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IMDbPro

Ouija

Original title: Witchboard
  • 1986
  • 16
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
9K
YOUR RATING
Tawny Kitaen and J.P. Luebsen in Ouija (1986)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer2:38
1 Video
68 Photos
Folk HorrorSlasher HorrorHorrorMysteryThriller

When his girlfriend becomes dangerously obsessed with a ghost she contacted using a Ouija board, Jim reluctantly joins forces with her ex-his own estranged childhood best friend-to identify ... Read allWhen his girlfriend becomes dangerously obsessed with a ghost she contacted using a Ouija board, Jim reluctantly joins forces with her ex-his own estranged childhood best friend-to identify and exorcise the evil spirit.When his girlfriend becomes dangerously obsessed with a ghost she contacted using a Ouija board, Jim reluctantly joins forces with her ex-his own estranged childhood best friend-to identify and exorcise the evil spirit.

  • Director
    • Kevin Tenney
  • Writer
    • Kevin Tenney
  • Stars
    • Todd Allen
    • Tawny Kitaen
    • Stephen Nichols
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Kevin Tenney
    • Writer
      • Kevin Tenney
    • Stars
      • Todd Allen
      • Tawny Kitaen
      • Stephen Nichols
    • 106User reviews
    • 87Critic reviews
    • 45Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:38
    Trailer

    Photos68

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    Top cast15

    Edit
    Todd Allen
    Todd Allen
    • Jim
    Tawny Kitaen
    Tawny Kitaen
    • Linda
    Stephen Nichols
    Stephen Nichols
    • Brandon
    Kathleen Wilhoite
    Kathleen Wilhoite
    • Zarabeth
    Burke Byrnes
    • Lieutenant Dewhurst
    James W. Quinn
    James W. Quinn
    • Lloyd
    Rose Marie
    Rose Marie
    • Mrs. Moses
    Judy Tatum
    • Dr. Gelineau
    Gloria Hayes
    Gloria Hayes
    • Wanda
    J.P. Luebsen
    J.P. Luebsen
    • Malfeitor
    Susan Nickerson
    • Chris
    Ryan Carroll
    • Roger
    Kenny Rhodes
    Kenny Rhodes
    • Mike
    Clare Bristol
    • Anchorwoman
    Ty Copeman
    Ty Copeman
    • Party Man
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Kevin Tenney
    • Writer
      • Kevin Tenney
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews106

    5.78.9K
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    Featured reviews

    6boblipton

    Well-Done Genre Film

    After her ex-lover shows off a ouija board at a party, Tawny Kitaen finds it at the apartment and tries it out herself. She thinks she is contacting the same shy spirit, but it soon becomes obvious to the audience that some other, malevolent spirit is speaking with her.

    I freely admit I am not fond of straight-up horror movies, with their jump-scares and characters who can't see the obvious dangers that beset them. This one, however, has a good story arc, decent actors (Kathleen Wilhoite as a funky spiritualist is very amusing, until she gets killed by the evil spirit). I suppose I could have done without the moving shots that show clearly there's a mild fish-eyed lens in operation, but it's a pretty good genre piece.
    6gavin6942

    Holds Up Well

    A woman (Tawny Kitaen) finds an interest in her friend Brandon's Ouija Board when he brings the occult tool by her party.

    This was the beginning for much of the crew. Writer-director Kevin Tenney had never written or directed before, Kenney's college friend Gerald Geoffray had never produced before, nor had executive producer Walter Josten. Indeed, much of this came out of Tenney's film school classes.

    Tawny Kitaen was cast because guys in the office were "drooling" during casting when they saw her. Tenney had actually favored another actress, but went with Kitaen because of this perceived charisma. (This casting also was a lucky break, because between filming and release, Kitaen blew up thanks to her infamous Whitesnake videos.) As a side note, O. J. Simpson was dating Kitaen at the time and would visit the set with his red-dyed poodle.

    While not the greatest of the 1980s horror films, one has to admit this still holds up well. In some ways, it is more amusing now (2014) than it ever was originally because of all the 1980s hair and clothing. For example, just look at Zarabeth (Kathleen Wilhoite)... that is some weird 1980s style.

