Witchboard 2025 Parents Guide

Witchboard is Rated R by Motion Picture Rating (MPA) for strong bloody violence, gore, language, drug content, some sexual content and brief nudity.

Movie Review – Witchboard (2025)

Before Ouija boards became the poster child for “don’t mess with this,” there were pendulum boards. And before today’s horror auteurs like Mike Flanagan or Zach Cregger, there was Chuck Russell dusting off his genre chops with Witchboard. If you remember him from The Mask or A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, you know he has a taste for playful chaos. Still, you might be forgiven for rolling your eyes at this return; after all, his recent excursions into forgettable, low-budget John Travolta action flicks haven’t exactly inspired confidence. So yes, the thought crosses your mind: “Here we go again another generic slasher, courtesy of a haunted board no one should touch.” And yeah… at its core, that’s exactly what it is. But Russell spices it up with a 1600s backstory that somehow matters to the modern-day antics, a revenge plot that relishes its own cleverness, and possession sequences that are more gleefully demented than tediously serious.

We follow a group of young adults on the brink of opening a restaurant because why not? Emily (Madison Iseman) discovers the titular board in the forest, and naturally she hauls it home like it’s a charming antique rather than a death trap. Emily, a recovering addict with a perfectly serviceable addictive personality, quickly falls into the board’s trap guided by her boyfriend Christian’s (Aaron Dominguez) annoyingly curious ex, Brooke (Melanie Jarnson). When the board helps her locate a lost ring from Christian, she’s officially hooked. And, of course, it comes at a price: find an object, lose a friend. The more Emily toys with it despite Christian’s increasingly exasperated “maybe stop?” the more her personality unravels, and the film milks these changes for fun, not faux-gravity horror.

The board’s murky origins get an extended, dramatic prologue: healer Naga Soth (Antonia Desplat) is accused of witchcraft and flamboyantly burned at the stake by an angry mob. Russell (co-writing with Greg McKay, from Kevin Tenney’s script) uses this to toss in nightmare sequences that are visually inventive, drop Emily into 17th-century misery, and slowly peel back the story behind her supernatural misadventures. Meanwhile, a rich, pompous occult collector, Alexander Babtiste (Jamie Campbell Bower), discovers his henchmen flubbed stealing the board from a New Orleans museum hence its scenic forest location and he will absolutely stop at nothing to reclaim it for ritualistic reasons, because of course he will.

Witchboard smartly knows exactly how dumb it is. No one pretends these cardboard characters deserve deep investment, and mercifully, it avoids the dreaded ex-lover squabble melodrama. It sticks to its absurdly convoluted plot, offering just enough backstory to make you care minimally while still letting the chaos reign. Honestly, that’s probably more thought than the movie needs.

The kills are enjoyably vicious in a gleefully sadistic way one victim gets cursed in a moment that is 100% “well, that’s exactly what you deserved.” And yes, there’s a cat now. Because why not? The second half dives further into witchcraft and even tiptoes into a different horror subgenre, managing to be bizarrely entertaining and slightly ambitious at the same time. Sure, the historical backstory could’ve been more fleshed out, but in a low-budget horror flick, a pinch of ambition is practically heroic.

At nearly two hours, Witchboard drags occasionally, and the flashbacks aren’t nearly as satisfying as the modern-day storyline mildly frustrating, given how much the two rely on each other. Still, Russell knows exactly what he’s doing: blending humor with supernatural horror and action so it’s never boring even if it’s never scary. Terror isn’t the point. Chuck Russell is here to gleefully shove his characters through every hellish, inventive scenario he can dream up, swinging from tone to tone with the capriciousness of, well… a pendulum board.

Witchboard 2025 Parents Guide

Violence & Gore: Scenes of ritualistic bloodletting, sharp object attacks, and occult-infused deaths. While it’s not a nonstop gore fest, the moments that are intense are memorable and could be unsettling for younger viewers.

Language: Characters use strong language during moments of fear, anger, and distress. While not constant, the language is noticeable and may be inappropriate for younger audiences.

Sexual Content & Nudity: Masked ball sequence includes partial nudity, and the film’s tone occasionally flirts with sensuality. While not explicit, these elements may be uncomfortable for younger viewers.

Substance Use: Characters are seen drinking alcohol in social settings, and there’s a brief scene with drug use. These moments are not central to the plot but are present enough to be noted.

Overall Suitability: Witchboard is rated R and is primarily intended for adult audiences. Its blend of supernatural horror, mild gore, and mature themes makes it more suitable for older teens and adults. Parents should consider the content carefully before allowing younger viewers to watch.

Highly Recommended: