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Plot Summary

Witchboard (1987) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
1987 · 98 min · English
JustWatch #20,107 7
Directed by
Kevin Tenney
Starring
Kathleen Wilhoite, Todd Allen, Tawny Kitaen, Burke Byrnes, Gloria Hayes, J.P. Luebsen

During a Halloween party, a Ouija board inadvertently summons Malfeitor, a dangerous spirit from beyond. Brandon, attempting to contact a friendly spirit named David, instead unleashes a malevolent force that begins to terrorize him and his friends. Malfeitor manipulates the living world, creating a terrifying and chaotic situation as the group struggles to contain the supernatural threat.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Witchboard
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Witchboard (1987)

Where can you watch Witchboard? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, AMC+ and Midnight Pulp: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Witchboard: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Witchboard (1987) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

In the heart of a vibrant house party in Fairfield, California, Brandon Sinclair ([actor](39)) decides to bring out his Ouija board with the intentions of reconnecting with David, a spirit he and his ex-girlfriend Linda Brewster ([actor](38)) had previously communicated with. When Jim Morar ([actor](37)), Linda's current boyfriend, dismisses the notion of David's presence, the spirit reacts harshly by slashing Brandon's car tires. The following day, undeterred, Linda turns to the board again in hopes of locating her lost engagement ring with David's assistance.

Meanwhile, at the construction site where Jim works, tragedy strikes as his friend Lloyd ([actor](35)) dies in an accident involving falling drywall. Lieutenant Dewhurst ([actor](36)) questions Jim about the unfortunate incident, while Linda becomes more engrossed in her interactions with David, seeking comfort amidst her shaky relationship with Jim. However, as her connection to the spirit deepens, Linda begins to exhibit unsettling symptoms, including nausea.

As concerns regarding Linda's potential pregnancy loom over them, Brandon decides to enlist the help of psychic medium Zarabeth Crawford ([actor](34)) to hold a séance and potentially banish David's spirit. During this event, Zarabeth channels David, revealing himself to be the spirit of a ten-year-old boy, igniting feelings of maternal instinct within Linda and further strengthening her bond with the spirit.

However, calamity strikes when Zarabeth returns home only to be found brutally murdered, her body thrown through a window and impaled on a sundial. The next day, Brandon discovers the gruesome news and, suspecting David to be responsible, shares his fears with Jim, who remains skeptical of the wild claims made by his friend.

As Jim observes Brandon leave, a horrifying scene unfolds before him: Linda thrashing violently against a wall, leading to her unconscious state. At the hospital, doctors confirm the unsettling truth – Linda is not pregnant. Faced with this distressing news, Jim decides to team up with Brandon to unravel the mystery surrounding David. Their investigation reveals a shocking history: David was a ten-year-old boy who drowned in a nearby lake a decade earlier. In their attempts to communicate with David again, they uncover that Linda is being tormented by Carlos Malfeitor, an ominous spirit with a dark past.

Amidst all this chaos, disaster strikes at the dock when a precariously stacked pile of fishing barrels falls onto Jim, knocking him out. Brandon, too, meets a grim fate when he is attacked with a hatchet by Malfeitor. As Jim regains consciousness, he grieves his friend’s death and becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth about Malfeitor. A dive into Carlos' history reveals that he was a notorious axe murderer who met a violent end in his home back in 1930, eerily mirroring the home that Jim and Linda now share.

The situation escalates when Linda, just back from the hospital, suffers a brutal assault by Malfeitor’s malevolent spirit. The next day, Jim discovers their home in disarray, only to be attacked by a possessed Linda. On the scene arrives Dewhurst, who mistakenly accuses Jim of the horrific crimes, but in a moment of chaotic bravery, Linda uses a fire poker to strike him down.

At a critical moment, Jim takes aim at the Ouija board, the root of their torment, and fires, which sends the board hurtling through a window onto a passing car, signaling a turning point in their harrowing ordeal. In the aftermath, Jim and Linda emerge victorious, freed from Malfeitor's influence, and decide to start afresh together, culminating in their marriage.

However, as they begin to return to their normal lives, a chilling scene unfolds when their landlady, Mrs. Moses ([actor](32)), cleaning their house with her granddaughter, discovers the enigmatic board. Curious about its powers, she muses aloud, and as her eyes fall upon the planchette, it inexplicably shifts to spell out "yes," indicating that Malfeitor’s ominous presence might still linger, casting a long shadow over their future.

