Ouija – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Ouija

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2015

22%

WISE Score

Generic teen horror where a Ouija board unleashes a demon after a suicide—predictable scares, zero substance, hard pass.

Ouija

movie

NR, 2015

22%

WISE Score

Generic teen horror where a Ouija board unleashes a demon after a suicide—predictable scares, zero substance, hard pass.

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, I'll be straight with you: this movie is bad. Not 'so bad it's good' bad—just forgettable, formulaic, jump-scare garbage that happens to open with teen suicide and then kills off characters one by one via demon possession. The 4.3 IMDb rating tells you everything.

The occult themes are heavy-handed, the scares are predictable, and there's zero emotional or intellectual payoff. If your teen wants horror, there are dozens of better options that don't center on suicide and demonic Ouija boards—or at least execute the premise with some creativity.

Unless your 16-year-old is specifically studying 'how NOT to make a horror film,' skip this one. It's not enriching, not entertaining, and definitely not worth the parental anxiety of wondering if your kid's going to have nightmares about possessed boards.

Age Fit

Technically rated PG-13, so 13+ is the floor, but honestly this is best skipped entirely. If your older teen (15-17) is deep into horror and you're okay with occult themes and graphic scares, fine—but know that even horror fans think this one's weak.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Film centers on teen suicide, demonic possession, and friends dying one by one. The emotional tone is dark and nihilistic, with occult themes throughout. Models risky behavior (using Ouija boards to contact the dead) and offers little emotional resolution or healthy coping mechanisms for grief. Not emotionally healthy content for most audiences.

Imaginative

Relies heavily on tired horror tropes—creaking doors, flickering lights, jump scares. The Ouija board premise has potential but execution is predictable and formulaic. No invitation to creative thinking or exploration; just passive consumption of generic supernatural scares. Low IMDb rating (4.3) suggests audiences found it unoriginal.

Safe

PG-13 for 'disturbing violent content, frightening horror images, and thematic material.' Contains graphic deaths, suicide as a plot trigger, demonic possession, and intense supernatural terror. MovieGuide flags 'intentional blasphemy, evil' and heavy occult worldview. Multiple sudden scares and disturbing imagery make this unsafe for unexpected viewing, especially for younger teens.

Enriching

Offers virtually no cognitive, ethical, or personal growth. The plot is thin, characters are underdeveloped, and there's no meaningful exploration of grief, friendship, or consequences. Entertainment value is also low—critics and audiences agree it's formulaic and forgettable. No skill-building, empathy development, or worthwhile takeaways.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

If your older teen is specifically into supernatural horror and wants something PG-13 rated (not R), this technically fits the bill
Could spark conversations about why occult practices are fictional entertainment vs. reality (though there are better films for this)
Short runtime means the pain ends relatively quickly

⚠

What to Watch For

Suicide is the inciting incident—a best friend's death drives the plot, which can be triggering for vulnerable teens
Demonic possession, graphic deaths, and jump scares throughout; genuinely frightening imagery for younger or sensitive viewers
Heavy occult themes (Ouija board as portal to evil spirits) may conflict with some family values or religious beliefs
Low entertainment value—even horror fans found it boring and derivative, so you're subjecting kids to disturbing content without payoff

Conversation Starters

"What do you think the movie gets wrong about grief? How do people actually cope when they lose someone?"
"Why do you think the characters thought using a Ouija board was a good idea? What would you have done differently?"
"Did the scares feel cheap or earned? What makes a horror movie actually good vs. just trying to shock you?"

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