User Reviews

Very good.

The structure can be difficult at the beginning - different timelines - and the found footage doesn't always seem justifiable (well, at least until you understand the plan), but it's tense, scary at times, emotional, with a good story, full of local folklore and breaks the fourth wall (ok, not only by being a found footage) in an original and creepy way with a very efficient ending.

This movie was all over my social media so I gave it a shot. I watched it at night alone in my room to really feel what the movie wants me to feel. I liked its interactive nature but it was painfully boring to watch. It was too long that I just forced myself to finish the movie. I liked its ending because it makes you wonder if all that she's saying also applies in the real world which makes the viewers hesitate to chant. I felt bad for those who have trypophobia haha.

The Good: Incantation is a film that actively tries its hardest to scare the **** out of you. Unlike so many other horror films, this one is actively committed to that goal and there are so many hypnotic, trance inducing moments, fourth wall breaks, and interesting touches that I can confidently say, it is one of the most innovative and interesting horror movies I've seen in a long time. It puts a new meaning to the phrase "dreadful atmosphere."

(This movie reminds me of Eternal Darkness of Gamecube more than any recent horror movie I've seen, honestly).

Found footage has a bad rap, but honestly, it has the potential to truly bring the audience in and scare the ever loving crap out of them. This is one of those films that maximizes terror with the unstable camera, the idea that there is something in the corner that you can't see. The lighting is deliberately natural to really make us feel like we're watching some cursed video. I'm happy that this tired format - in the US at least - find new life in Taiwan.

The disjointed narrative is a great tension generator and the twists and turns that come aren't entirely surprising, but do a good job of keeping the audience engaged. The performances are frankly awesome here; even with the language barrier, the dread on Hsuai-yen Tsai's face speaks volumes. The characters are endearing, interesting, and quite likeable. Which makes what happens in the film even more heart breaking.

I also think - particularly for Western audiences - seeing a ghost story from a different cultural context is always interesting. If a movie can teach you about a culture while still being entertaining to those with no interest in that, I count it as a win.

The Bad: That being said...there are some chances for truly visually interesting things to happen, but it just doesn't. Maybe it was the curse of high expectations, but if you have such an inherently and visually interesting villain, if you have a great visual accompaniment as to what would happens to people who cross her, why not take that opportunity to just...show us?

[I'm essentially wondering why people's faces aren't getting smashed in. Yes.]

The biggest issue with this movie is that it's a bit too long. It drags a bit and could've used some time in the editing room. I also felt some of the "reveals" later on were pretty easy to see coming and didn't really make as much of an impact because they took too long to come.

The Ugly: Incantation is one of those rare horror movies that might be a bit too restrained and could've benefitted from showing us a little more freaky stuff. But, overall it's a very solid horror flick and definitely one of the better ones from 2022.