Witchboard (2025) Review: Dream Logic, Gore, and Occult Vibes Power This Wickedly Fun Remake

If you’re going to remake a cult classic, you better bring something fresh to the table—or in this case, to the kitchen. Director Chuck Russell (A Nightmare on Elm Street 3, The Blob) does exactly that with Witchboard (2025), a bloody, bold reimagining that swaps suburban séance for a New Orleans restaurant startup gone terrifyingly wrong.

This time, the story centers around Emily (Madison Iseman) and Christian (Aaron Dominguez), a couple who move to New Orleans to open a trendy new restaurant with a group of friends. But their dream turns into a horrific nightmare when one of them discovers a mysterious pendulum board—a spirit board used in ancient occult rituals—and inadvertently awakens something far older and darker than expected. What begins as quirky boho-creepy flair soon unravels into a full-on possession spiral, featuring ritual murders, blood sacrifices, and the rise of a supernatural cult led by the enigmatic occultist Alexander Babtiste (Jamie Campbell Bower, chewing scenery with sinister grace).

Where Witchboard shines is in its ability to balance nostalgia with originality. While it shares little plot-wise with the 1986 original, the tone—equal parts campy, sexy, and sinister—remains intact. Think: Evil Dead Rise meets Suspiria (with just a hint of Chopped if Gordon Ramsay were possessed by a demon).

The practical effects are gooey and gorgeous. There's plenty of gore, but Russell uses it with precision, never overshadowing the story’s psychological undercurrent. The film’s psychedelic elements—dreamlike possession sequences, occult visions, and weirdly beautiful ritual aesthetics—elevate the experience into something more surreal than your standard haunted-object flick.

It’s not a perfect dish. Some plot points meander, and certain character motivations get buried under the blood-soaked spectacle. But that barely slows the momentum. From its opening frames to its devilishly fun ending (yes, there’s sequel potential and we’re here for it), Witchboard is a wickedly entertaining return to form for Russell and a welcome resurrection of a horror property that never got its due.

Verdict:
Witchboard is a messy, magical, and macabre feast of horror—a chaotic séance of gore, glam, and good old-fashioned occult madness. It’s not just a remake, it’s a reinvention. And it’s absolutely worth answering the call.

Rating: 4 out of 5 pentagrams