Witchboard(1986).At a party, a guest brings out a 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, and despite warnings not to use the board alone, a woman uses it alone, and becomes harassed by the evil spirit, his goal to possess her so he can walk the earth again. Written byEd Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>... Synopsis Witchboard(1986)
Movie Title: Witchboard(1986)
Run Time: 98 min
Rating: 5.3 / 10
Genres: Horror |Mystery |Thriller
Release Date: 13 March 1987 (USA)
Director: Kevin Tenney
Writer: Kevin Tenney... and other credits
Actor: Todd Allen,Tawny Kitaen,Clare Bristol
Whether we believe in them or not, we've all messed around with a Ouija board at some point in our lives. They're great for parties, especially at Halloween time. They're also a great subject for a movie, but haven't been used too often. Two years before his 'Night of the Demons,' Kevin Tenney made this film where we see what can happen when someone doesn't use a Ouija board properly. The result isn't a genre classic, but is a fun and spooky romp.
Pros: Above average performances. Good score, sometimes chilling. Suspenseful direction. Fast paced. Has a good share of humor to keep things from getting too serious. Some effective shocks. Memorable death scenes. Quite well written.
Cons: Nothing new here. Very dated. Detective subplot goes nowhere. Finale could have used more oomph.
Final thoughts: Though not Earth-shattering, Kevin Tenney's film debut is a strong one. In a time when most Horror films featured zombies or masked madmen, 'Witchboard' was something a little different. It's got just about everything a hardcore Horror buff could ask for. Would make a great double feature with Tenney's next film.
My rating: 3.5/5
