Witchboard (2024 film)

Witchboard
Theartical release poster
Directed byChuck Russell
Screenplay by
  • Chuck Russell
  • Greg McKay
Based onWitchboard
by Kevin Tenney
Produced by
  • Chuck Russell
  • Kade Vu
  • Greg McKay
  • Bernie Gewissler
Starring
CinematographyYaron Levy
Music bySam Ewing
Production
companies
  • A-Nation Media
  • Gala Film
Distributed by
  • The Avenue
  • Atlas Distribution
Release dates
  • July 26, 2024 (2024-07-26) (Fantasia)
  • August 15, 2025 (2025-08-15) (United States)
Running time
112 minutes[i]
Countries
Languages
Box office$247,162[6][7]

Witchboard is a 2024 supernatural horror film written and directed by Chuck Russell. A remake of the 1986 film, it stars Madison Iseman, Aaron Dominguez, Melanie Jarnson, Charlie Tahan, Antonia Desplat, and Jamie Campbell Bower. Its plot follows a young couple opening a restaurant in New Orleans who come in contact with a spirit board that begins wreaking havoc on their lives.

The film had its world premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 26, 2024, and was released in the United States on August 15, 2025.

Plot

Emily, a recovering heroin addict, is helping to prepare for her fiancé Christian's opening of a restaurant in New Orleans's French Quarter in a renovated carriage house where they reside. While picking mushrooms in the forest, Emily comes across a historic spirit board which has recently been stolen from a local museum. At a dinner party, Emily shows the board to Christian's ex-girlfriend, Brooke, an academic and antiquities expert, who analyzes some of its symbols.

Emily discovers a pendulum made out of a human finger bone contained within the board's eye centerpiece. Believing that the board is allowing her to communicate with her own subconscious mind, Emily locates her lost engagement ring. Simultaneously, Christian's friend and employee, Richie, is killed in a violent kitchen accident in which his hand is dismembered by an electric meat slicer. Later, the board causes Emily's former drug dealer, Jessie, to fall from a rooftop to his death.

When Christian learns the board was stolen and that its thieves have since died, he suggests turning it into authorities, but Emily refuses, fearing she may be suspected due to her criminal record of drug possession. Emily begins experiencing visions of the board's creator, Naga Soth, a witch who was persecuted in 1690s France, condemned and outcast from her village by Bishop Grogan, a witchhunter who secretly wished to utilize her occult powers himself. After her banishment, the powerful Naga Soth cursed the village, causing them to turn against each other and eventually kill one another.

Worried about Emily's declining mental state, Christian seeks assistance from Alexander Babtise, a New Age pagan and acquaintance of Brooke. Alexander visits the couple, and during a session with the board, places Emily in a trance during which her soul is transferred back in time to Naga Soth, who comes to possess Emily's body in the present day. As Emily faces execution for Naga Soth's crimes, Naga Soth poisons the guests at Christian's restaurant opening with mushrooms that cause them to hallucinate and kill one another, recreating her past vengeance. Alexander, who is present at the dinner, absconds while Brooke narrowly saves Christian, who is pursued by police.

Brooke brings Christian to Alexander's lavish ancestral estate. It is revealed that Alexander is a descendant of Bishop Grogan, and Emily a descendant of Naga Soth. Alexander seeks to control Naga Soth as his minion among his modern coven of witches, viewing it as a fulfillment of his ancestral lineage. Christian manages to kill several of the cultists and hurl the spirit board into a fireplace before being shot by Alexander. Meanwhile, Naga Soth, recalling Grogan's mistreatment of her, turns against Alexander. As the spirit board begins to burn, Naga Soth's soul is returned across time to her original body, only moments before her burning at the stake. Using her magic, Naga Soth keeps the fire at bay and taunts Grogan. Intent on carrying out the execution, Grogan attempts to decapitate Naga Soth, but she overpowers him and pulls him into the pyre, allowing them both to burn to death. Simultaneously, Alexander manages to save the board from the fireplace before Emily, her soul now restored to her physical body, shoots him to death. Emily consoles Christian as he dies of his wounds. After police descend on the scene, Alexander is placed in a body bag, only to open his eyes as the bag is zipped closed.

Some time later, Brooke visits the Vatican, where a Catholic priest offers her precious diamonds in exchange for the board. Before departing with Emily, the two hand over the bone pendulum. After they leave, the priest begins to communicate with the board before Naga Soth appears behind him.

