Watch ‘Ouija: Origin of Evil’ before it leaves Netflix this week
The Netflix reminders of titles soon to leave their roster have become routine. Yet, every week, they instil a sense of creeping urgency, leaving viewers lamenting about their unfinished streaming business.
This week is no different. Several iconic movies and shows are counting their last days on the platform, and the one you simply cannot miss is Ouija: Origin of Evil.
Any cinephile with a soft corner for horror must have stumbled across Mike Flanagan’s horror universe. But if you haven’t watched Ouija: Origin of Evil, this could be your last chance to catch up on Netflix. The 2016 film is one of the underrated titles starring several eventual The Haunting of Hill House actors, including Elizabeth Reaser and Kate Siegel.
The period film is scheduled to leave this Friday, August 15th. So, for those still out of Ouija’s horror loop, this is your final chance to tune into this teeth-sinking terror title. Origin of Evil serves as a prequel to the first Ouija movie, released in 2014. However, it stands on its own with a unique storyline and characters, thus not making it necessary to watch the first one to grasp the story of the 2016 outing.
Ouija: Origin of Evil revolves around a widow, Alice Zender, whose desperate grasp at the beyond with a Ouija board conjures a terror beyond control. It unknowingly unleashes a malevolent entity, possessing her daughter’s innocence and leading the family on their descent into madness.
Notwithstanding the gripping premise, as it comes from the same filmmaker behind Midnight Mass, Doctor Sleep, and, of course, The Haunting of Hill House, this isn’t the jump-scare horror that makes you scream at the top of your lungs. Instead, Origin of Evil leans towards psychological horror.
The period setting adds to its eerie tone, and the scares are earned rather than forced. It is a character-driven story where the mother-daughter dynamic brings emotional weight to the terror sequences. And the best part? Lulu Wilson gives a spine-chilling performance far beyond her age.
Although it’s a horror tale, Flanagan inculcates themes of grief and loss to build the supernatural plot. He blends family drama with unsettling horror to stress the dangers of meddling with supernatural forces, serving as a cautionary tale about the consequences of playing with forces beyond human control.