Incantation (2022) - Asian Horror Movie Review
Welcome to Sensei Sensibility! You are the hungry mind, yearning to devour Asian horror themed media; I am the (questionably) knowledgeable Sensei, more than happy to satiate your cinematic appetite.
In an ever-changing and uncertain world, the certainty of Asian found footage and their myriad of iconic tropes can be… a mixed blessing. Handled poorly, our long-black-haired, white night dress wearing jump scaring friends, or fiends, can leave us jaded. A bland “it’s been done” taste in our mouths.
Thankfully, Kevin Ko’s 2022 Taiwanese horror Incantation treads the Trope versus Terror line beautifully. Blending found footage, folk horror and family drama, Incantation is reminiscent of Noroi: The Curse and Dark Water while still being a horrific entity of its own.
Li Ronan, solidly portrayed by Tsai Hsuan-yen, is a single mother regaining custody of her ridiculously adorable daughter “Dodo”. Dodo has spent her first six years of life at a social services protected care home.
Considering that Li Ronan, while understandably edgy about the long awaited return of her kawaii kiddy, is clearly a loving and warm parent, the viewer inevitably questions, what is the reason for their prolonged separation? Where is Dodo’s father? Why is mama urgently insisting on documenting (via handheld camera) not only the happy reunion of Mother and Child, but their every waking (and sleeping) moment thereafter?
And what has any of this to do with the apparently broken religious “taboo” violated many a-moon-ago by Li Ronan who now lives in fear of some class of spiritual vengeance!?
Everything.
Almost immediately after Dodo’s homecoming - bizarre and frightening nocturnal events transpire within the home. Lights turning on and off. Strange bangs and eerie humanesque wails off camera. Doors to the apartment and building elevators opening and closing of their own free will. Dodo sleepwalking with her long black hair covering her face.
Sounds awfully familiar, right? However, due to some nifty cinematography and nicely built tension (and perhaps most importantly: DECENT, BELIEVABLE ACTING from Tsai Hsuan-yen) this initial fright-scene is the first of many well done, and genuinely unnerving scares in the film.
(Special spooky mention goes to the scene featuring the unseeable “baddie” on the ceiling who must be led out of the child’s room by hand… This one hit home and will to anyone whose kids have imaginary friends and thus know the unique pants-shitting panic of “is my child just highly imaginative or is there actually a freakin’ demon in the room?”)
It only gets worse from there.
Tension and terror mount uncomfortably as Li Ronan and Dodo’s plight escalates and we once again are witness to the heroic and often horrific lengths a mother will go to break an inherited curse and save her child from forces unseen.
Cue some gripping supernatural and psychological horror mixed with bile-inducing body horror and seriously freaky night time scenes within a forbidden rural cave. One look at that cave produced the biggest NOPE of my life. You’ll also never again look at a round, smiling Buddha statue in the same way after this.
The plot, while non-linear, is well paced and full of twists - yet answers any questions it raises in the viewer. The small cast are endearing and earnest, making the grotesque catastrophes that befall them all the more hard to bear. My breath was held for the entire last half hour. Fair play to the prop crew who in true DIY fashion built by hand, and from scratch, the “final scare” - they crafted something truly horrific to behold.
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As I said before, almost every J-Horror trope in the book is utilised in Incantation; however, they’re executed in such a way that remind you that these J-Horror classics are classics for a reason.
What makes Incantation as unnerving as it is popcorn throwingly fun is that it’s based on true events. Shudder. It’s no surprise to hear that this was the highest grossing Taiwanese film of 2022. Currently streaming on Netflix, I’m sure Incantation will become a firm fan favourite within the genre and I can’t wait to see what Kevin Ko directs next.
Oh! Before I forget. When watching this movie please make sure you consistently chant Li Ronan’s protective mantra and make the protective insignia with your hands throughout. That is a sacred blessing that will 100% guard you against the evil of the movie. Promise.
Perfect for fans of: The Womb (2022) and Occult (2009)
Let's keep our spooky debate going on:
