Ouija - Origin Of Evil: "Let Her Go. Speak To Me. I'm A Vessel. I Can Hep You"

Director: Mike Flanagan 
Writer:    Jeff Howard
                Mike Flanagan
Starring: Elizabeth Reaser
                Annalise Basso
                Lulu Wilson 
                Henry Thomas
                Parker Mack
                Doug Jones
                Michael Weaver       
Rating:    *****

Release Date: Out Now   

I am going to be honest and admit that I haven't seen the original Ouija film from 2014. But seeing as Origin of Evil is a prequel and the first film was critically destroyed, I don't see it as being a massive problem. Ouija: Origin of Evil is a terrifying experience, that relies purely on tension building and superb performances to bring the chills and jumps.

Lulu Wilson & Elizabeth Reaser

In 1965 Los Angeles, widow, Alice Zander (Reaser) is doing the best she can for her two daughters, Paulina and Doris (Basso & Wilson). In her version of her doing her best, she has set up a business where she tricks people into thinking she is communicating with their lost loved ones. She decides to bring in a new piece of equipment to make the experience even more authentic, and that comes in the form of a Ouija board. Unfortunately with the Ouija board comes malevolent spirit who takes control of the youngest daughter Doris. Alice and Pauline must do everything in their power to fight their greatest fears and send Doris' possessor back to the other side. 

The film is lead superbly by the three female leads, and at the forefront is matriarch Alice Zander, who Elizabeth Reaser gives depth and heart too. It is easy for horror movie characters to become very one-dimensional, but Reaser completely avoids that. You understand her reasoning for putting her family in danger, she wants to reconnect with her late husband and make enough money to survive; and that gives the film some actual emotional background, making it easier for you to empathise.

The two younger girls, Annalise Basso and Lulu Wilson are so mature in their delivery, that they both manage to avoid becoming your typical horror movie child that annoys and distracts. Lulu Wilson in particular has some pretty adult and meaty scenes to deliver, and she does them just like any professional adult could do. Wilson is a shining star in this film, and her portrayal of Doris is what really pushes this film to the forefront.

Annalise Basso

Director, Mike Flanagan, Shows real skill, and a rare skill it is, in developing and building tensions to palpable levels. He doesn't rely on horror cliches and loud noises to bring the jumps, but instead brings the tension to such immense levels, that all your body is free to do is jump out of it's skin. There were many times that I jumped at something that shouldn't have been that terrifying, but my anxiety caused me to freak. It is rare that a horror achieves these levels of jump scares with out the usual filmmaking tropes, but Origin of Evil succeeds.

Ouija: Origin of Evil is a true horror masterpiece. It combines an interesting story, multi-dimensional characters and superb filmmaking, and its outcome is a haunting and macabre experience. Admittedly it does have some silliness in its final moments; but despite that, it manages to be one of the best horrors films in the last 10 years, up there with The Conjuring, Sinister and Paranormal Activity.

Ouija: Origin of Evil - Trailer