Witchboard (1986)

A woman (Tawny Kitaen) finds an interest in her friend Brandon's Ouija Board when he brings the occult tool by her party.This was the beginning for much of the crew. Writer-director Kevin Tenney had never written or directed before, Kenney's college friend Gerald Geoffray had never produced before, nor had executive producer Walter Josten. Indeed, much of this came out of Tenney's film school classes.Tawny Kitaen was cast because guys in the office were "drooling" during casting when they saw her. Tenney had actually favored another actress, but went with Kitaen because of this perceived charisma. (This casting also was a lucky break, because between filming and release, Kitaen blew up thanks to her infamous Whitesnake videos.) As a side note, O. J. Simpson was dating Kitaen at the time and would visit the set with his red-dyed poodle.While not the greatest of the 1980s horror films, one has to admit this still holds up well. In some ways, it is more amusing now (2014) than it ever was originally because of all the 1980s hair and clothing. For example, just look at Zarabeth (Kathleen Wilhoite)... that is some weird 1980s style.But really, this is something of a modern classic because what other horror film really captures the danger of the Ouija? None come to mind for me, and it seems like such an obvious choice... well played Kevin Tenney for going with this.The Scream Factory disc contains a wealth of bonus features, including two audio commentaries. One of them features Tenney, Gerald Geoffray and Walter Josten, and is excellent, featuring many fine stories, including how much craft services loves doughnuts.

Auburn vixen Linda (Tawny Kitaen) has split with whiny rich guy Brandon (Stephen Nichols) and taken up with hard-drinking bozo Jim (Todd Allen). Brandon and Jim, formerly friends now hate each other. Thus inviting Brandon to their house is Linda's mistake, one which snowballs when Brandon whips out a party game - his Ouija board.Contacting his favourite spirit - the ghost of a little boy named David whilst Jim makes snide remarks having been goaded by Brandon all evening results in an apparent spiritual disturbance. Brandon leaves the Ouija board behind angrily leaving the party.With it left on her coffee table Linda uses the board more and more and starts acting weird neglecting other aspects of her life. Mysterious phenomena follow including an incident which results in the death of one of Jim's co-workers.A flighty valley girl medium (Kathleen Wilhoite) is brought in by Brandon to make David leave Jim and Linda's house. It all happens but not really according to plan. Within an hour of visiting the house the medium is dead under mysterious and grisly circumstances. Brandon thinks he knows why but Jim remains skeptical. Doing a little detective work to investigate the mystery leads to a deadly confrontation with a dark power.Kathleen Wilhoite is almost never less than fantastic in any role. Her performance in this however was just too badly written for her to do much with. Same thing with every other part in this appalling turkey that made several convincing actors look bad. It was the first feature for a bad director who didn't exactly improve with experience. Multiple errors in various aspects of post-production betray the poor planning, continuity and editing.The viewer wouldn't know it by what is seen here but believe it or not Tawny Kitaen and Stephen Nichols are decent actors when given good material and direction. Both have proved that countless times even on soap operas. Kitaen actually showed she could do comedy in her unforgettable guest spot on Seinfeld among other roles.Kitaen might have had more of a career if she hadn't done so much drek including those goofy music videos she did for her schlock-rocker boyfriend/husband David Coverdale. Having also posed for album covers by the metal band RATT she was the ultimate prize for head-bangers in the 1980s. But it did not serve her in carving out a niche and gain quality roles. That took a lot of hard work little of which was seen in this production.

This is a movie that definitely had some potential, since it featured a good and interesting enough horror concept but this gets ruined by its unimaginative story and approach by its film-makers.This is a movie with a story that would had worked out great as a supernatural thriller but it instead picks a more easy and common horror approach. It's really made like a typical horror flick, while its story called for a more subtle approach. This really goes at the expenses of all of the tension and build up of things. Instead now we have a movie that is lacking in good horror and in which besides far too little is happening.It really isn't until half way through that things really start to kick in. But just when you thought the movie was getting good and interesting again, it gets ruined by its final 30 minutes, which aren't really in tone with the rest of the movie and it ends things quite abruptly as well, which is so disappointing. In fact, the ending was just plain bad and even made me laugh at how clumsily it all got done and was looking.This movie is really some wasted potential.5/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

I enjoyed Witchboard in those long ago days when I regularly haunted Blockbuster looking for late night VHS movies. I recently watched it again and, well, I wasn't as thrilled as I had been 25 years ago.I suppose the main thing is that, given that it's a horror movie, it isn't especially scary. Much of it takes place in bright sunshine, and there is little sense of menace. Things happen from time to time (knives whizzing across the room etc.), but with little dramatic impact. Even when someone is killed it's all rather gentle, with pretty bright red blood.Tawny Kitaen is pleasingly decorative (especially in her celebrated bushy shower scene) and screams in a mildly startled way at appropriate intervals. She probably wouldn't have her hair done like that these days. Todd Allen is annoying and sports a hairstyle which emphasises how much his ears stick out. Stephen Nicholls plays his part with a semi-hysterical intensity which rapidly becomes wearing. And Kathleen Wilhoite irritates beyond measure.But I suppose that, of its kind, it's OK.