Witchboard (1986) - Blu-ray Review

Details: By Loron Hays; 16 February 2014

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Witchboard - Blu-ray Review

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There’s a joke somewhere here about the 1980’s, effective entertainment, and Canada, I just can’t seem to put it together just yet. And even if someone else does it for me, Kevin Tenney’s fear-inducing Witchboard, both written and directed by him, wouldn’t be a part of the punchline. The movie – almost thirty years after its debut – is an earnest slice of supernatural horror that is virtually unseen these days. Why? Because Witchboard, warts and all, dares to be different.

Using the Ouija board as its centerpiece, Witchboard tells the story of how Linda (Tawny Kitain) winds up summoning the dangerous and scary spirit of an axe-murdering asshole from the other side. Brandon (Stephen Nichols) has made contact before, communicating with the spirit of a boy who died in a tragic accident. Jim (Todd Allen), thinks the whole thing is ridiculous and doesn’t believe even when he witnesses a spirit become disturbed while communicating through the device. Linda has no choice but to believe – especially after the axe-murderer decides she’s his next target.

This might have been Tenney’s first feature film but you would never guess it. He knows what makes horror work and amps up the atmosphere with heavy emphasis on mood. There’s not a lot of money thrown at the movie in the visuals department and, let’s face it, the film was composed on a shoestring budget of legos and silly string. That doesn’t stop Tenney from being inventive with the limitations and crafting a picture that is second only to his own Night of the Demons.

There’s nothing special about the acting from the cast. It’s passable – not the best in the world – and is just barely good enough to past the bullshit meter. The film lags toward the end but, by that time, you know exactly what is going on. Before the pacing dips, however, is another story in itself. There’s mystery throughout this picture before it is manhandled by camp and cheese. It’s that early eeriness that has fans and cult purists coming back to it and, eventually, the fine folks over at Shout! Factory who handle the new transfer with love and affection.

Heavy on the corn syrup and a little cheesy, Witchboard might not blow your mind but this supernatural flick is much better than it gets credit for.

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MPAA Rating: Not rated.
Runtime: 98 mins
Director: Kevin Tenney
Writer: Kevin Tenney
Cast: Tawny Kitaen, Todd Allen, Stephen Nichols
Genre: Horror | Mystery | Thriller
Tagline: Never play it alone
Memorable Movie Quote: "Hang loose, stay cool, and don't forget your psychic humor."
Distributor: Cinema Group
Official Site:
Release Date: December 31, 1986
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: February 4, 2013

Synopsis: A woman (Kitaen) finds an interest in her friend Brandon's Ouija Board when he brings it by her party.

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Witchboard - Blu-ray Review

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - February 4, 2014
Screen Formats: 1.78:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
Discs: 50GB Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Region Encoding: A

Resurrected by the twisted minds over at Shout! Factory, Witchboard comes to Blu-ray in a refreshing 1.85:1, 1080p High Definition transfer that makes the film look better than it ever has. Previous DVD copies couldn’t help but look a little dull and grainy, but the quality here shows that the company really took their time with the restoration. Blacks are deep. Colors are true and there is a nice layer of grain over everything. The 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio has also had a great makeover, with particular attention given to the creepy soundtrack, which now sounds crystal clear. Overall, you really couldn’t ask for better quality for a low-budget horror film that’s nearly 30 years old.

Supplements:

Commentary:

There are two commentaries included. A new one with Writer/Director Kevin Tenney and Actors Stephen Nichols, Kathleen Wilhoite, and James Quinn and an older one with Writer/Director Kevin Tenney, Executive Producer Walter Josten, and Producer Jeff Geoffray. The newer one is worth a listen but a lot of joking goes on, so you don’t learn all that much. The track with Tenney and the producers is the much more informative track. There is a lot to discuss and a lot is revealed about the many secrets of Witchboard.

Special Features:

Shout! Factory did not skimp on the extras for this release. The main featurette is a 45-minute, in depth look at how the film got made. It features interviews with cast and crew detailing how the whole thing got started and goes right up through their surprise at its eventual popularity at its screenings. The vast majority of extra material is taken up with vintage interviews and random footage from the set.