Incantation

source: Incantation

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.

source: Zhou

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.

This movie is an absolute mess. Just watch Gonjira: Haunted Asylum instead that one is actually scary. Had a hard time even finishing it because it jumps back and forth to a million different things and almost nothing is clear.

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.

It's done as a found footage horror film, but there's two tapes going on. The modern day, as the main character is trying to get her daughter back after loosing custody, and her past. She wants to tape her daughter coming home, and so it seems like good reason to tape things. It's of much higher quality than a lot of found footage types, and does have some special effects going on. There's some really creepy effects going on, including some pretty horrifying Trypophobic scenes. But it does suffer some of the shaky cam downfalls of found footage, but not as bad as many out there. I really liked the story going on, it really added to the horror, and does explain things pretty well. I also liked how it actively had the authorities involved because they worry about the welfare of the child. It seems pretty logical with everything else going on that this would actually happen. I thought it was a pretty scary/creepy watch.

This movie shouldn't be a mockumentary as the many cameras and angles it shows are simply not justified. Directors tried to creat an Asian Paranormal Activity meets The Grudge, but it doesn't make sense. If they wanted to make this video the mothers video they had to be loyal to the idea and not to add a thousand unjustified cameras that came out of nowhere showing past and present without explanation. Sure, people will say: oh that's an artsy movie so it doesn't have to make sense with the timing ... nop. It's just badly done and directed. Don't bother. Couldn't watch til the end.

Somehow they streched the story while the plot was little. The cam usage just kept me dizzy. I expected to get scared but almost fell asleep a few times due to the tempo of the movie.