Poison car-surfer Tawney Kitaen plays Linda, a young Californian who becomes entranced by a Ouija board after she believes to have made contact with the troubled spirit of a young boy. But as you and I both know, "little boy" in Ouija board speak actually means "serial killer" and/or "three-horned demon from the ninth circle of hell," so naturally Linda is in for quite a roughing up.
Directed by Kevin Tenney, who later helmed the ferocious zombie splatter flick "Night of the Demons," delivers a solid thriller here that, despite its age, is an enjoyable and well-made picture that has high emphasis for cinematography and mood and little time for blood spills. It's not a remarkably violent film by any means, and nothing remotely as gruesome as "Night of the Demons," but the suspense factor in the film is what really drives it. At times the film is mildly tedious, but the pace is kept fairly consistent for the most part.
Tawney Kitaen makes for a likable and attractive leading lady, with Stephen Nichols and Todd Allen supporting. There are some classic moments of bad line delivery, but it's all in good fun with the film's overall element of '80s cheese. That said, there are some remarkably tense and frightening scenes, many of which take place in broad daylight, which makes it all the more routine and therefore all the more sinister. The film's wacky conclusion is a real treat, with Kitaen dressed in drag and wielding an axe.
Overall, "Witchboard" is all that you might expect of a 1980s horror picture, though it's not a slasher film by any stretch of the imagination. As a supernatural thriller, it's really well done, and Tenney really keeps things in the realm of the cerebral. If you can get past some hokey acting moments and the ostentatious '80s fashions, this is quite a fun one. 6/10.
Directed by Kevin Tenney, who later helmed the ferocious zombie splatter flick "Night of the Demons," delivers a solid thriller here that, despite its age, is an enjoyable and well-made picture that has high emphasis for cinematography and mood and little time for blood spills. It's not a remarkably violent film by any means, and nothing remotely as gruesome as "Night of the Demons," but the suspense factor in the film is what really drives it. At times the film is mildly tedious, but the pace is kept fairly consistent for the most part.
Tawney Kitaen makes for a likable and attractive leading lady, with Stephen Nichols and Todd Allen supporting. There are some classic moments of bad line delivery, but it's all in good fun with the film's overall element of '80s cheese. That said, there are some remarkably tense and frightening scenes, many of which take place in broad daylight, which makes it all the more routine and therefore all the more sinister. The film's wacky conclusion is a real treat, with Kitaen dressed in drag and wielding an axe.
Overall, "Witchboard" is all that you might expect of a 1980s horror picture, though it's not a slasher film by any stretch of the imagination. As a supernatural thriller, it's really well done, and Tenney really keeps things in the realm of the cerebral. If you can get past some hokey acting moments and the ostentatious '80s fashions, this is quite a fun one. 6/10.