paranormal Archives ⋆

Ouija: Origin of Evil

Posted by :MickMac On : March 17, 2017

Category: Psychological Horror, Horror Drama, Supernatural Horror

Tags:possession, seance, Ouija board, paranormal

“It’s more than just a game, and the only winner….is Evil!”

The Exorcist, Witchboard, and Paranormal Activity. What key element do these horror classics have in common? The Ouija board! Demonic possession/summoning is a very popular plot point in recent horror films. Although some are better than others, there’s something about the dark spirit realm that definitely gets under the skin. Back in 2014, the teen possession thriller Ouija attempted to do just that. Even though it had its moments, the film was considered to be a fail by most critics and viewers alike. It seemed to be a little rushed, and a bit on the cheesy side.

When news of a sequel was announced, the first reaction by horror fans was “What’s the point?!” In 2016, however, Ouija: Origin of Evil was released and according to critics and horror fans, was considered to be a HUGE redemption to its predecessor! Co-written by Jeff Howard and director Mike Flanagan (Oculus), the film is a prequel to the original and is one of the standout horror films of the year.

THE PLOT

Set in 1967 L.A., the film follows widowed mother Alice Zander (Elizabeth Reaser) and her two daughters Lina (Annalise Basso) and Doris (Lulu Wilson). Struggling to make ends meet, Alice works out of her home as a local Fortune Teller/medium. With help from her daughters, she provides her clients with well orchestrated and very convincing séances, in the hopes that they bring the troubled people closure and peace. One night out of boredom, eldest daughter Lina sneaks out and joins her friends at a party. Knowing what Lina’s mother does for a living, they decide to pull out a Ouija board as a joke and try to “make contact”. Thinking that this could be a nice addition to their business, Lina suggests that her mother incorporate the board into their “act”.

After a successful trial run with the board, a startling discovery is made. The Ouija board actually works, and the youngest daughter, Doris, seems to have made contact with several spirits including her deceased father! As things progress, it seems that there is more to the story and the house itself may be hiding a dark history. To make matters worse, Doris’ behavior seems to drastically change. Now, what started as a game has become a spiritual battle with little hope for a happy ending!

SHOULD YOU SEE IT?

I’ll admit when I heard of the upcoming release of this film, I also felt it was unnecessary due to the disappointment of the original. To my surprise, I really liked this one! It was much better and elaborated on the story by answering a few questions that we all had from the first film. The atmosphere was really creepy, and the camerawork and special effects were tastefully done.

Overall the acting was pretty good, but the standout performance, hands down, goes to the young Lulu Wilson! There’s just something about possessed kids that always creeps me out, and this was no exception. One scene that stood out the most is a VERY creepy interaction between her and Lina’s boyfriend Mikey (Parker Mack). It sort of reminded me of Regan’s “You’re gonna die up there” scene from The Exorcist. You’ll know what I mean when you see it. I would definitely recommend this film! Not only is it creepy with well timed jump scares, but it’s a fun paranormal film that anyone can enjoy. Personally I have mixed feelings about the Ouija board. I’m not sure if they really work or not, but I’m not willing to take that chance. So, if you ever decide to pick one up, just remember the rules of a Ouija board: Never play alone, never play in a graveyard, and ALWAYS say goodbye!

Not rated yet!

Ouija: Origin of Evil

When you talk to the other side, you never know who will be listening.

20161 h 39 min

Metadata

Certification PG-13

Director Mike Flanagan

Producer —

Runtime 1 h 39 min

Release Date 20 October 2016

Images

Actors

Starring: Elizabeth Reaser, Annalise Basso, Lulu Wilson, Henry Thomas, Parker Mack, Doug Jones, Sam Anderson, Kate Siegel, Alexis G. Zall, Halle Charlton, Ele Keats, Nicholas Keenan, Lin Shaye, Eve Gordon, Lincoln Melcher

Trailer

Last Shift

Posted by :MickMac On : March 11, 2017

Category: Uncategorized

“Gives the term ‘Graveyard Shift’ a whole new meaning!”

In 2014, the London Frightfest Film Festival screened a ton of great horror films such as The Green Inferno, The Den, The Babadook, and V/H/S: Viral. During the annual “Halloween All Nighter” portion of the festival, a film was premiered that was considered to be a standout that year. That film is the paranormal thriller known as Last Shift. Co-written by Scott Poiley and director Anthony DiBlasi, audiences were reminded that working the night shift alone can sometimes be an unnerving experience! Winner of Best Female Performance and Best Direct Release Horror at the 2016 iHorror Awards, the film uses a great mixture of tension and limited, but well timed, jump scares to get under the skin of even the most hardened horror fan.

THE PLOT

Jessica Loren (Juliana Harkavy) is a rookie cop trying to honor her father, a policeman who passed away a year ago, by being the best officer she can be. Her first assignment: work the last shift at a closing police station that has relocated to a new location. Upon arrival, she’s greeted by Sgt. Cohen (Hank Stone) who gives her a quick tour of the rundown station and informs her that all emergency calls have been rerouted to the new station, so it should be a quiet night. He also instructs her not to leave the station since a HAZMAT team should be arriving soon to clean out some hazardous evidence.

Once Sgt. Cohen leaves, her shift begins and is rather uneventful. As soon as she just about falls asleep from boredom, there’s suddenly a knock at the door. Upon investigating, she discovers a homeless man in the lobby. After an intense confrontation, she detains him and puts him in a holding cell.

Feeling that all is in order, she tries to finish the shift hoping that the rest of the night will go smoothly. Is she ever wrong! Strange sounds, distressing phone calls, and unexplained paranormal phenomena begin to reveal that the station may be hiding a dark secret. Now on edge, Jessica must put her police training to the test if she’s to survive this dreaded last shift in the hopes that she’ll see the light of day!

SHOULD YOU SEE IT?

Now I will admit, I intentionally kept my review of the plot rather vague. Just know that many events start to happen early on that start to chip away at the secret hidden in the police station. I feel that providing most of these details would deprive a viewer from the experience that is Last Shift.

That being said, this indie film is well worth the watch! I wouldn’t necessarily call it terrifying (I’m a little desensitized to horror nowadays, and it takes a lot to scare me), but it definitely has its moments of dread, tension, and terror. What makes it so effective is the excellent performance of the lead actress. Her character does a good job of trying to keep a level head while going through uncomfortable and unnerving situations. The emotional rollercoaster she goes through is very convincing.

Being a low budget indie film, it’s not without its flaws. On the other hand, low budget also means reliance on practical effects, and in this case that’s what makes it great! The camera work was genius and added to the shock and thrill factor.

So turn down the lights, silence all potential distractions, grab a bowl of popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride! Just be warned…if you’re ever scheduled for the graveyard shift, this film might make you reconsider your profession!

Not rated yet!