. In these movies, a tormented spirit creates havoc on the living in order for them to solve the mystery of their death. Part of the fun for those types of movies is in trying to figure out how and why the person died in the first place. With the right execution and direction, these movies can be creepy, gruesome and satisfying. “Ouija” is none of those things.

Produced by Michael Bay, Blumhouse Pictures and Platinum Dunes, “Ouija” is another Hasbro toy-inspired movie. Of all the board game-turned-movie scripts, “Ouija” seems like it would be the most fun, but not here, the move falls as flat as the game board itself.

In “Ouija” a young lady named Debbie—is she in college or high school—mistakenly plays with a Ouija board by herself, unleashing a presence who has nothing better to do than kill young adults for reasons vaguely explained. The ghoul’s first victim is Debbie and apparently afraid of a lawsuit, the ghost makes Debbie’s death look like a suicide. Her friend Laine (Olivia Cooke) is distraught and wants answers, asking her friends to play with a Ouija board in the dead girls house. Laine expects the planchette (the spade-shaped pointing device) to spell out answers to Debbie’s death, but what they contact is anything but happy to see them.

After their night of witchboarding, suddenly those involved with the séance begin to die “accidentally”. It is now up to Laine to figure out why and how to stop it. The “Final Destination” series ran this formula into the ground, but at least they did it with an edgy suspense and a flair for misdirection. “Ouija” neither builds suspense, nor does it deliver a creep factor.

Another thing “Ouija” does is get rid of the parents. After Debbie’s wake, her parents, instead of grieving at home like any normal family, must leave on a trip, leaving Laine to tend to the house. Of course this is a set-up just to get the main players in the house alone without the complications of extra logically-thinking characters.

Olivia Cooke (The Quiet Ones, The Bates Motel) in the lead role as Laine, is a capable actress, who in the right lighting looks exactly like Rose Byrne, the mother in the Insidious movies. Cooke has a permanent look of fear and curiosity on her face all throughout the movie, but she manages to generate the only feeling of sympathy from anyone watching who cares. This movie falls on her shoulders, and she carries it very well.

Perhaps trying to capitalize on the success of the Insidious franchise, “Ouija” has Lin Shaye (Insidious 1 & 2) make a cameo as one of the sisters involved with the history of the malevolent spirit. Through an obvious twist, things only get worse for Laine.

“Could this have been a better movie?”

None of this is really scary. Except for some string section orchestral assisted jump scares, and bass heavy “whoomps!” at “surprise” moments, the movie only mildly comes away with being something better than a Veronica Mars paranormal mystery.

What works in “Ouija” is the special effects. I say that because this movie will certainly be played at tween sleepovers around the country with its PG-13 rating. Perhaps to a small clan of pajama party 12-year-olds, the movie might meet its intended audience. To them, the effects will be horrifying, especially in scenes where twine and curved needles are involved.

“Ouija” is a movie that has many ideas, but doesn’t quite make them stand out. The concept is never quite heavy enough to bolster one’s suspension of dis-belief, and therefore the movie suffers from being stuck in between two worlds; tolerable viewing and good horror. The latter should outweigh the former.

“Oujia” is directed by Stiles White and stars Olivia Cooke, Shelley Hennig, Ana Coto, Daren Kagasof, Bianca A. Santos and Douglas Smith. With special appearance by Lin Shaye.

You can order you copy of “Ouija” at Amazon.com.

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Netflix Releases First BTS ‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’ Footage

Published

11 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Timothy Rawles

It’s been three long years since Netflix unleashed the bloody, but enjoyable Fear Street on its platform. Released in a tryptic fashion, the streamer broke up the story into three episodes, each taking place in a different decade which by the finale were all tied together.

