Witchboard(1986)
1986 · Kevin Tenney · 98 min
Playing around with a Ouija board, a trio of friends succeeds in contacting the spirit of a young boy. Trouble begins when the evil spirit, Malfeitor, takes over one of their bodies.
Horror · Mystery · Thriller
5.7213 votes
TMDB score
2/5
Intensity
2/5
Gore
2/5
Stays with you
How Witchboard scares
Watching it feels like a mix of cheesy 80s fun and genuine unease, with a slow creep of dread that builds as the possession takes hold. The pacing takes its time setting up the friend group and their Ouija game before shifting into more chaotic, violent territory. There's a spooky, otherworldly quality to the scares, but it never gets too heavy or hard to shake off afterward. It's a good pick if you want some retro chills with a bit of blood and a fun, pulpy energy rather than something that will haunt you.
On The Horror Database's 0–5 scare profile, Witchboard rates psychological 3/5, visceral 3/5, gore 2/5, lingering effect 2/5, and overall intensity 2/5.
- Psychological: 3 of 5
- Visceral: 3 of 5
- Gore: 2 of 5
- Lingering: 2 of 5
- Intensity: 2 of 5
Slow burn vs Jump scares: 40 of 100 — leans Slow burn
Supernatural vs Real-world: 10 of 100 — leans Supernatural
Fun-scary vs Disturbing: 30 of 100 — leans Fun-scary
Intensity over runtime
Shape only — no eventsReveal pacing shapeHide pacing shapeHidden by default — shows where the tension peaks and lets up.
A slow, party-scene-heavy start that gradually tightens into a string of escalating scares before a hard push at the very end.
Intensity across the runtime, 0 to 100: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5.
How scary is Witchboard?
On The Horror Database's 0–5 intensity scale, Witchboard rates 2/5 — moderately scary, building its fear through slow-burn dread rather than shocks. It works on both fronts, unsettling the mind while going for the body. Expect it to be moderately gory and fun-first. Some of it will follow you to bed, but it lets go within a day or so.
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