Is Witchboard woke?
Witchboard (2025)
Movie
Released: January 1, 2025
Wokeness Score
2/10
Not woke
No political or woke messaging whatsoever. Focuses entirely on story, characters, fun, or escapism.
Key Summary Points
- Traditional couple dynamic and horror tropes dominate without identity-focused subplots.
- Diverse casting serves New Orleans setting organically, absent any representational agenda.
- Occult dangers and possession themes prioritize suspense over social or political commentary.
Wokeness Analysis
The film Witchboard (2025) is a straightforward supernatural horror remake centered on a young couple discovering a cursed artifact in New Orleans that unleashes demonic forces and possession. The narrative prioritizes plot-driven terror, practical effects, and campy 1980s-style thrills over any ideological messaging. The lead couple features a female protagonist and a male fiancé in a traditional relationship dynamic, with supporting characters including an occult expert portrayed with flamboyant flair but serving purely as a plot device for supernatural exposition and conflict rather than advancing social commentary. Diverse casting appears incidental and organic to the New Orleans setting without emphasis on identity politics, representation quotas, or critiques of systemic issues. Themes revolve around the dangers of dabbling in occult forces, addiction recovery elements for one character, and classic horror tropes like witchcraft and possession, all integrated to heighten suspense and entertainment without preaching or shoehorning progressive agendas. Reviews highlight its uneven but fun old-school horror romp qualities, focusing on gonzo effects, performances, and atmosphere rather than cultural or political undertones. No evidence of forced diversity, gender ideology, or social justice messaging disrupts the escapist horror experience, keeping it firmly in the realm of story and spectacle.
Plot
In New Orleans, Emily and her fiancé Christian prepare to open a new café when Emily discovers an ancient cursed Witchboard from 17th-century France tied to a powerful witch. As she becomes obsessed with using it, dark supernatural forces awaken, leading to possession, deception, and deadly events that threaten their lives. The story blends modern-day horror with historical flashbacks, involving an occult expert and escalating chaos from the spirit board's malevolent influence.