I am ZoZo releases today from Anchor Bay, cashing in on the resurgence of Ouija board movies. To differentiate itself from the theatrical films dealing with the same subject matter, the entire thing was shot on Super 8mm. This gives the film a rather enjoyable, almost old-fashioned look, but, sadly, is the only redeeming factor of the film.

Under the guise of a true story, citing for its basis thousands of reports of terrifying encounters, via a Ouija board, with an entity calling itself Zozo. Apparently, according to a self-proclaimed expert and paranormal investigator, Darren Evans.

Using a letter to Evans as a framing device, the intent of the film was to convey a horrifying encounter 5 twenty-somethings have with ZoZo. Sadly the truly horrifying part is the wooden  acting, the missed opportunities, and a storyline that has been revisited and executed better dozens of times.

Tess (Kelly McLaren) is one of two young women, who travels to a remote island for a night of partying and celebrating Halloween. Joining them is Mel (Courtney Foxworty), the mandatory sexy goth girl, and three interchangeable and practically pointless male characters, Aiden (Demetrius Sager), Nick (Caleb Courtney) and Dean (Caleb Debattista).

There are the requisite rudimentary claims that the movement of the planchette on a Ouija board is actually subconscious muscle tremors, all made to set up the, ahem, scares (or decided lack thereof) that follows.

Using the board, they chat with a couple of beings, until things turn darker, and there is taunting and threats by something called ZoZo, which promises them death.

What follows is a comedy of errors that sees missed opportunities, terrible storytelling, and a complete misuse of Super 8mm film. The film seems more inline with a student film, a beginner at that, which I find harsh to say, as I love film, and film-making so much. But the entire film is lacking.

Tess’ attack in bed is a prime example, no doubt meant to elicit memories of the superior structured sequence in The Entity. With no physical effects to sell the scene, we are simply allowed a close-up of McLaren’s face as she emotes with terror. There is nothing else to sell the horror of the moment, and it’s desperately needed.

There is no demonic reveal, no glimpses of beasts, glowing eyes, moving shadows, creepy noises. Instead, what we are given is a collection of decidedly unmotivated actors, moving clunkily and speaking woodenly trying to scare us, ineffectively with a tale that Evans would have you believe is happening all over the world… he even has a website created for the stories of ZoZo.

I’m sorry to say, this one failed to entertain, but that’s ok, the other horror title Anchor Bay has released today is pretty damned entertaining.