MovieChat Forums > Witchboard (1987) Discussion > Dated, Cheesey, and Lame

Dated, Cheesey, and Lame

posted 17 years ago by kwhenn
21 replies | jump to latest

It's too bad, because the idea is good. The execution is another thing all together. The acting was absolutley dismal. Tawny Kitean was eye candy in the Whitesnake videos, and still looks good here, but this is supposed to be a horror movie! I was LOL near the end of the movie when the spirit had taken possession of her...please, scariest movie ever as some reviewers have posted??? I suppose if you place it next to the MJ Thriller video, maybe. This whole exercise reflected the 80's MTV era, not to mention the hair styles. The two male leads hair was never out of place (mousse overload, I guess). Don't get me wrong, the 80's was to me what the 50's was to my parents. Unfortunately this movie in my opinion did not age well. I have no problem with Cheese, like Leprechaun, but this movie took itself too seriously. A remake, with a director who understands horror would be highly recommended and welcome...maybe the spirits can spell...K.U.B.R.I.C.K and ask him if he's willing to direct from the "other" side.

[–] mdnightwnd 12 years ago

It was the scariest movie ever to me.... When I was 7. Seriously, I had a morbid sort of fascination with this movie. I watched it whenever it came on, but I was scared sh*tless after I watched it.

In any case, I agree... It's incredibly cheesy and dated now. Still brings back some good memories though!

[–] haymish28 12 years ago

You people are weird. I just watched this movie for the first time (I'm 26), and although it had some cheesy lines here and there (mostly from Zarabeth), I thought they were delivered in a mostly naturalistic way. I mean, I know people in real life that are way cheesier, so I don't see what the problem with this movie's writing is. And calling it "dated" is stupid. I WANT to see vintage fashion, props, etc. when I watch an older film. That's part of the appeal to me. It just makes the atmosphere all the more rich. And this film has loads of atmosphere, as well as some brilliant artistic flourishes. The end shot of him falling is no more cheesy than the film it was borrowed from (The Omen), and I saw it as more surreal than anything.

If people liked "Night of the Demons" they should definitely check this out. It's much more minimalistic in comparison, but similar nonetheless.

[–] balthazar_bee 11 years ago

I'm in total agreement, Haymish, and having read your post I don't feel quite so crazy. The word "cheesy" probably needs to die as a descriptor of films; it's become a go-to word for any film that was obviously made in another era (aside from a revered and respected few).

Witchboard gets a blu-ray release this coming week, and I'm rather excited to see it yet again. For the reasons you've mentioned -- the natural, better-than-average performances, the atmosphere -- I've revisited this movie more often than makes any sense.

[–] alucardvenom 10 years ago

Yes, fun horror flick with fair feeling to it, entertaining storyline, descent production, good pace and descent amount of character development. How dare they make such movie back in '80s!!!???

We all know that we all need yet another Hostel or Saw sequel that has tons of pointless gore scenes, zero character development and minimum plot, or yet another Insidious sequel that will do nothing but scream loud into your ear for another 90 minutes!

[–] horrorfreak423 10 years ago

Couldn't agree more with the original poster. It is incredibly boring yet hysterical at the same time. Zero scares!

[–] northernlad 8 years ago

Oh hell...this movie is absolutely a piece of *beep*

American Horror Story Season 6: Donald Trump

[–] !!!deleted!!! (70601346) 8 years ago

No, no and no. I don't find it any of those.