Cast

Production

Development

In 2017, Chuck Russell became attached to write the script for a remake of the 1986 film Witchboard.[11] It was reported in May 2019, that he would also direct the film and it would be produced by Grimmfest, in partnership with Minds Eye Entertainment, Falconer Pictures and M2 Media Post.[12]

Commenting on his inspiration for the film and choice to set it in New Orleans, Russell said: "My impression of classic witchcraft and sorcery is associated with the mystique of New Orleans. There’s also literally a French connection in this story, as some of the most dramatic Witch Trials took place in France, and there is a connection with the French settling in New Orleans. I wanted to have a connection between this set of characters and the set of characters in the 1700s that created the Witchboard. Nothing could be more atmospheric and colorful than New Orleans".[13] According to Russell, the historic sequences in the film are based on documented witch trials in France, which included persecution for use of pendulum boards, which were progenitors to the modern Ouija board.[14]

Filming

In March 2023, pre-production restarted with Russell's A-Nation Media and Gala Films replacing the previous production studios.[15][16] Principal photography took place in Montreal and New Orleans from April to June 2023.[17][18] Some scenes were shot in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue at Morgan Arboretum in late May.[19] The production was granted an interim agreement allowing the actors to continue working on the film during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[20]

Release

Witchboard had its world premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 26, 2024.[1][21] In October 2024, Highland Film Group acquired international sales rights to the film.[22]

The film was given a limited theatrical release in the United States by The Avenue and Atlas Distribution on August 15, 2025 in 580 theaters.[2][23]

Reception

Box office

On its opening night in the United States, the film earned $74,000,[7] averaging $128 per screen.[23] It concluded its opening weekend with $197,000 in ticket sales,[7] averaging $339 per screen.[24] In international territories, it earned $6,092, making for a worldwide box office gross of $247,162 as of August 20, 2025.[6]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 63% of 35 critics' reviews are positive.[25] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 56 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.

Josh Korngut, writing for Dread Central, gave the film a four out of five rating, writing that "although its plot unravels a smidge in the final act, and its runtime is about 20 minutes longer than I would've recommended, these few blemishes somehow only add to the film's overall charm and commitment to the bit."[26] Joe Lipsett of Bloody Disgusting gave the film a two and a half out of five rating, summarizing that "it's messy and uneven, scattered in both narrative and performance, but fun enough to lightly recommend."[9] Writing for Rue Morgue, Deirdre Crimmins noted: "It is not a perfect film. Its characters and plot are thin, and at times it is unclear if we are supposed to root for or against the board and the witches. But it also feels like a throwback to the sort of mid-budget horror films made in the ’80s and ’90s that have all but disappeared from the slate of film releases in this century. It prioritizes madness and commotion over artistry or coherence, and comes away successful in that quest. It is hard to ding a film that refuses to take itself too seriously when it does just that."[27]

J. Hurtado, writing for ScreenAnarchy, noted: "Though it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, Russell’s Witchboard is a perfectly decent—if a little long—stab at the haunted item subgenre that should satisfy fans of the earlier franchise."[28] Rob Hunter of Film School Rejects described the film at its premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival as "an okay romp, a slightly better one if Russell makes some judicious cuts before its eventual release, but it can’t touch the original or even come close to the highs of his own 80s classics."[29] RogerEbert.com's Clint Worthington noted of the performances that "Iseman makes for a capable lead, but she’s surrounded by a devil’s row of mismatched and miscalibrated supporting players," and described the film as a throwback to the horror films of the 1980s and 1990s, awarding it two and a half out of four stars.[30]

Writing for Paste, critic Jim Vorel gave the film a favorable assessment, describing it as "relentlessly entertaining, nasty in its misanthropic delight in messing with its characters, stylishly put together, and unexpectedly sexy to boot. Deeply silly but more narratively ambitious than one would likely expect, it’s bursting (honestly overstuffed) with ideas and cinematic verve, taking advantage of a slightly longer runtime to really venture into increasingly bonkers metaphysical territory as it draws on and creates new cinematic tropes for movies about witches."[31] The Mercury News's Randy Myers felt the film was an improvement upon the original, adding that it "gives diehard fans a gory, well-acted throwback that faithfully adheres to the genre playbook. Although it runs on for far too long (nearly 2 hours!), Russell executes the bloodshed and witchery in Gothic style."[32]

In a mixed review, Mark Hanson of Slant Magazine awarded the film a two out of four star-rating, describing its supernatural elements as "run-of-the-mill," but conceded: "Some of the period action set pieces are spirited in their staging, while the film doesn’t lack for gruesome and elaborate kill sequences, which is almost enough to distract from the screenplay’s patchiness and insipid characterizations."[33] Starburst's Martin Unsworth awarded the film three out of five stars, summarizing: "Radically different to the original movie, Russell’s version is a stylish if slightly overlong mixture of character drama and mystical horror... It’s doubtful Russell’s Witchboard will gain the cult following the original has, but even with some flaws, it’s an entertaining picture."[34]

Kevin Tenney, the writer and director of the original film, commented favorably on its "strong cast, masterful direction, and gorgeous cinematography. Although it’s an entirely different story with different characters, it does manage to pay homage to three or four sequences from my original film."[35]

