Incantation (2022)

Story is all over the place. Non-linear storytelling is fine but when its just coupled with shocking imagery and melodrama it rings hollow.

Its really long for the sake of being long and if the kid wasn't so cute and endearing I imagine many people wouldn't care. The found footage trope needs to go. Like reality television it does the opposite for me and just makes everything feel fake.

Fmovies: Incantation instantly reminds you of Noroi: The Curse both in its atmospherics and scares. While there isn't much to chew on from a plot perspective, the film cooks up a few surprises in its blood-curdling imagery and special effects. The frequent timeline jumps are a bit challenging to keep up with, especially since the lines between them are (intentionally?) blurred. It's essentially a found-footage film but the lead characters frequently travel through claustrophobic spaces on their own, making it nearly impossible for the makers to retain this aspect all through. As a result, you'll randomly see some third-person shots in between all the shaky cam, clashing with the film's overall visual structure.

All said and done, it's a pretty decent effort that delivers on the atmosphere but struggles to connect past and present events within the plot.

Incantation: Taiwanese horror film about Chinese Folk Religion, possession, demons on the loose figure in this found footage feature. We even get people killing themselves if they watch a video. Some interesting rituals which have tragic consequences if they are interrupted. Lots of biting going on. When you are possessed it's difficult to prove that to social workers who won't believe that your daughter is now under the control of a demon as well. Also elements of child sacrifice to appease the spirits, including the Mother-Buddha. Buddhism does have it's dark side. Some disturbing scenes and genuine horror make Incantation worth watching but a 15 minute cut in it's 110 minute running time would have made it a better film. Directed and co written by Kevin Ko. On Netflix. 7/10.

Incantation fmovies. Ronan (Tsai Hsuan-yen) had spent time recovering in a mental institution and was now ready to be reunited with her daughter Dodo (Huang Sin-ting), who had been raised in a foster house run by Ming (Kao Ying-hsuan). However, when Dodo was with Ronan, she began to act bizarrely and "see" invisible entities called "baddies".

Ronan realized that these paranormal phenomena were related to events six years ago. She tagged along with her boyfriend Dom (Sean Lin) and his cousin Yuan (RQ) when the two returned to their village for some mystic family rituals. They began filming the proceedings for their YouTube channel, thus violating religious taboos.

Director Kevin Ko used the "found footage" style (mainly home videos and security cameras) to tell his unsettling story, going back and forth in time. The involvement of a cute child in mortal danger makes things more stressful. Ronan breaking the fourth wall to involve her audience to join her to chant "Hou-ho-xiu-yi, si-sei-wu-ma" added more creeps. The cursed video taken within cursed tomb made for a grand finale.

This film was pretty well made. I always enjoy the found footage documentary type of horror films for me there's something more raw and real about it. Good acting all around and some general shocking and scary parts. Altogether a great horror film that although gets muddled half way through its a good watch.

As a fan of found footage films I have seen them all and I know the difference between a good one and bad one. And this is a good one. First off the lone problem. It's too long at an hour fifty. But Asian horror is often long running and that's that. This is short by those standards.

Otherwise we get a good story, superb acting (so much so that you forget you're reading subtitles) almost constant creepy scares from the start and in general just a damn good found footage environment. Also the emotionally charged story really keeps you rooting for the protagonist the whole way as it centers around a parent's love for her child and what she will face to protect her.

Just a damn good film with plenty of scares, gore and more. Give it a watch.