Ouija: Origin of Evil
Ouija: Origin of Evil is a 2016 supernatural horror film directed by Mike Flanagan, serving as a prequel to the 2014 movie "Ouija". Set in 1967 Los Angeles, the story follows a widowed mother, Alice Zander, and her two daughters, Lina and Doris, who run a fraudulent seance business. When they introduce a Ouija board into their act, they unwittingly invite a malevolent entity into their home, leading to the demonic possession of the youngest daughter, Doris. The film explores themes of grief, deception, and the terrifying consequences of dabbling in the occult. The movie is known for its intense scares, disturbing imagery, and a strong emotional core, distinguishing itself as a critically better-received entry in the Ouija franchise. It features pervasive horror elements, including demonic possession, grotesque physical transformations, and visceral violence, wrapped in a period aesthetic. Due to its intense and disturbing content, it is primarily suited for a mature teenage and adult audience who can handle strong horror themes.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe film contains intense and graphic violence, including stabbings, hangings, and severe bodily harm depicted through demonic actions. The MPAA rating includes 'sequences of violence and action' and 'some bloody images'. Characters experience painful contortions and there are unsettling visual effects of grotesque facial and body distortions.
Examples include a character being stabbed with blood visible on the blade. Another scene depicts a character falling from a staircase and hanging from a noose. During a demonic possession, Casey 'shreds the guy apart with his body eviscerated and then his jaw ripped open,' indicating graphic and brutal imagery. The possessed Doris inflicts harm, such as a school bully suffering a violent supernatural retaliation after aiming a catapult at her.
Witchcraft & Occult
HighWitchcraft and occult themes are central to the entire narrative. The plot revolves around a family running a fake seance business, which unintentionally leads to genuine communication with malevolent spirits through an Ouija board and subsequent demonic possession. This is explicitly highlighted as a conflict for characters who also hold Christian beliefs.
The entire family business centers on conducting fraudulent seances, a form of spiritualism and occult practice. The introduction of the Ouija board to their act directly triggers demonic possession in Doris, who becomes a conduit for dark spirits. The film depicts the family, despite believing in God, actively engaging in practices like using the Ouija board and seances, which are forbidden by the Bible, leading to dire supernatural consequences.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe film is highly scary and intense, relying on disturbing imagery, sustained terror, and frequent jump scares. It features grotesque visual effects, including facial and body distortions of possessed individuals, and psychologically unsettling scenes, particularly involving a possessed child.
The movie contains "supremely creepy imagery" that is designed to frighten viewers. Doris, when possessed, displays disturbing visual changes such as "milky eyes and uncannily wide mouths". The film effectively uses jump scares, described as generally well-executed and not cheap. Doris gives a chilling, matter-of-fact description of death by strangulation in a sing-song voice, adding to the psychological horror.
Anti-Christian Themes
HighAnti-Christian themes are significant, as the narrative directly confronts Christian beliefs through the triumph of demonic forces over characters who initially hold faith. The film depicts characters dabbling in occult practices, such as Ouija boards and seances, despite their Christian faith, leading to devastating consequences. A Catholic priest attempts to intervene, but ultimately, the demons prevail.
The family is portrayed as having faith in God and praying, yet they simultaneously practice witchcraft and engage in pagan rituals, which is presented as a direct contradiction to Christian teachings ("One cannot serve two masters"). The film's conclusion sees the demons triumphing, with characters possessed and killed, and evil prevailing, which is noted as "abhorrent" from a Christian perspective. Father Tom, a Catholic priest, attempts an exorcism but is unsuccessful, further emphasizing the power of the demonic entities.
Profanity
MediumThe movie includes a moderate amount of mild to medium profanity. Terms of deity are used, along with some expletives. While not a constant barrage, the language is stronger than what might be expected for younger viewers.
Terms of deity such as "OMG" and "OG" are used multiple times (about four times). Other expletives like "Christ," "Hell," and "Bitch" are also used. The words "anus" and "excrement" are used in their more expletive forms.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumDisrespect and rebellion are present, stemming from the mother's fraudulent business practices and the possessed child's defiance. The core family unit is built on a deception, which can be interpreted as a form of rebellion against societal honesty. The possessed child's actions demonstrate extreme defiance against her family.
Alice, the mother, runs a business based on fraudulent claims, conning grieving clients with fake spiritualist acts, which represents a defiance of ethical norms. The possessed Doris exhibits extreme disrespectful and defiant behavior towards her mother and sister, including malevolent threats and actions, though these are driven by demonic influence rather than conscious rebellion.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowExplicit LGBTQ+ characters or plotlines are not present in "Ouija: Origin of Evil." While one interpretive review suggests a demon might exploit a "would-have-been lesbian affair" in a character's backstory to gain control, this remains a reviewer's interpretation of implied themes rather than explicit narrative content within the film itself. Other discussions of the director's work highlight LGBTQ+ representation in his later series, but not in this film.
The movie does not feature any confirmed LGBTQ+ characters or storylines. A review discusses how the demon might capitalize on a "would-have-been lesbian affair" in Katherine's past with a character named Julie, which is presented as a torment on Katherine's soul, though Julie's face is never shown. Director Mike Flanagan's subsequent works, such as "The Haunting of Hill House," are noted for having explicit LGBTQ+ representation (e.g., Theo Crain as an openly lesbian character), but "Ouija: Origin of Evil" is from an earlier period in his filmography and does not contain such explicit content.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowRomantic and sexual content is minimal and mild. There is an innocent teenage kiss, and no explicit sexual acts are shown. A brief suggestion of a sexual advance occurs, but it is immediately followed by a violent demonic attack, shifting the focus away from romance or sexuality as a theme.
A teen girl invites a teen boy to her bedroom where they share an innocent kiss, with no further sexual activity depicted. A male character 'sexually advances on Casey' at one point, but the demon intervenes, leading to a violent attack on the aggressor rather than any reciprocated or explicit sexual content.
Substance Use
LowSubstance use in the film is minimal and primarily involves adult alcohol consumption. There is also a brief suggestion of underage drinking at a teen party, but it is not a focal point and lacks graphic detail or glamorization.
Adults are shown drinking wine with dinner. There is also a brief mention of "suggested alcoholic 'coffee'" at a teen party, implying underage drinking without explicit depiction or significant focus.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
This film is officially rated PG-13, but due to its pervasive and intense horror elements, graphic violence, and strong occult themes, a recommended age of 14+ is more appropriate, especially for Christian parents. The film's depiction of demonic possession and the triumph of evil warrants caution.
Additional Notes
Ouija: Origin of Evil is generally considered a superior film to its predecessor, "Ouija" (2014), due to Mike Flanagan's direction, character development, and heightened scares. It deepens the mythology of the Ouija board and the house it inhabits. The film maintains a 1960s aesthetic, which contributes to its atmospheric horror.
Related Reviews
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