Witchboard (1986)

Today was a long day. Between one daughter at taking a walk back in time to the colonial era at FestiFall and another one at softball practice, it felt like I never sat down. When I did finally find time to relax, I decided to venture into the 1980s for my next flick, the 1986 classic Witchboard.

Plot/ At a party, a guest brings out an Ouija board, and they attempt to contact a spirit he knows. The spirit does appear, but it becomes apparent to the one who brought the Ouija board that this is an evil spirit that is impersonating his spirit.

This was one of my favorites back in the 1980s and I have seen it many times and it never fails to entertain. Yes, it does feel a touch dated when I watch it today, but that is only a minor flaw in the film. This one is great for the Halloween season and one that adds to the lore of the Ouija Board. The performances are solid, the soundtrack does a great job promoting the mood, the cinematography is outstanding, and the scripting and overall storyline is both entertaining and interesting. Sure, there are a few parts of the film that feels a little underdeveloped and the ending may feel a touch forced, but those areas do nothing to hurt the movie. In the end, this one is well worth watching and is a great example of what horror could be without the crazy gore that was quite popular during the decade. If you have not seen it, check it out on Shudder, you too should enjoy it.

The Possession Experiment (2016)

As I said in one of my last entries, I have been focused on finishing After the Static over the past few days and haven’t had the time to switch gears into review mode. While that has been the case most of this week, I did have a chance to watch a few different movies to help keep the motivation up. Next up for review is the 2016 entry The Possession Experiment.

Plot/ When a student takes on a theology project, he taps into another side that had been hidden away from him.

This was an extremely frustrating film to both watch and review because of the amount of unevenness that’s on hand. The opening sequence was amazing and really sucked me in. Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there with uneven production values, flat and underdeveloped characters, too many clichés and flashbacks, and rough performances throughout the movie. The opening scene with the exorcism was amazing and had the film maintained that quality and depth it had the potential to be something much better than it is. Yes, I do understand that it had a lower budget, but even with that, the movie could have been much better. In the end, there are much better films out there for you to watch and I would recommend you finding one of those instead of venturing into this one.

OUIJA: Origin of Evil (2016)

Supernatural movies are always fun, especially when the subject matter is something that is tangible (at least from a certain perspective). One such topic is the OUIJA Board, and whether it is a tool for darkness or a simple game. Personally, I have no real opinion on the legitimacy of the talking board, and where it should be placed, but it is an interesting topic for movies to explore. For my next review, I will be diving into the 2016 entry Ouija: Origin of Evil.

Plot/ In 1965 Los Angeles, a widowed mother, and her 2 daughters add a new stunt to bolster their séance business and unwittingly invite authentic evil into their home. When a supernatural spirit overtakes the youngest daughter, the family confronts unthinkable fears to save her and send her possessor back to the other side.

It is rare for a sequel to live up to the expectations set by the source material. That being said, it is even more rare for a sequel to surpass an original, but that is the case with Ouija: Origin of Evil. This movie is so much better than the original, and as a prequel, it makes me wonder what could have been if the entire series was as good as this entry. This flick has a dark, almost creepy atmosphere, some solid performances, and a storyline that is engaging and interesting. Yes, there are some predictable moments and some of the actions of the characters make little sense, but those elements do not really bring the flick down in any way. In the end, the retro feel, interesting storyline, and overall quality make it the best of the series, and a lot better than I expected when I went to see it with one of my daughters.

Ouija Summoning (2015)

Sometimes movies are not what you expect. While most of the time when this happens, you become frustrated, but when it is for the best, you should celebrate. That was the case tonight with my next movie, 2015s Ouija Summoning (AKA You Will Kill).

Plot/ After a game with a spirit board goes horribly wrong, a vengeful spirit forces Sara to either kill one of her loved ones herself or watch them all die. 

When I sat back to watch this flick, I had no idea what to expect. Usually, after reading the synopsis and looking at the case, I do, but because I did not pick this one out, I did not even have that. What I found was interesting, and different from what I would have guessed from the title. The performances were solid, the cinematography was good, and for the budget, there were more positives than negatives. Sure, there were some disjointed moments and the scripting never really settled onto a theme, but even with that, there were enough positives to at least keep me interested. In the end, if the movie had stayed on a specific track, it would have been even better. Between the Ouija Board foundations, the possession elements, the demonic forces, and the overall supernatural themes, there is just too much going on to allow you to settle in and fully embrace everything. I did enjoy this low budget entry, but it will not be for everyone. If you are searching for some type of supernatural themed entertainment, you could do worse. Give it a shot!