Notes

  1. ^ The cut of the film that premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival ran 115 minutes in length.[1] However, multiple sources note the theatrical release cut runs 112 minutes.[2][3][4][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Witchboard". Fantasia International Film Festival. Archived from the original on July 4, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Blevins, Adam (April 7, 2025). "New Witchboard Image Pits Mel Jarnson & Aaron Dominguez Against the Darkness in This Remake of a Horror Classic [Exclusive]". Collider. Archived from the original on August 12, 2025.
  3. ^ Dela Paz, Maggie (July 31, 2025). "Witchboard: Stranger Things Star Leads Horror Movie Remake's Red Band Trailer". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on August 13, 2025.
  4. ^ "Witchboard (2025) Tickets & Showtimes". Fandango. Archived from the original on August 13, 2025.
  5. ^ "Witchboard (2025)". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 13, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Witchboard (2025) - Box Office and Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "Witchboard (2025)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d Grobar, Matt (May 1, 2023). "Witchboard: Madison Iseman, Aaron Dominguez, Antonia Desplat & Charlie Tahan Join Jamie Campbell Bower In Chuck Russell's Remake". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Lipsett, Joe (July 29, 2024). "'Witchboard' Is a Messy, Occasionally Fun Remake [Fantasia Review]". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on August 5, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  10. ^ Navarro, Meagan (July 22, 2023). "Witchboard – New Trailer for Remake Teases Chuck Russell's Return to Horror". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023.
  11. ^ Hamman, Cody (May 13, 2019). "Dream Warriors' Chuck Russell to direct a remake of Witchboard". JoBlo. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  12. ^ Dalton, Ben (May 10, 2019). "UK's Grimmfest launches horror production company (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  13. ^ Earl, William (July 27, 2024). "Director Chuck Russell Helped Make Jim Carrey and Dwayne Johnson Movie Stars — His Horror Remake 'Witchboard' Inspired Him More Than Ever: 'I Wanted to Outdo Myself'". Variety. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024.
  14. ^ Given, Molly (August 11, 2025). "Chuck Russell conjures a new kind of horror with 'Witchboard'". Metro Philadelphia. Archived from the original on August 17, 2025.
  15. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 31, 2023). "Stranger Things Jamie Campbell Bower Set By Helmer Chuck Russell For Witchboard Remake". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  16. ^ Luers, Erik (August 12, 2024). ""We Have Complete Creative Control": Chuck Russell on Witchboard". Filmmaker. Archived from the original on May 15, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  17. ^ "What's Shooting". ACTRA Montreal. March 29, 2023. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023.
  18. ^ Deckelmeier, Joe (August 1, 2023). "SDCC 2023: Witchboard Director Chuck Russell On Revisiting A Classic Horror Movie". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023.
  19. ^ Massad, Rhonda (May 28, 2023). "Remake of Witchboard movie shooting at the Morgan Arboretum". West Island News. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023.
  20. ^ Hipes, Patrick (August 16, 2023). "SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreements: Full List Of Movies And TV Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  21. ^ Navarro, Meagan (May 9, 2024). "Fantasia 2024 First Wave of Programming Includes Found Footage Shelby Oaks, Witchboard Remake, and More". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024.
  22. ^ "Highland Film Group launching AFM sales on Fantasia entry Witchboard from The Mask director Chuck Russell". Highland Film Group. October 31, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  23. ^ a b "Daily Box Office". The Numbers. August 15, 2025. Archived from the original on August 16, 2025.
  24. ^ Scott, Ryan (August 18, 2025). "The WITCHBOARD Remake Was Totally Ignored At The Box Office". Fangoria. Archived from the original on August 18, 2025.
  25. ^ "Witchboard". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  26. ^ Korngut, Josh (July 27, 2024). "Witchboard Is A Wicked-Fun And Expertly Made Horror Throwback From The Director Of 'Elm Street 3' [Fantasia 2024 Review]". Dread Central. Archived from the original on August 12, 2025.
  27. ^ Crimmins, Deirdre (August 6, 2024). "Fantasia '24 Movie Review: Signs Point to Chuck Russell's Return to Horror with Witchboard". Rue Morgue. Archived from the original on August 12, 2025.
  28. ^ Hurtado, J. (July 27, 2024). "Fantasia 2024 Review: WITCHBOARD, Chuck Russell Returns to Horror With This Stylish Series Update". ScreenAnarchy. Archived from the original on August 12, 2025.
  29. ^ Hunter, Rob (August 6, 2024). "'Witchboard' Is a Mildly Entertaining Callback to the Highs of 80s Horror". Film School Rejects. Archived from the original on August 12, 2025.
  30. ^ Worthington, Clint (August 15, 2025). "Witchboard". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2025.
  31. ^ Vorel, Jim (August 12, 2025). "The Sultry, Silly Witchboard Is a Handsome Horror Return for Chuck Russell". Paste. ISSN 1540-3106. Archived from the original on August 13, 2025.
  32. ^ Myers, Randy (August 14, 2025). "What to watch: Another bloody good horror film has invaded theaters". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2025.
  33. ^ Hanson, Mark (August 14, 2025). "'Witchboard' Review: Spirited Direction Almost Dispels the Curse of Insipid Material". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on August 15, 2025.
  34. ^ Unsworth, Martin (August 16, 2025). "Witchboard". Starburst. Archived from the original on August 17, 2025.
  35. ^ Hamman, Cody (July 22, 2025). "Original Witchboard director shares his reaction to the Witchboard remake". JoBlo.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2025.
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