'Ouija 2' Will Possess Theaters in October of 2016

Whether you favored the 2014 film Ouija or you didn't, a sequel is on the way. According to Deadline, Ouija 2 is coming and Universal has set October 21, 2016 as the release date.

Deadline reports, "Ouija 2 picks up with a group of unsuspecting friends who must confront their most terrifying fears when they unleash an evil from the other side that only they can send back. Platinum Dunes partners Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form, Blumhouse Prods’ Jason Blum, Hasbro’s Brian Goldner and Stephen Davis are again on board as producers."

I got to spend last weekend in Baltimore at OuijaCon surrounded by beautiful boards and one point about the first film was made by one of the movie's consultants, Robert Murch. I'm broadly paraphrasing here but he mentioned during a panel that despite what you thought of Ouija, if the film encouraged the board's use, scaring the crap out of kids during slumber parties and more attention is given to the Ouija board, it's all good.

The first film grossed $50.8 million domestically and $100 million worldwide. We'll keep you posted on any new details about the sequel.

-Larissa Mrykalo

Ouija Celebrates its 125th Anniversary in Baltimore: OuijaCon 2015 Wrap-Up

BY LARISSA MRYKALO

This past weekend in Baltimore, Maryland, an eclectic mix of individuals descended upon the Baltimore Harbor Hotel to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Ouija. Whether you're a skeptic, a believer, a collector, or undecided, Charm City was the place to be and I was lucky enough to be invited. Thanks to the efforts of Robert Murch and the Talking Board Historical Society (TBHS) along with paranormal researcher and author,  Jeff Belanger, their inaugural event, OuijaCon, was quite the success.

We all know that films like The Exorcist have given Ouija a bad reputation but delving into the rich history of the boards was the goal here. To quote from the TBHS page, "The Talking Board Historical Society began in 2008 as a loose affiliation of talking board collectors and enthusiasts, brought together by talking board historian Robert Murch to bring recognition to the forgotten founders and history of the enigmatic Ouija." This wasn't an event to scare, obviously, it was an event to educate, create discussion and, of course, celebrate. 

The event opened on the evening of April 23 with a meet and greet in the Talking Board Museum and  family members of prominent Ouija founders, including William Fuld were present. Just to be clear and honest, this was quite the education for me. I do own a beautiful Fuld board and when I was a kid, I did dabble with a board my brother and I got from the local toy store but other than that, I'm a Ouija novice. The variety of boards/spirit communication devices in this museum blew my mind. I see these pieces as not only bits of amazing paranormal history but as beautiful pieces of art.

The Ouija Files: Murch Goes to LA to Promote DVD/Blu-ray Release of 'Ouija'

BY BOB MURCH

HI FRIENDS! A few weeks ago I got an email from Joy Moh and Michael Gonzales from Think Jam, a digital marketing company that Universal Home Entertainment hired to organize the media release event for Ouija’s release on Blu-ray & DVD on Tuesday, February 3. They asked me if I wanted to be included and of course I said yes! A party and Ouija? They didn’t have to ask me twice.

No way around it – I’ve been lucky. I got to consult on the movie, was filmed by Universal for the extras on the Digital Download and Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, and was now going to be part of the release party. Does this stuff actually happen? Turns out the answer is YES.

Using my contacts at Hasbro, Winning Moves, and TCG Toys, three of the makers of Ouija today, each agreed to donate some of their Ouija boards as prizes for the event and we were even able to plan a hands on séance for the media as well.

Thank you Nicole, Philip, Joe, Michael, and Jacalyn - your boards made the event and gave everyone the chance to experience for themselves Ouija.

But, what would an amazing Ouija opportunity be without a little drama? By a little drama I mean a blizzard. I was scheduled to head out last Wednesday first thing in the morning but Mother Nature had other plans. New England and Boston in particular got slammed and buried with almost three feet of snow. The blizzard started Monday morning and went through Tuesday night. The mayor issued travel bans and the airport was closed. Things weren’t looking good for me to fly out Wednesday morning.

The Ouija Files: Talking Board Historical Society Goes Public

BY BRANDON HODGE

Fans of Ouija now have a new avenue to celebrate their passion for the mysterious talking boards. This week, the Talking Board Historical Society debuted a new Facebook page that exploded in popularity overnight. Though formally established last year, the society’s roots trace back to 2008 as a loose affiliation of talking board collectors and enthusiasts brought together by talking board historian Robert Murch. The group is now raising its public profile in advance of 2015’s OuijaCon, set to take place in Baltimore on April 23-25.

The group’s most famous effort is erecting the talking board-inspired headstone at the unmarked grave of Ouija patentee Elijah Bond in Baltimore’s historic Green Mount Cemetery, which has since become the historic cemetery’s most-requested gravesite. In addition, they successfully petitioned the city of Baltimore to recognize William Fuld’s Harford Avenue Ouija factory, built in 1919, as a historical landmark, which became the first public landmark in Maryland acknowledging the city’s Ouija history. Next, the group hopes to honor the contributions of the medium Helen Peters Nosworthy to Ouija and American history, and is raising funds to place a marker at her grave commemorating her for giving the board its iconic name.