Exorcist: House of Evil (2016)

Sometimes I forget to check my enthusiasm at the door when selecting movies. As a huge fan of the Exorcist, I love reading and watching anything about the real case that inspired the classic. Unfortunately, this also opens the door to some material that I should have skipped. That was definitely the case with 2016s, Exorcist: House of Evil.

Plot/ Based on a true story, shot in the Real Exorcist House, a young woman returns to her old family home, the site of an infamous exorcism and discovers the devil never left.

When I saw this at Family Video, I was excited. Some of the elements mentioned on the packaging sounded awesome. Of course, I should have known better than to be wrapped up by the packaging. While this film had some potential, it in no way reaches that point and suffers from a myriad of issues with no atmosphere, a clichéd storyline with played out dialog, and not a single worthwhile scare. Even the performances were uneven and the characters flat. Fortunately, the first few minutes weren’t that back and it provided at least some hope (even if it faded quickly). In the end, there were really no qualities that made this film stand out in any way and it became extremely forgettable. Stay away; there are much better options.

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

With my day at Universal Studios behind me, and Islands of Adventure on tap for tomorrow, I decided to kick back and catch up on some of the movies I have watched in the past few weeks. Next up on the schedule is the 2016 true story, The Conjuring 2.

Plot/ Lorraine and Ed Warren travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by a malicious spirit.

This was one of the few movies that I decided to catch when it came out. More importantly, I was able to catch it at the drive-in, something that just helps create even more atmosphere than usual. Fortunately, that just took this one to a different level. I will admit that this was one sequel that was better than the source material. Everything worked really well with a strong cast, a tight storyline, and some solid atmosphere that permeated through the entire film. The casting is perfect. Unfortunately, I did not find this one as scary as many proclaimed. While I love the true aspects of the tale and wanted to be scared, for me, it played it too safe. In the end, this was a fun sequel and interesting story that fit perfectly within the Conjuring mythos, and it was a movie that should be seen.

The Ouija Exorcism (2015)

Before I decided to start my American Horror Story: Freakshow marathon, I decided that I wanted to watch one last movie. After some thought, I settled on the 2015 low budget flick The Ouija Exorcism.

Plot/ In 1985, a celebrated exorcist trapped a horrific demon inside an Ouija Board. Thinking the board to be a game, his son played without obeying the rules, and let the demon loose. In order to save his son, the exorcist sent him far away until the demon could be destroyed. Thirty years later, and after his death, his grandson finds the board and makes the same mistake his father did.

This is the first exorcism movie I will be reviewing this weekend, and of the two that I watched, this one fails miserably at creating anything close to entertainment. In fact, it is in the running with Martian Land as the worst of the week. The coolest thing about this movie, and probably the only thing worth mentioning is the board itself. This was one of the coolest props I have seen in an Ouija Board themed flick. From there, everything goes awry. The performances are uneven and uninspired, the characters are flat, the storyline/scripting is rough, and the effects go from bad to worse. Honestly, this may be one of the worst exorcism or Ouija Board films I have seen. In the end, even if you are searching for something to watch and have minimal choices, stay away from this one. It is that bad.

Ouija (2014)

One of the movies that had my kids excited in 2014 was Ouija. While I thought the idea could have potential, there were many reasons why I waited on it to be released on DVD. That happened this week and my kids had me in line to pick it up. Last night, we picked it up and now the review.

Plot/ A group of friends must confront their most terrifying fears when they awaken the dark powers of an ancient spirit board.

My kids really wanted to see this one, and I decided to pick it up when it came out. Fortunately, they did enjoy it, even if it was extremely predictable and flawed. The storyline is imbalanced and clichéd, the performances are flat and the characters unlikable, the pace was imbalanced, and there was no atmosphere whatsoever. In fact, there was very little in this movie that makes it entertaining in any way. In the end, this was great for my tweens, but was a miserable for me as a horror fan. If you enjoy supernatural horror, stay away!

The Paranormal Diaries: Clophill (2013)

As I continue to work on tweaking my fiction assignment for the week, I needed to find something to work as background clutter. While there are many flicks out there that would work, I definitely wanted something with some realism. In the end, I decided on the 2013 British flick, The Paranormal Diaries: Clophill.

Plot/ 50 years after an incident, the Clophill legend remains etched on the psyches of the local populace. In 2010, a documentary team was assembled to investigate the legend of the Clophill witches and to try to uncover the truth behind the paranormal events. What followed during that long weekend at Clophill was a terrifying journey into the unknown.

