Movie Review - Ouija

Ouija

(2014)

Universal Pictures / Platinum Dunes / Blumhouse Productions / Hasbro Studios : Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

6.25 / 10

The most amazing thing about this movie is that one of the production companies is the toy company Hasbro, who manufactures the Ouija board.  I find it funny and interesting that they use the movie to push their product... something that will contact the dead and will probably cause your gruesome death.

This is an enjoyable, though a pretty basic, horror movie.  Best friends, Laine and Debbie, play with the Ouija as children obeying the rules that they should be courteous and never play alone.  Years later, Debbie uses the board by herself and strange things start to happen, which results in her growing distant from her friends and boyfriend.  Using the ouija in solitary leads to her violent death.

Laine agrees to house sit for Debbies distraught parents after the funeral as they need to get away.  She realises the board had a part to play in her friend's death so rallies the others to help here prove the idea.  Of course, this is a bad idea and the spirit they contact starts to plague them in their lives.  From here on in, it's a race to save themselves and to solve the mystery of the origin of the board.

There's nothing really new in this film that hasn't been covered before.  The acting of the entire cast is above average and makes the film enjoyable to watch, as is the direction from Stiles White, who co-wrote the story with Juliet Snowden.  Since this is a Blumhouse production there's a cameo from Lin Shaye, who, as always is good in her role (though I will always remember her as the landlady in Kingpin).

This is one of those films that's worth watching if it comes onto telly and there's nothing better on.  At least worth watching once, though I don't think I'll watch it again... though I will watch the sequel when it's on or if I can borrow it from friends.