Watch Ouija Shark

Ouija Shark is a low-budget indie horror film released in 2020, directed by Scott Patrick and featuring a cast of actors including Steph Goodwin, Zoe Towne, and Robin Hodge. As the title suggests, the film combines elements of supernatural horror with creature-feature tropes for an unusual and campy cinematic experience that targets fans of B-movies and sharksploitation flicks.

The film centers around a group of friends who come across a mysterious ouija board during a day out at the beach. The character of Jill, played by Steph Goodwin, is presented as the protagonist, a young woman who unwittingly initiates the film's central conflict. Zoe Towne and Robin Hodge portray Jill's friends, who together form the core cast of characters whose curiosity and naivety lead them into a deadly encounter with the paranormal.

The plot kicks off as the friends, looking for some entertainment, use the ouija board they found. However, things take a dark and unexpected turn when they accidentally summon the spirit of a bloodthirsty shark that once roamed the ocean. The ouija board serves as a portal between the spirit world and the physical world, unleashing a spectral shark that is able to move on land and hunt its prey without the constraints of water.

As a horror movie, audiences can expect classic tropes of the genre – tension-building moments, jump scares, and a creeping sense of dread. The film doesn't take itself too seriously, however, and it is clear from the get-go that Ouija Shark aims to embrace its own absurdity. Campy dialogue, over-the-top scenarios, and low-budget special effects are part of its charm, echoing the style of B-movies from past decades.

Ouija Shark capitalizes on the popular fascination with both ouija boards and shark attacks. Ouija boards have long been a fixture in the horror genre, often portrayed as conduits for dark forces and malevolent spirits. Shark attacks, similarly, have been a source of fear and fascination, perhaps most famously exploited in the 1975 blockbuster "Jaws." This film seeks to merge these sources of horror, while humor and satire provide a counterbalance to potential terror and intensity.

The spectral shark in Ouija Shark presents a unique antagonist. It's not just a regular shark hunting in the deep sea; it's a ghostly predator capable of stalking its prey on land. This supernatural twist adds to the absurdity while providing new creative territory for traditional shark horror. Since the shark is a spirit, the characters find that conventional methods of defense are useless against it. This poses a difficult challenge for Jill and her friends as they struggle to find a way to stop the ghostly shark before it devours them and anyone else in its path.

The narrative progresses as the characters are thrust into a bid for survival. Alongside the visceral threat posed by the shark, they must delve into the mysteries of the supernatural to find a solution to their haunting problem. They grapple with esoteric knowledge, mysticism, and the dark history of the ouija board itself as they race against time.

Ouija Shark also explores the dynamics of friendship, fear, and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect one another when faced with a horrifying situation. Often, the film plays with the idea of disbelief and skepticism, nudging at the question of how people react when confronted with the inexplicable and the supernatural.

The movie flirts with humor amid the horror, at times self-referential and leaning into the expectations of the audience familiar with the genre's clichés. It pokes fun at itself, which invites viewers to join in on the silliness rather than critique the film's low-budget nature or the sometimes less than convincing special effects. This self-aware approach often endears films like Ouija Shark to a particular niche audience that appreciates the blend of so-bad-it's-good movie-making.

The film's visual aesthetic, including its special effects, are characteristic of indie horror productions operating on a shoestring budget. There's a handmade quality to much of what appears on screen, from the practical effects to the computer-generated imagery. Lovers of indie horror will recognize and often celebrate such limitations as part of the sub-genre's appeal.

As the movie concludes, the climax provides a final showdown that encapsulates the film's humorous and horror aspects. While Ouija Shark may not be destined for critical acclaim, it finds its place within the realms of cult cinema, enjoyed by fans who crave a mix of camp, kitsch, and the occasional scare. It's a movie that becomes a curio of genre filmmaking, inviting viewers not to take it too seriously but to enjoy the ride it offers through the combined lenses of comedy and horror.

Ouija Shark is a 2020 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 10 minutes. It has received poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 1.9.