Witchboard

First-time feature director-writer Kevin S. Tenney imbues his picture with a surprisingly slick sense of style and employs some clever camerawork when the narrative warrants it, refusing to bore the viewer with the endless evil-point-of-view shots favored by so many other horror directors.

Witchboard is smarter, and better acted, than much of its bloody competition. But it isn't crazy or original enough to stand too far above them. It's makers and its monsters alike deserve the same salutation: Better luck next time. [16 Mar 1987, p.8]

Junk, but amusing junk. [17 Mar 1987, p.B5]

A thrill-an-hour distraction that promises much more than it delivers.

The very best I can say is that Witchboard should encourage struggling film makers. Watch it and think, ''I can do better than that!''