‘Witchboard’ (2024) Reimagined: Review & Interviews
Chuck Russell’s Witchboard (2024) is a strong example of how remakes can be more than just shot-for-shot rehashes of an original. Making several reverent nods to its 1986 namesake while giving itself over to its own stylistic, suspenseful, and creepily authentic vision of the subgenre.
Centering around Emily (Madison Iseman) and her fiancé Christian (Aaron Dominguez) moving into a historic New Orleans apartment complex with a cloudy past, things quickly spiral out of control when Emily stumbles across an unusual pendulum board. Swinging rather than sliding like the Ouija board of its source material, the occult object of focus in this feature is a far more integral device than its namesake was in the original. The pendulum board isn’t just a tool for revelations and conversation with malevolent forces, it’s a portal to something much darker. Seductive and suspenseful, the pendulum board ends up being a key character of its own, setting up some of the film’s most memorable moments.
The film taps into the roots of the original while naturally expanding the terrifying world it sets up for this iteration. There are likely to be clever callbacks spotted by fans of the 1986 Witchboard, but they are not major components and new viewers will not miss out on anything for lack of awareness of the earlier film.
In many ways the pendulum board plays the same role of iconographic uniqueness as the Ouija board did in its namesake. Supernatural calling cards with a single point of uniqueness have a long history in horror films. While not every reinterpretation or reinvention of the subgenre is successful, this movie certainly has a finger on the pulse of both the original film and the thrill-seeking elements that have made modern horror so successful with a broad audience.
The film is also worth watching from a performance standpoint, with a strong lead from Madison Iseman. A long-time horror fan favorite, Iseman roots Emily in a balance of vulnerability and tenacity that allows her to explore the occult on-screen without feeling foolish. Dominguez and the other members of the supporting cast are just as strong, bringing authenticity to moments heavy with dread, doubt, and loyalty as the characters are drawn in deeper by the sinister force of the pendulum board.
Russell’s direction also sells both the allure of New Orleans as a gothic backdrop and the performances of those unfortunate enough to cross paths with the pendulum board. Stylishly dark, many of the film’s sequences lean on suspenseful builds instead of cheap thrills to sell an atmosphere that is both inclusive and deeply terrifying.
Witchboard (2024) may not be the traditional remembrance of a film that has built a cult following. But in the oversaturated market of horror reboots that play it safe on the creativity front, this one makes a claim to being an original new vision. Honoring the legacy of the original, it’s easy to recommend both to longtime fans and new viewers looking for a treat to add to their spooky season watchlist.
Verdict: ★★★★☆ – A stylish and unsettling supernatural thriller, with the pendulum board stealing the spotlight as one of horror’s most original occult devices in recent years.
Check out interviews with Elisha Herbert, Renee Herbert, and Aaron Dominguez.
