Incantation – Netflix Review (4/5)

INCANTATION on Netflix is a new horror movie from Taiwan. It has been called “the most terrifying film ever made in Taiwan” and I am very inclined to agree. It is good. Really good! Eerie, creepy, bloody, and downright scary. Read our full Incantation movie review here!

INCANTATION is a new Netflix horror movie from Taiwan. You do not want to miss out on this one! It has so much going for it. Even the fact that this is actually a “found footage” movie works. And don’t worry about shabby CGI or the overused Asian horror tropes.

Instead, this one takes all the things that made Asian horror good and famous!

A lot of practical effects are used and it does get very bloody and umm visceral at times. Also, it is extremely eerie from start to finish. You can never be sure what comes next. But you can expect it to be uncomfortable (or even fatal) for the characters on screen.

Continue reading our Incantation movie review below. Watch the film on Netflix from July 8, 2022.

Incantation is based on a true story

The new Netflix movie Incantation has been called “the most terrifying film ever made in Taiwan”. I am definitely very inclined to agree. And we’re not talking jump scares (though I did jump a few times) but that deep, dark, unsettling kind of horror.

Also, the fact that you probably won’t know any of the actors makes absolutely no difference. You didn’t know the actors in The Blair Witch Project (1999) or Paranormal Activity (2007) either and those sure worked for audiences. The same goes for the extremely successful J-Horror movies that have largely been remade in the US as well.

My point is simply that this movie and its story is so strong on its own that you don’t need any “hooks” to get people to watch.

Incantation is even (loosely!) inspired by a true story involving a Taiwanese family of cult worshippers. Whether these cult worshippers are good or bad – as in seeking to protect or harm – is at the heart of this story. Also, one could even argue that it’s up for interpretation.

Well, to a point, anyway.

Found footage that works

Incantation is actually a found footage movie, which I didn’t realize at first. I just figured it started out by the main character introducing herself and the situation. But no, it is entirely found footage and it really works.

I only caught on to one moment where I felt the illusion was mildly disturbed. There is one scene where there is too much light in a car at night which is never natural or good.

WANT MORE FOUND FOOTAGE?

Check out our “found footage” tag here >

Sure, it can be excused by the fact that the characters are filming everything to document what’s happening. Still, on a dark road in a rural area, you need to be able to see where you’re going and that’s difficult when your car is full of light.

Then again, when I’m focusing on such a tiny thing in this review, you can probably guess that it’s because it was the only thing that broke the illusion.

Watch Incantation on Netflix!

Kevin Ko is the director of Incantation and I am so excited to watch what he does next. He also wrote the screenplay with Che-Wei Chang. Actually, there are even talks of a sequel to Incantation. Of course, still with Kevin Ko directing.

Honestly, I didn’t expect much other than to be entertained. However, Kevin Ko manages to really get the audience involved. You care about the characters which is the key to getting us hooked on the story!

A BOX OFFICE HIT IN TAIWAN

Incantation is currently 2022’s highest-grossing movie to date at the Taiwan box office. Also, the film got seven Taipei Film Award nominations (including Best Narrative Feature and Best Director).

Actually, I should mention that I’m not surprised that this new (and really good) horror movie is from Taiwan. We’ve seen really good horror movies from Taiwan before. For one, a movie like The Sadness which screened at Fantasia in 2021 is another amazing Taiwanese horror movie. However, while it is brilliant it is also extremely violent!

The Sadness was released on Shudder in May of 2022, so you might want to check that one out too. Also, you should try more Taiwanese productions on Netflix. You won’t be disappointed. From the Netflix anthology Til Death Do Us Part to the Netflix genre movie Cities of Last Things (2019).

But first, you’ll want to watch Incantation on Netflix, if you’re in the mood for a really solid horror movie. And, come on, who isn’t? To me, Incantation is one of the best horror movies to come out of Asia (outside of South Korea) in a long time. Enjoy!

Incantation is out on Netflix worldwide from July 8, 2022.

Details

Director: Kevin Ko
Writers: Che-Wei Chang, Kevin Ko
Stars: Hsuan-yen Tsai, Mohamed Elgendy, Ying-Hsuan Kao, Sean Lin, Ching-Yu Wen, Ahmed Shawky Shaheen