38
Metascore
22 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 63New York PostFarran Smith NehmeNew York PostFarran Smith NehmeIt’s endearing how this glorified haunted-house movie tries to reclaim all the old tools, and do so with a straight face and a PG-13 level of violence.
- 60TheWrapAlonso DuraldeTheWrapAlonso DuraldeGiven its double burden of being both a toy adaptation and a bloodless kiddie horror show, Ouija winds up being more fun that you might think, even if it's the sort of film you can't really take seriously for a second.
- 50VarietyJustin ChangVarietyJustin ChangThis silly but straight-faced supernatural thriller manages to elicit an occasional shudder in between cheap jolts and false scares, emerging as a feat of competent direction (by debuting helmer Stiles White) over derivative scripting (by White and writing partner Juliet Snowden).
- 50The PlaylistKimber MyersThe PlaylistKimber MyersThe film is effectively scary, filled with plenty of jump moments and a few slow-burning scenes, but the scares aren’t enough to balance the poor writing and lack of imagination.
- 40New York Daily NewsNew York Daily NewsCooke, a young Brit seen on TV’s “Bates Motel,” is strong as the diminutive brunette at the center of the interworldly fright-fest. Her charisma is almost enough to keep you from rolling your eyes at the script.
- 40The DissolveScott TobiasThe DissolveScott TobiasThe most pressing issue with Ouija is that Stiles and Snowden cannot seem to write a single interesting line of dialogue. They volley between conversational banalities and whatever exposition might be needed to get the film to its next scary setpiece.
- 38St. Louis Post-DispatchKevin C. JohnsonSt. Louis Post-DispatchKevin C. JohnsonDirected by Stiles White, whose credits lean more heavily in the special-effect arenas, Ouija is bland, safe horror for those who like their scares nonexistent.
- 30The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckThe Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckIn the absence of anything truly original in the screenplay he co-wrote with Juliet Snowden, director Stiles White vainly attempts to ratchet up the tension with a series of cheap jump scares fueled by loud noises that are the cinematic equivalent of shaking hands with someone wearing a joy buzzer.
- 25San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleSan Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleOuija has something wrong with it from the first five minutes.
- 25USA TodayClaudia PuigUSA TodayClaudia PuigA deadly dull and overly familiar movie about summoning ghosts that draws upon nearly every horror movie cliché.