Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
In 1967 Los Angeles, a widowed mother and her two daughters add a new stunt to bolster their séance scam business and unwittingly invite authentic evil into their home. When the youngest daughter is overtaken by the merciless spirit, this small family confronts unthinkable fears to save her and send her possessor back to the other side.
Ouija: Origin of Evil is a surprisingly competent prequel that outstrips its predecessor considerably. Mike Flanagan's direction brings genuine period atmosphere and craft to the 1967 setting, with authentic visual touches like cigarette burns and vintage aspect ratios. The acting, particularly from Lulu Wilson as the possessed youngest daughter, is genuinely unsettling and above average for the genre. The plot is a solid slow-burn possession story elevated by its family drama grounding, though it follows familiar genre beats. The ending, however, feels rushed and somewhat obligatory as it ties into the original film's continuity, undercutting the emotional investment built up. Novelty is moderate — Flanagan brings real craft but the possession/séance template is well-worn territory, even if executed with more care than typical studio horror.