This Genius Prequel Single-Handedly Revived a Dead Horror Franchise, Fans Say
It's rare to see a sequel surpass its predecessor. But when talented filmmaker Mike Flanagan took on the challenge of redeeming this franchise, he created something really outstanding.
Horror movies remain one of the most profitable genres in Hollywood. And for a very good reason. With minimal budgets, these films can have the chance to be the next big hit in a matter of months.
And even when a movie stumbles to deliver the spectacle that will satisfy its viewers, the franchise still has a chance to succeed through its sequels. The most spectacular failures paved the way for unexpected classics.
This brings us to one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent horror history, a story about how a talented director took a commercial flop and transformed it into something very special.
Ouija: Origin of Evil Comes to the Rescue
When Ouija: Origin of Evil was announced for 2016, horror fans around the world collectively rolled their eyes. After all, the first Ouija film had been a critical disaster. So, as you can imagine, expectations couldn't have been lower. Yet, Hollywood is full of redemption stories, and this one was no exception.
Mike Flanagan, a director who had already made a name for himself with movies like Oculus (2013) and Hush (2016), was serious about making this movie work. And we can say that he did even more than that, he completely reinvented it!
As one Redditor noted:
“I saw the first Ouija movie in theaters, and needless to say, it was the absolute worst film I saw in 2014. Kudos to Mike Flanagan for taking that awful set up and making an effective ghost story out of it.”
The film follows a mother and her two daughters who scam people with fake séances. But when they incorporate a Ouija board into their act, things take a dark turn as real supernatural forces begin to reveal themselves.
Needless to say, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Johnny Brayson (Bustle) even made a bold prediction, stating:
“I'd be willing to bet that Ouija movies will be popping up around October 31 for at least the next few years.”
While this prediction didn't come true, it definitely left room for another Ouija movie in the unknown future.
But still we're thankful for the sequel that left the room for such questions. For those intrigued by this story, Ouija: Origin of Evil is currently available on Apple TV+.