WFG RATING: A-

The Avenue and Atlas Distribution presents an A-Nation Films production in association with Gala Film. Directed by Chuck Russell. Produced by Chuck Russell, Kade Vu, Greg McKay, Bernie Gewissler, and Jean-Francois Roesler. Written by Greg McKay and Chuck Russell; inspired by the 1986 film written by Kevin S. Tenney. Cinematography by Yaron Levy. Edited by Alex Marquez, Joe Plenys, and Emile Vallee. 

Stars Madison Iseman, Aaron Dominguez, Melanie Jarnson, Charlie Tahan, Antonia Desplat, David La Haye, Renee Herbert, Elisha Herbert, Chiara Fossati, and Jamie Campbell Bower. 

From the director of A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and The Mask comes this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EG4SO00YRAreimagining of the 1986 cult classic horror film.

Emily and Christian are an engaged couple looking for ingredients for his new pop-up restaurant in New Orleans. While searching, Emily comes across a strange looking board and takes it in. At the opening of the restaurant, Christian’s ex Brooke, an archeologist, is shown the board by Emily and upon learning a possible legend, Emily unwittingly unleashes a very dangerous threat. Brooke informs Emily that the relic is a spirit board. 

As Emily begins to tinker more with the board, she slowly begins to discover she has unleashed the spirit of the witch who created the artifact. Dangerous and fatal things begin to happen to those close to her and even her sanity begins to come in question. As she tries to delve deeper into the mystery and find a way to discover how to stop it, Dr. Alexander Babtiste may be the key to helping her stop the evil force once and for all, but will that be his only intention?

Starting with the horror genre with A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and the reimagining of The Blob in the 1980s, Chuck Russell makes a triumphant return to horror with another reimagining. Inspired by the 1986 Kevin S. Tenney classic about an Ouija board that unleashed the spirit of a murderer who slowly possesses a young woman and causes death to those around her. For this reimagining, Russell and co-writer Greg McKay switch the Ouija board for a pendulum board and  switch the murderer in the form of a vengeance seeking 17th century witch. 

What makes this stand out is the fact that the main characters in this film are very grounded with flaws. Madison Iseman’s Emily is a recovering drug addict whose relationship with restaurateur Christian, wonderfully played by Aaron Dominguez, looks genuine from the beginning. Even with the appearance of Melanie Jarnson’s Brooke, Christian’s ex, it’s clear she doesn’t feel the same she once had for him and is happy for him and Emily. It is when Emily is met by her former dealer Jesse that there may be that sense of complication in her life. 

Instead of someone bringing the board, Emily finds it in the woods during a search for organic ingredients for Christian’s pop up restaurant. The board, an actual predecessor of the Ouija board, is used in this one. The story of the witch, Naga Soth, is depicted in flashback and while she is a revenge-seeking spirit, we learn she wasn’t always the bad woman but was forced into using witchcraft by the devious Bishop Grogan. Speaking of Grogan, we have his great-great grandson, Dr. Alexander Babtiste, played by a very scene eschewing Jamie Campbell Bower. Kudos must go to his three Asha henchwomen, who are reminiscent of the twins from the Matrix sequels. 

There are quite a few shocking death scenes in the film that were quite a surprise. One involves a specific death that looks like it could have been inspired by the Final Destination franchise. However, the one interesting aspect with a few of these deaths are the appearance of a MacGuffin. In addition, the second half brings in some amazing twists, especially one that is unexpected, that have been seen to get a full understanding of the film. 

One thing is for sure about Witchboard. It is not a remake. It is not a reboot. This is a “re-imagining” of the film that has elements of the original while bringing a fresh new take that works well thanks to the amazing performances from the cast and it is safe to say…welcome back to horror, Chuck Russell! 

The film will be released in theaters on August 15.