Movie Title: Ouija: Origin of Evil
First Watch / Repeat Viewing
Running Time: 1 hr. 39 min.
Rated: PG-13
Who did I watch with?: Flying Solo
Where did I watch it?: Home
Review:
Ouija: Origin of Evil is a prequel to the movie Ouija which I have not seen and I assume many others have not as well. I honestly only watched this because it came highly recommended. The original is not necessary for viewing and would probably hinder the enjoyment of this movie if I had to guess.
Alice Zander (Elizabeth Reaser) is a con artist. She brings visitors into her house for seances and with the help of her two children Lina (Annalise Basso) and Doris (Lulu Wilson) pull the wool over their eyes. The set-up is elaborate and there are many people that come to see them which are very skeptical. Some of the seances do not go well and Alice ends up in the hole. She can’t charge money if someone is scared half to death by one of her children after all. Alice’s husband was recently killed in a drunk driving accident and the family is about to lose their home.
Lina sneaks out one night to a friend’s house where they fiddle with a Ouija board. She thinks it is neat and has her mother get one to aid in the show. Doris toys around with it and discovers that she can genuinely use it. She can not only speak to the spirits, she can see them too. Strange occurrences begin around the house. A sheet is pulled off someone sleeping in the middle of the night. Doris develops a mysterious pain in the neck. Suddenly it isn’t clear if everything that came through the Ouija board is quite as wholesome as Alice originally assumed.
The movie has a nicely done 60s setting and a style in the type script that I greatly enjoyed. It feels authentic, especially for a period horror movie. The performances are capable though none stand out as particularly remarkable. I liked the design of the primary antagonist a lot as well.
Verdict:
Ouija: Origin of Evil is a genuinely (and unexpectedly) creepy movie with great 60s decor. See it.
Tomorrow’s Movie: Re-Animator (1985)
