American Ouija (2011)

Aka 19 Doors

Grace is working on a new book and moves into the Lindora Hotel which has been empty for years. The bar on the first floor is open and as she’s ordering some fries, she tells the bartender and patrons she’ll be there for a few weeks. She neglects to tell her fiancé, which her teenage daughter points out is not cool. 

The hotel closed years ago when business dried up after some murders. Grace thinks the murders are cool and the alleged hauntings are okay, but she shrieks in horror at a flickering light.  

Later on she’s dragged down the hallway by a man in a black hooded cape. When the police ask for a description of the man, she says black like a shadow, to which the police say okay a black man.  Grace says nothing even though the only thing black about the guy was his cape. So far there is nothing likable about Grace.

Grace meets a priest in the bar who she later asks for help. She also meets the owners daughter Katie, who is referred to as limited. Grace proves to be even more unlikable as she makes jokes about Katie’s intellect and forces Katies hands on the ouija board so she doesn’t have to touch it. This way if anything evil comes through it will go after Katie, not her. 

While being in the hotel is making Grace more callous, she wasn’t that sensitive to begin with. She’s also not doing much writing as we see her take six seconds to type eight letters. If I’m going to watch a crazy writer sitting at a typewriter in a large, empty, haunted building, I’d rather watch The Shining

When Grace starts looking into the history of the hotel, she asks Detective Patrone to show her the case files.  It must be a slow day because Patrone pulls the files for her to look through. Then he asks why she’s asking so many questions.  Maybe he should have asked that prior to giving her the files.

Although the hotel has been closed for years, there is no dust on anything.  The telephone and furniture are clean.  The ouija game is clean and the box cover doesn’t line up to the time period the hotel would have closed. Grace isn’t likable right out of the gate and you don’t care about her.  I cared more for her boyfriend who was barely in it.

Ridiculous Dialogue

Eva - Dean’s not going to like it.

Grace - Well that doesn’t really matter.

Eva - Of course it matters. He’s your fiancé.

Grace - Was it really that bad?

Maddte -  The owners just couldn’t take the stigma of the murders.

Grace (disgustedly) - You’re such a Christian. 

Grace - Hello, who are you?

Katie - Hi.

Grace - Hi who are you?

Katie - Gosh, gosh you’re pretty. Like me.

Grace - Sure. Who are you?

Katie - I’m Katie.

Grace - Katie? Katie! Yeah, Maddte’s daughter, the limited girl.

Grace - I’m going to ask the questions and you keep your fingers on there and see how it moves.

Katie -Like magic eight ball?

Grace - Yes, I know I don’t have to tell you to clear your mind.

Priest - Shame on you for making the limited girl work the board on her own.

Dean - Now you’re trying to drag a priest and a mentally challenged…

Grace - Limited, Dean.

Grace - Dean! What?! Do you to see me writing or are you just too dumb to hear the TAP! TAP! TAP! I swear to god if you ever do break my concentration again, I will find the closest impaling object and I will stick it right in your damn throat.

Psychic - You were supposed to move out.

Grace - I can’t leave. Things happen when I try.

The dust free ouija game in the abandoned hotel

Grace forcing Kate to put her and on the board

The man Grace describes as black like a shadow. 

The ghost who tries not to laugh

Grace refusing to drop the ouija box as she
is dragged down the hallway

It’s never good when a writers draft has blood on  it

Grace’s daughter smugly noting she’s smarter than her mom