Synopsis- A group of student’s after clubbing use an Ouija board to hold a seance, triggering a chain of mysterious deaths of each of them that may be caused by an otherworldly force. Will anybody survive?
Director- Marcus Adams
Cast- Joe Absolom, Melanie Gutteridge, Alec Newman
Genre- Horror
Released- 2002
Long Time Dead,” a 2002 British horror directed by Marcus Adams, taps into the well-worn trope of Ouija boards unleashing dark forces, a premise that has frightened moviegoers for decades. However, despite its slick production and a few moments of genuine tension, the film struggles to escape the confines of genre clichés, rendering it more of a serviceable teen horror than a truly memorable one. It’s solidly constructed, yet ultimately lacking the originality or emotional punch needed to elevate it above its peers.
The story centres on a group of young friends in London who, while at a party, decide to dabble in a séance with an Ouija board. Naturally, they accidentally summon a djinn, an ancient and malevolent spirit that starts stalking them one by one. As the group is picked off, the tension builds, but it’s clear from the outset that “Long Time Dead” is more invested in adhering to the predictable beats of the supernatural horror formula than breaking new ground.
Director Marcus Adams knows how to create atmosphere, and there are moments when the film bristles with an unsettling energy. The dark, grungy interiors and shadowy urban settings give the film a gritty, almost claustrophobic feel, emphasizing the ever-present threat. But as effective as the mood is, it’s undermined by the script’s reluctance to do anything fresh with the material. We’ve seen these types of characters and scenarios before—the rebellious, edgy group of friends; the slow realization that something is hunting them; and the inevitable descent into fear and paranoia. While the performances are adequate, especially from Alec Newman as the tortured Liam, the characters rarely rise above their one-dimensional archetypes.
One of the film’s few standouts is its effective use of sound and editing. The rapid, jarring cuts and nerve-jangling sound effects lend some scenes a sense of urgency, keeping the audience on edge. A few of the death sequences, in particular, are cleverly staged, using visual tricks and sudden jumps to evoke a visceral reaction. These moments hint at what “Long Time Dead” could have been—a tense, kinetic thriller that gets under your skin.
However, what the film lacks is a sense of weight. There’s no emotional core to latch onto, no characters whose fates we genuinely care about. The djinn, as the central villain, is also underdeveloped, reduced to a generic supernatural presence without the sense of history or menace that could have made it a more compelling antagonist. Even the film’s attempts at backstory, connecting Liam’s tragic past to the djinn’s haunting—feel half-hearted, as though the filmmakers weren’t fully committed to exploring the deeper psychological layers of their own premise.
“Long Time Dead” has the trappings of a decent horror film—moody visuals, a supernatural threat, and a few well-timed scares—but it’s too content with playing by the book. The lack of surprises and character depth means it fails to rise above the genre’s middle ranks. While there’s enough here for fans of supernatural horror to appreciate, particularly those who enjoy films centred around the dark consequences of dabbling with the occult, “Long Time Dead” won’t leave much of a lasting impression.
In the end, it’s watchable, occasionally thrilling, but too derivative to stand out in the crowded world of Ouija board horror. The djinn may haunt the characters, but the film won’t haunt the audience.
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