Mike Flanagan picks up the mantle here with a prequel to the somewhat uninspired 2014 'Ouija', presenting 'Ouija: Origin of Evil' a prequel that takes us 50 years into the past, and fleshes out the backstory that drove the original films core plotting.

Here? we're introduced to the 'Zander' family. Lina, Doris and mother Alice, who; when they arnt struggling to make ends meet, or trying their best at school. Are running a fortune telling and 'mystic' service out of their house for people struggling with losses and offering contact with the dearly departed…

Theres just two things, one being that the entire thing is a sham, using magnets, cold reading and pre rigged devices they create the illusion of spirits contacting them…But also; the family themselves are dealing with the pain of loss, as the father of the household was recently killed in a drink driving accident.

When Lina attends a hip 'older teen' party, she not only ends up on that old devil 'Hooch' but she and her older friends start meddling with the hot new toy of the decade…The 'Ouija' board. Inspired by its supernatural and fun edge. Lina convinces Alice to bring one into her readings as a way to add to the atmosphere.

Unbeknownst to Alice or the family however, a malevolent spirit with a traumatic and violent past stalks the house. and when youngest daughter Doris ends up using the board unsupervised, it creates the perfect opportunity for terrifying vengence…

And its pretty much smiles all round from me on this one. I thought the original 'Ouija' was a rather slow, poorly plotted, overtly generic, heavy handed 'haunted house' horror film that wasnt inherently BAD…but was a VERY basic offering, that wasnt something I could exactly sing the praises of.

'Origin of Evil' by contrast is a much more stable and solid production in almost every regard, and while it does have problems of its own, it does manage to really build and improve on what it initially attempted.

The script is still a touch on the basic side plot wise, it essentially feels like 1 part 'Halloween', to one part 'The Exorcist', to two parts 'The Conjuring'…But the elements all blend together rather well, the pacing is consistent and smoother/quicker than the original film, the characters feel much better fleshed out with actual character arcs and more complex feelings that are dealt with across the runtime. The dialogues tighter, the act structuring is rock solid and has a great smooth transition period.

However; while this is a significant step in the right direction over the original, it isnt without its faults. This being a prequel, a LOT of the plot twists and turns have been defanged by the original film. the joy of a good prequel isnt so much the twists and turns, more how the film makers take the audience on a journey. And while this films 'journey' is quite enjoyable and good fun. The story as it plays out here doesnt *quite* align with what was talked about in the original film, and I found it quite hard to try and detatch what happens in the original film set in the present day, with the events portrayed here. Its a rare occasion where i'd actually suggest watching the prequel BEFORE You watch the original film, as I think the narrative and vibes would flow better that way, than the other way around.

The other issue this film has? is just HOW heavy handed it is with the 60s aesthetic. The first film was quite blunt in its intentions…But this film is a wrecking ball of a movie when it comes to trying to set it in the 1960s…theres no subtlety here, and it DESPERATELY tries to cram every square inch of the film with 60s references…badly. To the point where, even someone like myself who can appreciates a contemporary 'period' piece was like 'Guys…less is more! please!'…

Its hammered so hard that it kind of detracts from the core story…and because (in my opinion) it isnt even handled all that WELL, it at times made the film feel like it was more of a 'direct to video' piece, than a theatrical offering.

Other than that though, its pretty much smooth sailing from there. The direction is a definite big step up with WAY more creative visuals, some genuinely unsettling concepts peppered throughout and a fantastic colour palette, set design and general 'vibe' the whole thing feels a lot more colourful, vibrant and detailed than the previous film.

Cast directions equally more detailed, with much more work put into cast placement, the kill sequences and delivery work. the cast confidently move around the set, and other than a couple of slightly flubby dialogue bits and maybe a wobbly pseudo CGI sequences. its really quite well handled.

The cine has some actually pretty unsettling compositions that are 'studio' quality follow the rules of thirds and work really nicely with the colour grade to bring the best out of the work…It would have been nice maybe to have had a bit more light play, as a lot of the shots here look a little bit flat in my opinion, but its a small gripe really for something thats pretty solid really.

The edits a little looser than I personally would have liked, sequences dont flow quite as smoothly as I feel they could do and some now slightly creaky CG doesnt help matters. Its a competent edit. But thats all it is, something that gets the job done…but didnt knock my socks off.

Performance wise credit really has to go to Elizabeth Reaser as Alice, who arguably gives the strongest performance in this film, getting a LOT of range to work with, and barely missing a beat across the runtime. Shes fantastic in this. Analise Basso as Lina for me was frustrating. She *just* misses the mark consistently for me across the runtime. delivering things either a bit too detached or a bit too bluntly for my liking. Its not a bad performance, it just doesnt fit the bill for me. The reason why its frustrating? Because in the final few minutes of the movie, she gives the EXACT tone and style of performance that I felt she should have had for the full runtime. a painful glimpse into what might have been…

Throw in a somewhat middling soundtrack that half heartedly mixes generic synth and string horror ambience with a stab at the 'Insideous – Creepy music from the 30s, 40s and early 60s' that lands tepid for me and didnt really set the right mood. It was a bit of a letdown honestly.

Ultimately? I can absolutely recommend this film to anyone who likes a good 'Haunted House' with paranormal elements feature. its a solid watch that can be seen without having to watch the original 'Ouija' and I VERY much implore you to just stick with this one as a 'one and done' rather than doing it in release order.

This entry has everything you need and a bit more, and while it isnt the greatest horror film in the world. Its a very solid contender and definitely worth your time as a pre-game watch during Spooky season!

source https://letterboxd.com/tytdreviews/film/ouija-origin-of-evil/