Now, the streamer is in production for its sequel Fear Street: Prom Queen which brings the story into the 80s. Netflix gives a synopsis of what to expect from Prom Queen on their blog site Tudum:

“Welcome back to Shadyside. In this next installment of the blood-soaked Fear Street franchise, prom season at Shadyside High is underway and the school’s wolfpack of It Girls is busy with its usual sweet and vicious campaigns for the crown. But when a gutsy outsider is unexpectedly nominated to the court, and the other girls start mysteriously disappearing, the class of ’88 is suddenly in for one hell of a prom night.”

Based on R.L. Stine’s massive series of Fear Street novels and spin-offs, this chapter is number 15 in the series and was published in 1992.

FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN IS NOW IN PRODUCTION 🩸 Welcome to Shadyside High. We're gonna have a killer time. pic.twitter.com/jDl0zRa2CH
— Netflix (@netflix) April 30, 2024

Fear Street: Prom Queen features a killer ensemble cast, including India Fowler (The Nevers, Insomnia), Suzanna Son (Red Rocket, The Idol), Fina Strazza (Paper Girls, Above the Shadows), David Iacono (The Summer I Turned Pretty, Cinnamon), Ella Rubin (The Idea of You), Chris Klein (Sweet Magnolias, American Pie), Lili Taylor (Outer Range, Manhunt) and Katherine Waterston (The End We Start From, Perry Mason).

No word on when Netflix will drop the series into its catalog.

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Live Action Scooby-Doo Reboot Series In Works at Netflix

Published

12 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The ghosthunting Great Dane with an anxiety problem, Scooby-Doo, is getting a reboot and Netflix is picking up the tab. Variety is reporting that the iconic show is becoming an hour-long series for the streamer although no details have been confirmed. In fact, Netflix execs declined to comment.

If the project is a go, this would be the first live-action movie based on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon since 2018’s Daphne & Velma. Before that, there were two theatrical live-action movies, Scooby-Doo (2002) and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004), then two sequels that premiered on The Cartoon Network.

Currently, the adult-oriented Velma is streaming on Max.

Scooby-Doo originated in 1969 under the creative team Hanna-Barbera. The cartoon follows a group of teenagers who investigate supernatural happenings. Known as Mystery Inc., the crew consists of Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Shaggy Rogers, and his best friend, a talking dog named Scooby-Doo.

Normally the episodes revealed the hauntings they encountered were hoaxes developed by land-owners or other nefarious characters hoping to scare people away from their properties. The original TV series named Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! ran from 1969 to 1986. It was so successful that movie stars and pop culture icons would make guest appearances as themselves in the series.

Celebrities such as Sonny & Cher, KISS, Don Knotts, and The Harlem Globetrotters made cameos as did Vincent Price who portrayed Vincent Van Ghoul in a few episodes.

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News

BET Releasing New Original Thriller: The Deadly Getaway

Published

12 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Cameron McFarland

BET will soon be offering horror fans a rare treat. The studio has announced the official release date for their new original thriller, The Deadly Getaway. Directed by Charles Long (The Trophy Wife), this thriller sets up a heart racing game of cat and mouse for audiences to sink their teeth into.

Wanting to break up the monotony of their routine, Hope and Jacob set off to spend their vacation at a simple cabin in the woods. However, things go sideways when Hope’s ex-boyfriend shows up with a new girl at the same campsite. Things soon spiral out of control. Hope and Jacob must now work together to escape the woods with their lives.

The Deadly Getaway is written by Eric Dickens (Makeup X Breakup) and Chad Quinn (Reflections of US). The Film stars, Yandy Smith-Harris (Two Days in Harlem), Jason Weaver (The Jacksons: An American Dream), and Jeff Logan (My Valentine Wedding).

Showrunner Tressa Azarel Smallwood had the following to say about the project. “The Deadly Getaway is the perfect reintroduction to classic thrillers, which encompass dramatic twists, and spine-chilling moments. It showcases the range and diversity of emerging Black writers across genres of film and television.”

The Deadly Getaway will premiere on 5.9.2024, exclusively ion BET+.