For this year’s 31 Nights of Horror Challenge, the Night 14 prompt is Death by Board Game. We watched the movie Ouija (2014) on Netflix
Storyline
Terror awaits five friends who unwittingly awaken a dark power by using an antique Ouija board.
‘Ouija’ is a disappointingly generic horror film that fails to deliver genuine scares. While Olivia Cooke’s performance stands out as a bright spot and some found moments of suspense effective, the overwhelming consensus criticizes the derivative, clichéd writing that borrows heavily from other horror films without originality. The flat direction, one-dimensional characters, and reliance on predictable jump scares create a boring, unengaging experience that most found forgettable and ineffective as horror entertainment.
Our thoughts on Ouija (2014)
Terribly lame and boring.
Ouija is a classic game that has scared kids for generations. So to make it a prime topic for a horror film is a no-brainer. So what are the chances that the filmmakers actually took the time to write a scary story, or create a scary or intense atmosphere? One would hope so, but this isn’t that type of film. Produced by Platinum Dunes, yes Michael Bay’s film company, Ouija is a bland, by the numbers horror flick that lacks scares and ups the boredom factor.
3 out of 10
Trivia
The film’s tagline, “Keep telling yourself it’s just a game,” was used for several years as the advertising slogan for the Ouija board game.
The name can either be pronounced ‘wee-ja’ or ‘wee-gee’. Charles Kennard, founder of the company manufacturing the boards, claimed he learned the name “Ouija” from asking the board what it wanted to be called.
When re-shoots went underway, in the process of drastically changing Doris Zander’s backstory, two new characters were created including her sister and mother. Lin Shaye, who plays Paulina Zander, was not in the original version of the film and was cast for the re-shot footage.
So what do you think? How many of these scary movies have you seen? Do you have any others to add to the list? Let us know in the comments section and please consider joining our Facebook page, Scary Movies at the Fort. Each October we host the 31 Nights of Horror. Check us out.
Also, be sure to check out our Complete List of Dracula, Frankenstien, Wolfman, and The Mummy, and Universal Monster Movies.
We have compiled our Ultimate Horror Movie Hub
