This recommendation is actually a two-fer, as this is a remake of an 80s film of the same name. Much like the other remakes I’ve recommended (and will recommend in the future), part of the appeal of the film is how it chooses to honor the source material and how it chooses to deviate. I really do think that part of its success as a remake is having the legendary Chuck Russel direct. Having directed horror films in the 80s, he has a great understanding of the tone of the original, so he updates the material and tone, but still captures some of the original’s spirit. I should also say, I don’t particularly like that poster up there. I found no less than four posters for the original and they all kick so much ass. We have truly lost an art when it comes to movie posters and promotional material. This is my least favorite:
That goes so fucking hard. I don’t want to just post a bunch of pictures, but look at this one:
The original film follows Linda Brewster and her progressive entrapment through an Ouija board by a malicious spirit. That may sound a lot like The Exorcist, but this movie does a crazy turn and kind of becomes an axe murderer movie (it was the 80s). The remake follows Emily, a recovering heroin addict, and her progressive entrapment through a a spirit board she found in the woods.
One thousand times scarier than a Ouija board.
Now, if you thought an axe murderer was a crazy turn for a film about a Ouija board, this one has our main character’s soul get sent back in time to a witch who is about to get burned at the stake. And yes, the witch’s soul does to come to the present day and yes, the witch poisons a bunch of people with hallucinogenic mushrooms so that they will attack one another.
I don’t really feel like I need to say anymore–either that sounds good to you or it doesn’t.