KRIS HARRIS
Staff Writer
With Halloween approaching, it’s the perfect time of year to get your scary movie fix. While revisiting horror classics such as “Friday the 13th” or “Nightmare on Elm Street” could entertain you, new movies are coming out that could easily frighten you. “Ouija: Origin of Evil” is one of those films coming out later this week.
“Ouija: Origin of Evil” follows the story of a newly widowed mother in 1960s Los Angeles as she tries to make ends meet by faking seances to uneducated patrons. Yet things take a turn for the worst as her family comes across a Ouija board and tries to summon the undead. Through this act, the youngest daughter of the family, Doris, becomes possessed and begins to wreak havoc as the spirit taking over her tries to drag souls to the underworld.
If the movie seems familiar in any way, it’s because it’s actually a prequel to the 2014 film “Ouija.” Despite being a success at the box office, the film wasn’t well received by critics. While the concept was inventive, using a simple idea of the ouija board as a basis for the film, it was very questionable whether that was strong enough idea to carry the film. Hopefully this time around, those directing Origin of Evil have fined tuned everything to work better, especially with being set in a new era.
In an interview with Dread Central, featured actresses Lulu Wilson and Annalise Basso are hopeful that the film will connect, and of course frighten, audiences.
“With something as sensitive as talking to the dead, there is an element of danger, and everybody likes a bit of risk,” said Basso.
With the ‘60s being the era that the film takes place, Wilson said it was challenging “shooting in modern times [because] it might be easier to capture the look of it all, but with it being in the ‘60s and all they have to really make it look like everything belongs, or it won’t play off well.”
From trailers and previews, it appears that the movie captures the time very well. They also help to build anticipation for the movie, with flashing images of dark ominous figures and Wilson giving extremely menacing looks towards the audiences as the spirit gets ready to attack.
The film features some solid names in Hollywood, including Elizabeth Reaser, who is best known for her work in “Grey’s Anatomy,” “True Detective,” and the infamous Twilight Saga. At the director’s helm is Mike Flanagan, a veteran when it comes to scary movies, having made horror films such as “Hush” and “Oculus.”
“Ouija: Origin of Evil” is being released this Friday, Oct. 21. It is rated PG-13.