Ouija is the new thriller from Michael Bay, Platinum Dunes and Blumhouse. It is based on the board game by Hasbro. After Laine’s best friend Debbie dies in an apparent suicide, she discovers an antique Ouija board in Debbie’s room and she wants to use it to say goodbye to her friend. They seem to make contact and Laine is desperate to find out if Debbie really did kill herself or, if there was something more sinister at work.
She assembles her array of siblings, BFF’s and boyfriends and together they sensibly call Debbie on the Ouija board. A message spells out ‘Hi Friend’ but unfortunately for them it’s not Debbie but a much darker entity that stalks each one of them with fatal consequences.
The main problem with Ouija is the story and script by Juliet Snowden and Stiles White (also directing). They also were also responsible for penning recent horror; ‘The Possession’. Ouija’s storyline and dialogue is so devoid of any creativity or originality you could have cut and pasted from any number of similarly themed films.
Anything that’s vaguely spooky is ruined by a 4000 decibel screech or explosion from one of the films many jump-scares that go off throughout like gun shots. When the gas stove lights by itself you’d be forgiven for thinking the Hindenburg had landed in the adjacent screen. The best thing about Ouija is the cast led by Olivia Cooke as Laine. She’s best known for starring in the TV series ‘Bates Motel’ and the recent Hammer Horror ‘The Quiet Ones’.
Cooke is supported by a cast of young faces from various US TV shows and they’re all pretty decent considering what they have to work with. There’s also a cameo from Lin Shaye to give some exposition on the background of the haunting. Apart from that the cinematography is decent and the pace moves along quite quickly. I’m not quite sure what kind of marketing strategy this is from Hasbro’s point of view. I can’t say I’d run down to Toys-R-Us and buy one for the kids after seeing all the trouble it can get you into. Warning: after use demons may sew up your orifices with dental floss. Not suitable for under 5’s.
As a horror fan I’m not the target audience for Ouija. It will probably fare very well with younger teenagers who aren’t fussed about horror films but will want a quick shriek at Halloween or the next slumber party. If you want a great teen horror then look out for ‘It follows’ next year, proof that you can make a teen chiller that is stylish, intelligent and scary. This year go and see ‘The Babadook’, It’s fantastic and a million miles away from the tepid and forgettable chills of Ouija.
OVERALL SUMMARY
Ouija Bored
