Ouija: Origin of Evil

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Ouija: Origin of Evil was THE movie I’d written off as probably being a terrible movie before I’d even seen a trailer. After all, the first movie wasn’t exactly The Exorcist. Surprisingly, Ouija 2 is a fairly effective horror movie. Alice Zander (played by Elizabeth Reaser) runs a seance scam operation with her daughters, Lina (Annalise Basso) and Doris (newcomer Lulu Wilson) as a way to give families closure. One day, the mother brings home a ouija board to incorporate into their act. This movie is a prequel to the first movie, following the family that first came into contact with an evil spirit. Doris breaks one of the cardinal rules of playing with a ouija board, and an evil spirit latches on to her. Ouija 2 has the look and feel of 1960s, and director Mike Flanagan adds some much needed flair to really spice the franchise potential up. This is a movie that relies on its characters and performances over cheap, forced, and lazy jump scares (which are nowhere to be found in this movie). The atmosphere and slow-burn-style buildup is actually very effective. I found myself really invested in the family dynamic between the mother and her daughters, particularly the elder daughter. This family is fleshed out and thoroughly relatable. Their problems are issues most families go through regularly. The story is admittedly a touch predictable (though that could partially be because of the first Ouija film). The slow pace is going to be a turnoff for some people, but I like that this movie took its time. Ouija: Origin of Evil ultimately works because of great performances, writing, and directing, making for a prequel that should have been the franchise starting point for the Ouija series. If you were someone who didn’t care for the first movie, check this one out. 

9 / 10