Incantation

This is one horror movie that still gives me the creep.. It makes it seem like you are part of the movie like there is a part of it left with you after watching

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.

The film opens to have viewer to participate and drags us into the situation as soon as the movie begin. I was skeptical of the fuss surrounding this film, so I went to see it alone, which isn't recommended. The movie filled with all elements a horror film should be. Story, environment, sound effect, casting, lightning. Brilliant work of the director, cast and crew. The only horror that made me scared, is this one. If you are lucky to be in Taiwan, go see the film as it has English subtitle, and while the theater still opens with worsening pandemic. No word to describe, and I hope it does the same to you.

Overall I feel like if they shaved about 20-30 minutes off the movie and kept the direction a bit more clear It could have been really great. Minorly confusing at times how a character got somewhere or how much time passed, it also jumped back and fourth from past and present, it was fine and we figured out pretty quickly what was years in the past, but that mixed with the hazy time passing between present scenes it was a bit confusing still.

Incantation's premise is a decent vehicle for a found footage film. The ride to get there is engaging thanks to the efforts of a strong cast, relatable elements that ground the story, and a dreadful atmosphere. Many spells are cast and give goosebumps throughout the film.