Witchboard

Year: 1986

Director: Kevin S. Tenney

Written by: Kevin S. Tenney

Threat: Ghost

Weapon of Choice: Axe

IMDb page: IMDb link

      Witchboard  Witchboard  Witchboard

Other movies in this series:
Witchboard 2
Witchboard III: The Possession

Rish Outfield's reviews
Tyranist is bothered by Ouija Boards. After seeing the "Witchboard Trilogy," I want one.
This was an interesting idea for a film--and they milked it for three. None of the movies are great, but they all have good qualities. In this one, the characters are somewhat interesting and fully drawn, the female lead (played by Hair Band Video Princess Tawny Kaetan) is attractive, and the subject matter is legitimately creepy. Still, there were a ton of useless dream sequences (as I think there are in all three), and some fake scares that just didn't work. In the end, I was left a little empty. The subject matter doesn't disturb me at all, but it was taken very seriously, and could have used some lightening.
Note: In this film, the not-at-all-sympathetic-but-changes-in-the-film best friend character explains that the board is not pronounced "Wee-gee," but "Wee-juh." From this point on, everyone in all three films says, "Wee-juh." I refuse.

The tyranist's thoughts
In spite of the fact that this was remarkably well thought out and well written, I disliked this film. The plot follows a relatively set horror pattern (ghost invades lives of innocents to the point that it is finally in control more than they are). The actors did a fine job, at least, I think I hated the ones I was supposed to. It is just that the movie didn't do it for me. It is like having a decently attractive man come on to me. I'm just not that interested. Sure he's nice to look at, but that isn't what I'm after. Of course, if a decently attractive woman comes on to me, things are different. It is just part of my personal tastes and this movie doesn't fit them. I have to concede that it isn't the fault of Kevin Tenney. He actually did a fine job and has a fine little movie. He constructed one of the most tasteful OTS's that I have seen (at least, it made me feel less like a voyeur). Most horror/ghost story fans will probably like this. Some may be like me and won't. I guess this is similar to the way that Dead Alive isn't Rish's type.

Total Skulls: 15

Sequel
Sequel setup skull
Rips off earlier film
Horror film showing on TV/in theater in movie
Future celebrity appears
Former celebrity appears
Bad title
Bad premise
Bad acting
Bad dialogue
Bad execution
MTV Editing
OTS skull
Girl unnecessarily gets naked
Wanton sex
Death associated with sex
Unfulfilled promise of nudity
Characters forget about threat
Secluded location
Power is cut
Phone lines are cut skull
Someone investigates a strange noise skull
Someone runs up stairs instead of going out front door
Camera is the killer skull
Victims cower in front of a window/door
Victim locks self in with killer
Victim running from killer inexplicably falls
Toilet stall scene
Shower scene skull
Car stalls or won't start
Cat jumps out
Fake scare skull
Laughable scare
Stupid discovery of corpse skull
Dream sequence skullskull
No one believes only witness skull
Crazy, drunk, old man knows the truth
Music detracts from scene
Death in first five minutes
What the hell?
x years ago . . .
Dark and stormy night
Killer doesn't stay dead
Killer wears a mask
Killer is in closet
Killer is in car with victim
Villain is more sympathetic than heroes
Unscary villain/monster
Beheading skull
Blood fountain
Blood hits camera
Poor death effect skull
Excessive gore
No one dies at all
Virgin survives
Geek/Nerd survives
Little kid lamely survives
Dog/Pet miraculously survives
Unresolved subplots skull
"It was all a dream" ending
Unbelievably happy ending skull
Unbelievably crappy ending