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Hold onto your hats, fans, because the new trailer for the remake is finally here, and it's nothing like the beloved 80s cult-classic. Directed by Chuck Russell (A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Blob), this version promises to deliver a whole new experience that's light on laughs, and heavy on supernatural thrills.

Featuring Madison Iseman (star of the USA Network's upcoming adaptation of John Grisham's The Rainmaker), the Witchboard trailer kicks off with a bang, showcasing not the Ouija board that was at the heart of the 1986 film, but a pendulum board, which, we guess is kind of scary? "There are powerful forces at play," says Jamie Campbell Bower's character of Alexander Babtiste shortly thereafter as we're treated to some erotic scenes before Iseman is assaulted by disembodied hands coming up from her mattress to grab her. Kind of cliché, but not bad. From there, the trailer descends into an all-out assault on the senses, showcasing all the spooky elements we can expect from the remake.

Set to hit theaters on August 15, 2025, the Witchboard remake also stars Aaron Dominguez, Antonia Desplat and Charlie Tahan. If the trailer wasn't enough to convince you that the film is taking a sharp turn from the original movie, maybe its synopsis will, as it sounds nothing like the Tawny Kitaen classic that also featured Stephen Nichols and an over-the-top performance by the phenomenal Kathleen Wilhoite:

"In New Orleans, Emily (Iseman) and her fiancé Christian (Dominguez) are opening their new dream café. But their dreams are dashed when Emily finds an ancient, cursed Witchboard, an ancient artifact that once served as a gateway to the spirit world. As Emily becomes increasingly captivated by the board's ability to summon spirits, Christian seeks the expertise of Alexander Babtiste (Bower), an enigmatic occult scholar. As Emily's grip on reality weakens, Babtiste's true intentions come to light, and the line between temptation and terror blurs as Emily and Christian find themselves trapped in a deadly web of witchcraft and dark desires."

Though Witchboard is finally hitting theaters this August, it made its premiere in 2024 at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival, giving some critics the chance to review it early before it hits the masses. The film currently sits at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, albeit with only six reviews so far. Deirdre Crimmins from Rue Morgue Magazine called it a movie that "prioritizes madness," saying:

"It prioritizes madness and commotion over artistry or coherence, and comes away successful in that quest. It is hard to ding a film that refuses to take itself too seriously."

Critic J Hurtado noted that Witchboard "doesn’t reinvent the wheel," but it should "satisfy fans of the earlier franchise." Yes, in case you forgot, Witchboard did turn into a franchise, spawning a sequel in 1993 and another in 1995, both of which were (surprise, surprise) far inferior to the first movie. Josh Korngut from Dread Central was another who had high marks for the remake, calling it a "genuine throwback to the practical-effects-driven horror movies of the late '90s," while Sarah Musnicky from Creepy Kingdom added that "from beginning to end, Witchboard never ceases to entertain."

You can find out for yourself if it's a worthy remake when Witchboard hits theaters on Aug. 15, 2025, but in the meantime, the original 1986 cult favorite is available to stream on Prime Video, Tubi, and Pluto TV.

Source: YouTube/Rotten Tomatoes