Incantation
(Original title: Zhou) | 2022 | 1h 50m
Genre:
Horror / Mystery | Country: Taiwan
Director:
Kevin Ko | Writers: Che-Wei Chang, Kevin Ko
Cast:
Hsuan-yen Tsai, Sin-Ting Huang, Ying-Hsuan Kao
IMDB:
6.3
My
Rate: 7/10
Li
Ronan tries every possible way to save her daughter’s life from the curse that
struck them six years ago after she ignored a warning from a mysterious cult.
She must face tough choices, even if it means risking her own life.
Warning:
Contains violence, strong language, and suicide scenes.Synopsis:
Li
Ronan travels to her boyfriend’s family home, where a strange and unsettling
tradition is practiced. Along with her boyfriend and a colleague, they attempt
to uncover the mystery behind it. However, their investigation breaks the
sacred rules and leads to the deaths of everyone in the family—except Ronan,
who miraculously survives.
At
that time, Ronan was pregnant with her boyfriend’s child. Fearing that the
curse might affect her baby, she decides to leave her daughter at an orphanage
run by Ming. Six years later, Ronan, who has begun to make peace with her past,
tries to take care of her daughter again—unaware of the tragedy waiting for
her.
The
curse returns. Her daughter’s health worsens day by day. Ming starts to believe
Ronan is simply a bad mother. No one believes her story—not even her
psychologist, who insists everything exists only in her mind.
Will
Ronan be able to save her daughter?
Review:
Imagine
living your whole life haunted by an unseen curse, one that never stops
tormenting you. Could you still live peacefully? Incantation, inspired
by a real incident in Gushan District, Kaohsiung, in 2005—a case involving a
family who believed they were possessed by evil spirits—draws viewers deep into
the thin line between faith, sin, and a mother’s love. This film doesn’t just
show horror; it also reveals the warmth and humanity born out of fear.
Everything
in this film is fictional, yet its power lies in how real it feels. The
imagination and reinterpretation of various local beliefs are presented so
convincingly. Opening with black-and-white footage and Ronan’s narration
layered with eerie chanting, the film immediately builds a tense and curious
atmosphere. The story’s background is solid—Ronan’s voiceover serves as a
strong foundation for the narrative while smoothly introducing the characters.
The
use of a back-and-forth timeline works well to deepen the mystery, but the
unclear transitions between time periods can confuse viewers. You need to stay
focused to piece the fragments together—like assembling scattered puzzle
pieces. It’s challenging, but that’s also part of its charm.
The
tension rises when the curse begins to show itself. Disturbances haunt Ronan
and her daughter one after another. Her inner conflict is clear—she doesn’t
want to believe in the curse, yet deep down she does. Another conflict appears
as more people start interfering in their situation. The darkness of her past
and trauma resurface, tightening their grip.
After
such intense conflicts, the ending feels quietly emotional. Ronan starts to
accept what’s truly happening and faces her fears head-on to save her daughter.
Each mystery is slowly revealed without losing the tragic tone that runs
through the film.
From
a technical standpoint, the acting feels convincing. The tone of voice,
expressions, and gestures in each scene effectively build strong emotion. The
music and color composition work beautifully together to create an eerie,
mystical atmosphere—especially during the chanting sequences that send chills
down your spine. However, the use of found-footage-style camera work, while
unique, sometimes feels unrealistic—the characters focus too much on filming
even during moments of danger, as if they forget the threat around them.
A
few scenes also leave questions—like when Ronan asks for help from viewers
through a recorded video, even though it’s clearly not a live stream, or when
Ming sends a video despite already being dead. These small plot holes are
noticeable but don’t completely ruin the film’s thematic strength.
Overall,
Incantation successfully blends spiritual horror with human drama. It’s
not just a story about a curse—it’s about consequence, faith, and a mother’s
unconditional love that dares to face darkness to protect her child.
“There will always be consequences for every action—and sometimes, the scariest thing isn’t the demon itself, but the sins we choose to ignore.”
Memorable Scene:
Ronan
realizes that being with her daughter will only bring the child more danger.
She records a farewell video, asking her daughter to live a new life—forgetting
her, and even forgetting the name she gave her.
In
this scene, we don’t just see a mother’s love, but also her redemption. Ronan
realizes that her love might be the very thing putting her daughter in danger.
And in that painful awareness, she decides to step back—not out of surrender,
but out of the desire to give her child freedom. This farewell becomes the
purest and most heartbreaking act of love.
Memorable Dialogue:
“That you decide how your world is shaped.”
Ending:
Sad EndingRecommendation:
Worth to Watch(Aluna)
 – A Curse That Creeps Into Belief){kind=link}
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