Last updated: November 19, 2024 at 20:41

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Plot questions answered

Witchboard Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Witchboard (1987): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does the Ouija board summon Malfeitor instead of David?

When Brandon uses the Ouija board to contact David, the spirit that responds is actually Malfeitor, not the friendly spirit they previously communicated with. Malfeitor was able to intercept the communication because the board opened a portal to the spirit world, and this malevolent force was drawn to the session. The film's implication is that Malfeitor hijacked the connection, pretending to be David to gain access to the living world.

  • ouija board
  • malfeitor
  • david
  • spirit summoning
  • possession
Q2

Who is Carlos Malfeitor in Witchboard?

Carlos Malfeitor is the main antagonist and the evil spirit tormenting the group. He was an axe murderer who lived in the house that Jim and Linda now occupy, where he was violently killed in 1930. When the Ouija board is used, Malfeitor seizes the opportunity to escape the spirit realm and terrorize the living. His spirit possesses people, commits murders, and manipulates the characters throughout the film.

Foreshadowing: The history of the house is revealed when Jim and Brandon investigate Carlos' past, discovering he died violently in the very home they now share.

  • carlos malfeitor
  • axe murderer
  • spirit
  • antagonist
  • house history
Q3

Why does the spirit kill Zarabeth in Witchboard?

Zarabeth is murdered because she attempted to communicate with and potentially banish David's spirit during the séance. When she channels David and reveals his true identity as a ten-year-old boy, the malevolent force behind the communications, Malfeitor, responds by killing her to silence her psychic abilities and prevent her from stopping his plans. Her body is found impaled on a sundial after being thrown through a window.

Foreshadowing: The séance itself is a direct attempt to remove the spirit, which provokes Malfeitor's violent response.

  • zarabeth
  • murder
  • séance
  • psychic
  • killed
Q4

Is David actually evil in Witchboard?

David is not actually evil, he is the spirit of a ten-year-old boy who drowned in a nearby lake a decade before the film. However, when the group tries to contact David through the Ouija board, Malfeitor intercepts the communication and pretends to be David. The real David's identity is revealed during the séance, where he appears as a child, triggering maternal instincts in Linda. Malfeitor uses David's identity as a cover to manipulate Linda and gain trust.

Foreshadowing: The revelation comes during the séance when Zarabeth channels a child spirit, not the adult presence they expected.

  • david
  • spirit
  • child
  • malfeitor
  • drowning
Q5

What happens to Linda's pregnancy in Witchboard?

Linda experiences nausea and other symptoms that suggest she might be pregnant, creating tension between her and Jim. However, at the hospital, doctors confirm she is not pregnant, the symptoms were actually caused by her deepening connection to the spirit world through the Ouija board. This false pregnancy subplot adds to the psychological manipulation Malfeitor exerts over her.

Foreshadowing: Linda's unsettling symptoms begin after she continues using the Ouija board, linking her physical reactions to the supernatural.

  • pregnancy
  • linda
  • nausea
  • symptoms
  • hospital
Q6

How does Jim destroy the Ouija board in Witchboard?

Jim destroys the Ouija board by shooting it with a gun during the climactic confrontation. When he fires at the board, the bullet sends it hurtling through a window onto a passing car below. This act severs the spiritual connection between Malfeitor and the living world, freeing Jim and Linda from his torment. The board's destruction represents the breaking of Malfeitor's hold on their lives.

  • ouija board
  • destroy
  • shoot
  • break connection
  • climax
Q7

What does the ending of Witchboard mean?

The ending shows Jim and Linda defeating Malfeitor by destroying the Ouija board, and they subsequently marry, seemingly achieving victory. However, the final scene reveals Mrs. Moses, their landlady, discovering the board while cleaning. When she looks at the planchette, it mysteriously moves to spell "yes," strongly implying that Malfeitor's spirit still lingers and may claim new victims. This ambiguous ending suggests the threat is not truly vanquished.

  • ending
  • ambiguous
  • cliffhanger
  • malfeitor
  • returns
Q8

How does Brandon die in Witchboard?

Brandon is attacked and killed with a hatchet by Malfeitor's spirit. After the spirit causes a pile of fishing barrels to fall on Jim at the dock, leaving him unconscious, Malfeitor subsequently attacks Brandon with a hatchet. This brutal murder occurs as Malfeitor escalates his terror campaign against the group, eliminating one of the people who initiated the Ouija board session.

Foreshadowing: Brandon was the one who originally brought out the Ouija board at the party, making him a primary target for Malfeitor's wrath.

