Ouija
Ouija (2014) is a supernatural horror film that centers on a group of teenagers who inadvertently unleash malevolent spirits after attempting to communicate with a recently deceased friend using an antique Ouija board. The movie explores themes of grief, friendship, and the dangers of dabbling in the occult as the teenagers face a series of terrifying encounters and mysterious deaths. Despite receiving largely negative critical reviews, it achieved considerable box office success. The film is targeted at a teenage and young adult audience, aligning with its PG-13 rating and focus on jump scares and supernatural horror rather than explicit gore, making it an appropriate, albeit intense, viewing experience for older adolescents. Its prequel, Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016), received significantly more positive reviews and is considered an improvement over the original film.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe film contains frequent and disturbing violent content, including multiple on-screen deaths, implied suicides, and frightening supernatural attacks. The violence is primarily supernatural and its consequences are clearly depicted, often with visible blood and grotesque imagery.
1. The movie opens with Debbie's apparent suicide, showing her hanging by Christmas lights, a visually disturbing scene. 2. Isabelle is killed when she is possessed and violently smashed head-first into a bathroom sink, cracking her skull open, with blood shown. 3. Pete is possessed and killed by Doris's spirit, later appearing as a soulless ghost with his mouth stitched up. 4. Trevor is attacked and drowned in a swimming pool by the malevolent spirit, with the struggle and his eventual death depicted on-screen.
Witchcraft & Occult
HighWitchcraft and occult themes are central and pervasive to the entire plot, revolving around the use of a Ouija board to contact spirits, leading to demonic possession and violent supernatural events. The movie explicitly depicts rituals and interactions with malevolent entities.
1. The primary plot device involves Laine and her friends using a Ouija board to communicate with the spirit of their deceased friend Debbie, which inadvertently summons a malevolent entity known as Doris Zander. 2. Characters become possessed by spirits, such as Debbie's initial possession leading to her suicide and Isabelle's possession before her death. 3. To combat the spirits, Laine and Sarah are advised to perform a ritual that involves destroying Doris's body and the Ouija board itself, directly engaging with occult practices as a means of resolution.
Scary & Intense Content
HighAs a horror film, "Ouija" features high levels of scary and intense content. This includes frequent jump scares, disturbing imagery, suspenseful sequences, and the constant threat of supernatural harm and death.
1. The movie utilizes numerous jump scares, often involving sudden loud noises, eerie shadows, and unexpected appearances of ghosts or possessed characters. Examples include a gas stove turning on suddenly with a loud sound, and the appearance of frightening reflections in mirrors. 2. Decaying corpses and gruesome ghosts are frequently shown, including a character with her mouth sewn shut, and the visually unsettling appearance of possessed individuals.
Anti-Christian Themes
HighThe film's core premise involves actively seeking communication with the dead and engaging with spirits through a Ouija board, which is directly contrary to Christian teachings that forbid divination and consulting with the dead (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). The movie acknowledges demon involvement and promotes unbiblical beliefs about spirits.
1. The entire plot is driven by the use of a Ouija board to contact the deceased, a practice considered divination and explicitly forbidden in the Bible, which labels such acts as "detestable to the LORD". 2. The movie affirms the unbiblical belief that departed human spirits wander about haunting places and that malevolent spirits or demons can be contacted and even appeased through rituals, which conflicts with Christian understanding of the afterlife and spiritual warfare.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumRomantic content is minimal and generally mild, focusing on teenage relationships without explicit sexual scenes. There are a few instances of affection and some suggestive attire, but no blatant sexual issues or nudity.
1. There is a "passionate kiss" between Laine and her boyfriend Trevor. 2. Girls are shown wearing "slightly revealing dresses for a high school dance," which is noted as a mild instance of suggestive attire.
Profanity
MediumThe film includes a moderate amount of mild to moderate profanities, primarily from the teenage characters. While not pervasive, strong expletives are present at times.
1. The script contains "less than a dozen mild and moderate profanities". 2. Specific examples noted include the use of "OMG!" (Oh My God) multiple times, "hell," "damn", and one instance of "bitch".
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe film portrays significant disrespect and rebellion as the teenage protagonists actively disregard warnings about the Ouija board and pursue dangerous supernatural interactions without adult supervision or intervention, ultimately leading to dire consequences.
1. Debbie initially plays with the Ouija board alone and later tries to burn it, implying she understood its danger but was defiant in her initial use. Her subsequent death is deemed a suicide by authorities, showing a failure to involve adults in the supernatural crisis. 2. Laine and her friends choose to use the Ouija board to contact Debbie, ignoring the inherent dangers and supernatural rules, despite a friend's violent death, and continue to delve deeper into the occult mystery without seeking proper adult help.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowNo explicit LGBTQ+ characters, themes, or representation are directly identified within the content of the 2014 film "Ouija." Searches for LGBTQ+ content, characters, or representation specific to the movie or its director did not yield any relevant results confirming such elements in the film itself. The movie focuses on heterosexual teenage relationships and traditional gender roles.
There are no confirmed instances of LGBTQ+ characters or themes within the main plot or character arcs of "Ouija" (2014). The romantic relationships portrayed, such as Laine and Trevor, are heterosexual.
Substance Use
LowThe film features no noted instances of alcohol or drug use among its teenage characters. Parental reviews consistently state that no substance use is depicted in the movie.
1. Multiple parental guidance reviews explicitly state, "Alcohol / Drug Use: None noted" in the 2014 film. 2. The teenage characters are described as "clean cut" and do not engage in drinking or smoking.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ouija (2014) is officially rated PG-13 by the MPAA for "disturbing violent content, frightening horror images, and thematic material". Given the film's consistent use of jump scares, multiple on-screen deaths, and heavy reliance on occult themes such as demonic possession and communication with the dead, it is best suited for viewers aged 13 and older. Younger viewers may find the intense supernatural elements, graphic depictions of death (even if some are implied), and overall frightening atmosphere too disturbing.
Additional Notes
The prequel, Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016), is generally considered a superior film by critics and audiences and delves further into the backstory of the spirits encountered in the 2014 movie. While the original film's runtime is 89 minutes, critical reception was overwhelmingly negative, with many reviews citing a predictable plot and one-dimensional characters. It should be noted that the use of a Ouija board, as depicted, is explicitly condemned by many Christian denominations as a means of engaging with occult forces.
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