    But really, this is something of a modern classic because what other horror film really captures the danger of the Ouija? None come to mind for me, and it seems like such an obvious choice... well played Kevin Tenney for going with this.

    The Scream Factory disc contains a wealth of bonus features, including two audio commentaries. One of them features Tenney, Gerald Geoffray and Walter Josten, and is excellent, featuring many fine stories, including how much craft services loves doughnuts.
    8baumer

    Accentuates suspense over gore

    This is one of those movies that proves that you don't need a huge budget to make a quality horror film, or any film for that matter, but we are talking horror here. I had read many years ago that this film was made for less than a million dollars and even in 1985 that is chump change. But this film is so pure with it's suspence that you would think it was done by a major Hollywood studio with a ten million dollar budget.

    When a witchboard is discovered it is at first played for fun. But then it becomes an obsession and it takes over the life of the woman that talks to it. A spirit named David is a little boy that may or may not be the spirit that is possessing the Witchboard and sometimes he is nice and other times he is down right nasty. There is also a great horror villains name in this film, Mal Veder, almost sounds like Darth Vader's distant cousin doesn't it?

    What Witchboard does so well is it pays attention to detail and it pays attention to what made some of the great horror movies did. And what this manages to do is treat the camera like it is his best friend. The camera lurks mysteriously behind it's actors and beside them and above them and everywhere else. And what this does is it gives you the illusion that there is someone or something there, and that is the beauty of this film, you don't know if it really is someone or something there. This is great homage to some of the greats like Carpenter and Hitchcock.

    Witchboard is a great 80's horror film and I like it for the fact that it is much more concerned with atmosphere than stupid blood and guts and unneccesary gore. 90's horror should watch films like this and use the same techniques to scare us. Blair Witch may have watched this but films like the Haunting and I Know.... and Idle Hands sure didn't.
    8quridley

    Very original and tasteful for an 80s horror film

    80s horror films are remembered fondly for being fun and over-the-top, but most were fairly unoriginal, gratuitous and campy. Witchboard is special because its not a sequel or a ripoff of anything, isn't made for horny teens or punk rock sadists and it has a genuine interest in the scary subject matter - the occult. Director/writer Kevin S. Tenney would explore demonic possession with more fun and splatter with "Night of the Demons" years later on a bigger budget, but Witchboard is a good preface as its more believable, emotional and mature. I wish it was more exciting at parts but this is an independent horror film with limited means. Anyway its a good contribution to the horror genre for its time and it holds up better than many others.
    horror7777

    Fun, Late-Night Horror

    WITCHBOARD is a fun film that is scary depending on when you watch it. If you watch it at around ten or eleven o'clock at night, you will feel the full scary effects that Kevin S. Tenney wants you to feel. I own a ouiji board and after seeing this film, I don't think I'll ever touch it again. Some users say what this COULD'VE BEEN and all that crap. Truthfully, this film is as good as it could've been and deserves to be re-released so that a new generation of horror fans can appreciate this film for what it's worth and not for what it could've been. **1/2out of****For an enjoyable late-night horror fare.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The house in the film was also used in Waxwork (1988) and Willard (1971). This Los Angeles home has since been "retired" as a filming location.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 4 mins) When the guys are in the library looking at the scans, the name of the cemetery of the child's burial is different from the name that is announced out loud. Additionally, if you look closely, the text constantly repeats itself on the page.
    • Quotes

      Zarabeth: Hang loose, stay cool, and don't forget your psychic humor.

    • Connections
      Featured in Rewind This! (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Bump in the Night
      Performed by Steel Breeze

      Recorded at Moon Recording Studios, Sacramento

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    FAQ19

    • How long is Witchboard?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 13, 1987 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La cuija asesina
    • Filming locations
      • Higgins-Verbeck-Hirsch Mansion - 637 South Lucerne Boulevard, Windsor Square, Los Angeles, California, USA(the house)
    • Production company
      • Paragon Arts International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,369,373
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $95,435
      • Jan 4, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,369,373
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 38m(98 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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