OK, I am a sucker for these found-footage mockumentary flicks. While this movie is not anything new or anything special, it does come across as something a touch more refined than most. Based on a real location that is full of mysterious history, there is a touch of realism added to the movie. Sure, there is little action and it plays more like an episode from one of the many paranormal shows, but there are at least some interesting moments that make me as an investigator smile. In the end, this one is definitely not for everyone. But, if you enjoy paranormal documentaries or television shows, give it a shot; you may like it.

Haunter (2013)

This has been a strange week. Between crazy weather and a rogue illness, I have had a rough week. Honestly, when I sleep for over 13 hours straight in an night, there is something wrong with me. On top of that, I just lacked energy and did not watch anything. This weekend I did get caught up on my health and with some movies. First up, the 2013 ghost story Haunter. 

Plot/ The ghost of a teenager who died years ago reaches out to the land of the living in order to save someone from suffering her same fate. 

The ghost story genre has been more bad than good in recent years, with found-footage and handcam movies being all the rage. This ghost story was one that came with a bit of a surprise. Complete with an interesting and layered storyline and some solid acting this one had the potential to be even better. Unfortunately, the repetitive script and lack of overall atmosphere never allows the mood to build into any consistent scares. In the end, this one is better than most and is actually an original ghost story. Yes, it is flawed, but most films are flawed in some way. Give it a shot. 

Satanic (2006)

After revisiting Lizzy Borden, I decided to venture back into the flicks that sit in my review backlog. Honestly, I had very few options.  Being in the middle of a deep freeze, it is hard to watch something I arm interested in with the girls constantly awake since school has been closed or delayed because of the sub-zero temps. In catching up, I decided to go back to the 2006 indie entry Satanic. 

Plot/ The powers of darkness converge to claim the soul of a young girl who may have made a deal with the devil. After a devastating car accident claims the life of her father, Michelle wakes up in a hospital with no recollection of the events leading up to the traumatic tragedy. 

Low budget horror can go many different ways, and often it leaves you scratching your head wondering what you just watched. That is definitely the case with this one, as there are very few redeeming qualities to even mention. Yes, there is nudity and some interesting cinematography moments, but that in no way can save this one from the weight of the incoherent and hole-filled script. The CGI is bad, the characterization worse, and the acting is extremely uneven. In the end, there are much better low budget flicks out there, you can definitely pass on this one.

The Ouija Experiment (2011)

While our weather did not improve all that much on Sunday, it did allow me a chance to sit back and do some relaxing. I did have to finish some homework, but that was only a small trip into work mode. Now, to catch up on some of my weekend viewing, the 2011 low budget flick, The Ouija Experiment. 

Plot/ Five friends decide to videotape their experimental sessions with an Ouija board in an attempt to create a viral video that is sure to make them famous. Personal drama causes members of the group to forget to maintain focus on the game's important rules and soon fall prey to the evil entities that occupy the board. 

This low budget entry has has been a challenge to get a hold of. Incredibly, it was always out when I went in to Family Video, that was until yesterday when I grabbed it. Of course, being a low budget flick with a small unknown cast, I figured there would be some issues, and there were. While the story was interesting and there were some creepy moments, it did not hold my attention throughout. One major reason was the overacting, which was evident from the first minutes of the film. Couple that with the uneven pacing and lack of flow and it was a difficult viewing experience. In the end, while the story had some potential, the opportunity to reach that was missed. Unless you have it on your bucket list to watch everything with Ouija Boards, I would pass.

Grave Encounters 2 (2012)

Yesterday when I took a break from my homework for my Digital Literacy class, I decided to watch some mindless flicks on Netflix. Luckily, the kids left me alone, so I had enough time for two flicks. While neither is truly memorable in the long run, there was some debate on which one to review first. After some thought, I decided on Grave Encounters 2 from 2012.

Plot/ A film student who is obsessed with the movie Grave Encounters sets out with his friends to visit the psychiatric hospital depicted in the original film.

This was a sequel that I had mixed feelings about for a long time before deciding to watch it. Sequels to found footage films are usually difficult to pull off, and that was evident in this one. Sure, it is not terrible, as the storyline had potential to a point and there were some weird moments, but nothing groundbreaking. Unfortunately, everything felt clichéd, with a lack of characterization and development, some disjointed dialogue and the acting did not measure up to the original. In fact, none of it measured up to the original, something that dooms this right out of the gate. In the end, there are some entertaining spots and it is far from the worst of its kind. If you are a fan of the original or found footage flicks, check it out, but be warned it is far from perfect.