Not going to lie. I read the logline and thought, “I’ve read this play before.” Reader. I hadn’t. Jolly’s play gives us a Ouija scene you haven’t yet encountered, and it hits HARD. This is a delightful, sharp short horror grounded in the just the right amount of character, and a perfect example of perhaps why there is only one golden rule in all of horror. Don’t. Fuck. With Ouija boards. This is how you do it.

Tricked by Arthur M. Jolly is a smart, sly horror piece built on a premise I absolutely love. The play moves effortlessly from light teen banter to a genuinely unsettling supernatural turn that sneaks up on you. And the ending delivers a perfectly dark, satisfying payoff. Excellent!

What at first seems like a familiar set up into teen/Ouija experimentation turns into something surprising and entertaining (and a bit frightening). I did not see that ending coming! A great piece for any season, but especially around Halloween.