  • brandon
  • hatchet
  • killed
  • death
  • attack
Q9

Why does the spirit slash Brandon's car tires?

The spirit slashes Brandon's car tires as a reaction to Jim Morar dismissing the idea of David's presence during the Halloween party. When Jim openly rejects the validity of the spirit communication, the entity responds violently by slashing the tires of Brandon's car. This early act establishes the spirit's hostile nature and demonstrates its ability to affect the physical world.

  • tires
  • slashed
  • spirit reaction
  • jim
  • warning
Q10

Why does Malfeitor target Linda specifically?

Malfeitor targets Linda because she becomes the most psychologically vulnerable and spiritually connected to the Ouija board sessions. After repeated use of the board, Linda forms a deep emotional bond with the spirit she believes is David. Malfeitor exploits this connection to manipulate her, eventually possessing her physically. Her vulnerability stems from her emotional turmoil with Jim and her longing for the spirit's companionship, making her an ideal vessel for the malevolent force.

Foreshadowing: Linda's continued use of the board and her desire to reconnect with David make her increasingly susceptible to possession.

  • linda
  • possession
  • target
  • vulnerable
  • connection
Q11

What was Malfeitor's crime in 1930?

Carlos Malfeitor was an axe murderer who was killed violently in his home in 1930. His criminal history is uncovered when Jim investigates the spirit's background, revealing that he died in the very house Jim and Linda now share. The violent manner of his death, being killed in his own home, explains why his spirit remains earthbound and vengeful, using the Ouija board's portal to return and terrorize new occupants.

Foreshadowing: The investigation into the house's history reveals its dark past and explains why Malfeitor is connected to this specific location.

  • axe murderer
  • 1930
  • house history
  • crime
  • killed
Q12

How does Malfeitor possess Linda in Witchboard?

Malfeitor possesses Linda gradually through her repeated use of the Ouija board. Each session strengthens the spiritual connection between her and the entity. As her bond deepens, particularly after learning David was a child and feeling maternal instincts, Malfeitor gains greater access to her mind and body. Eventually, she becomes fully possessed, attacking Jim and Lieutenant Dewhurst physically. The possession is broken only when the Ouija board is destroyed.

Foreshadowing: Linda's unsettling symptoms and emotional attachment to the spirit foreshadow her eventual possession.

  • possession
  • linda
  • ouija
  • control
  • break

Movie threads

More Movies Like Witchboard, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Witchboard tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about haunted artifacts like Witchboard

When a cursed object opens a doorway to a vengeful supernatural entity. If you liked the premise of Witchboard, you'll find more terrifying stories here where a simple object becomes a gateway for evil. These movies feature cursed items, escalating supernatural threats, and characters fighting to close a door they unknowingly opened. Discover similar thrillers and horror films about haunted artifacts.

  • ominous
  • malevolent
  • frightening
  • supernatural
  • anxious
  • unsettling
  • Tone: tense, dark, malevolent
  • Pacing: steady escalation
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically begin with the discovery or use of an object tied to the occult, which inadvertently summons or unleashes a dangerous spirit. The entity then begins to torment the characters, often through psychological manipulation and physical threats, creating a linear escalation from curiosity to pure survival horror.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by the core premise of a cursed object as the catalyst for horror, creating a familiar pattern of dread, investigation, and confrontation with a supernatural antagonist that cannot be easily dismissed.

Psychological manipulation horror movies like Witchboard

A supernatural antagonist plays cruel psychological games with its victims. Fans of Witchboard who enjoyed the psychological torment inflicted by the spirit Malfeitor will appreciate these films. This thread collects movies where the supernatural horror is cerebral, focusing on mind games, false realities, and the terrifying unraveling of a character's sanity. Find similar tense thrillers about psychological manipulation.

  • psychological
  • unsettling
  • paranoid
  • manipulative
  • anxious
  • suspenseful
  • Tone: tense, unsettling, paranoid
  • Pacing: steady, character-focused
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative focuses on the cat-and-mouse game between a vulnerable human and an intelligent, deceptive supernatural force. The entity's goal is often to cause despair and chaos by creating false scenarios, exploiting fears, and turning allies against each other, making trust a fragile and dangerous commodity.

Why they belong together: They share a core focus on psychological horror over sheer gore, where the antagonist's power lies in deception and mental attack, creating a uniquely unsettling and paranoid viewing experience.

If you liked this

Movies Like Witchboard

Similar movies to Witchboard: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Witchboard (1987) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Witchboard in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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