I tend to look at reviews and ratings before I see a movie, so my expectations were pretty high for Ouija: Origin of Evil, and let me say- it did not disappoint.
Alice Zander (Elizabeth Reaser) is a fortune teller that hosts seances full of theatrics staged by Alice and her daughters, Paulina or “Lina" (Annalise Basso) and Doris (Lulu Wilson). She uses it as a way to help people find closure, admitting to her daughters that it’s not real in the least. Lina gets busted out drinking with her friends and playing with a Ouija board, which she suggests her mother should add to her act to spice it up a little. Alice does just that, and when testing the magnetically rigged board, she proceeds to break all three of the game’s rules in one sitting. Oops. Unbeknownst to Alice, when she was using the board, she contacted a spirit by the name of Marcus, who spoke through Doris, who would be the focus of the plot from then on.
First off, the old Universal Pictures title card and the actual movie title just looked cool. I loved the feel of the house as well. The parts of it that were warm, inviting, and reminded me of my own house became conduits for terror. There were some features I wished they had used more though, particularly the cabinet with the bellows that Doris sat in at the beginning.
The special effects were great, for the most part. I don’t love the design of the “evil spirits” but it’s not bad. It’s always fantastic when a horror movie doesn’t overuse gore and CGI. Origin of Evil was at a perfect level with both. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate slasher films as much as the next horror enthusiast, but it’s incredibly difficult to scare me and blood doesn’t cut it. Origin of Evil, on the other hand? I’m going to be seeing Doris’ cracking neck in my nightmares, I know it. Her stretched jaw was even creepier in theaters.
Something that I wasn’t expecting and you’ll have to be in a theater to experience is the film’s utilization of the Dolby Digital sound system. You know, the thing with the bouncing ball animation that’s “all around you”. I feel like the surround sound is so rarely used to it’s full potential, but Origin of Evil used it to accent scenes without getting annoying or feeling too unnatural. You could literally hear Doris walking around above you.
Another little thing that I loved was the background action. Seeing Doris do things behind the characters you were meant to be focusing on reminded me of frightening situations in real life. It felt like looking in the mirror and thinking you see something strange over your shoulder. Origin of Evil is definitely a movie you need watch at least twice to check for things that you missed the first time around. I have a feeling I will notice details that will only make the film better for me.
If you’re looking for a movie to see this Halloween, Ouija: Origin of Evil is a great choice. It’s effective use of atmosphere, jumpscares, and general creepiness will both frighten and, in a way, delight you. I wouldn’t say it’s the pinnacle of film, or even horror films, but it’s a leap in the right direction.
