When Curses Become Real: Unraveling the Horror of Incantation (2022)

Release Information

Incantation is a 2022 Taiwanese supernatural horror film directed by Kevin Ko, co-written by Kevin Ko and Chang Che-wei. The film is produced by a team including Push Yang, Kevin Ko, and Chen Chun-lin. Running at 111 minutes, the film originally premiered in Taiwan on March 18, 2022. It became available internationally through Netflix on July 8, 2022. The main cast includes Tsai Hsuan-yen as Li Ronan, Huang Sin-ting as her daughter Dodo, along with supporting roles from Kao Ying-hsuan, Sean Lin, and RQ (Wen Ching-yu). 

Synopsis (Spoiler Light)

Incantation centers on Li Ronan, a woman who six years earlier violated a taboo during a visit to a remote religious commune — a misstep that resulted in a curse. To escape the horrifying aftermath, she relinquishes her daughter, Dodo, to foster care while herself undergoing psychiatric treatment. After years of isolation, Ronan attempts to rebuild her life by reclaiming Dodo. Yet she soon discovers that the curse has followed them — strange, supernatural occurrences begin to plague Dodo, pushing Ronan to confront terrifying forces rooted in the forbidden rituals she once documented. 

The film unfolds in a found-footage/mockumentary style, mixing present-day footage with flashbacks. This structure immerses viewers in Ronan’s desperation and unraveling sanity, as she seeks to protect her daughter and decipher the curse’s origin. 

Personal Analysis and Impressions

Reviews across the internet mostly agree that Incantation delivers a potent blend of dread, folklore, and tense horror. Many viewers highlight its effectiveness as a folk-horror film rooted in cultural and religious mythos — a style that distinguishes it from typical Western horror. The decision to use found-footage aesthetics is praised for enhancing the sense of immediacy and realism, drawing the audience into the horror as if it truly happened — the “viewer as witness” setup makes the dread linger beyond the screen. Lead performances — especially by Tsai Hsuan-yen as a guilt-ridden, haunted mother — are often described as emotionally compelling. 

At the same time, some critics and viewers felt certain aspects didn’t quite hold together. The narrative’s non-linear structure, frequent shifts between past and present, and reliance on horror tropes sometimes left the storytelling feeling uneven. For some, these flaws were offset by the film’s atmosphere and emotional stakes; for others, they undermined its potential.

For me, Incantation works best when viewed as a mood piece — a horror experience traded in unease, cultural dread, and maternal desperation. If you go in expecting deep symbolism or a clean, explanatory plot, you might feel puzzled. But if you’re open to ambiguity and supernatural horror steeped in folklore, the film can be genuinely unsettling.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Effective use of found-footage/mockumentary format to heighten realism and immersion. 

• Strong lead performance from Tsai Hsuan-yen, capturing guilt, fear, and maternal love convincingly. 

• Incorporation of folklore and religious myth — the cult ritual and curse concept lend a distinct flavor compared to standard horror tropes. 

• Successfully builds atmosphere and dread — tension, unsettling visuals, and eerie sound design create genuine horror moments. 

• Emotional core — the mother-daughter relationship adds depth; horror becomes personal and heartbreaking. 

Weaknesses

• Story structure can feel messy or disjointed due to frequent shifts in time and perspective. 

• Reliance on horror tropes — supernatural child, cult curse, found-footage scares — may feel familiar or cliché for genre veterans. 

• Some horror elements lean heavily on gore or jump scares, which can undermine the mockumentary realism or feel cheap. 

• Plot leaves certain details and lore unexplained — which may frustrate viewers seeking clarity or logical grounding. 

Who Should Watch the Movie

• Fans of Asian horror and folk-horror steeped in cultural/religious myth and occult lore.

• Viewers who appreciate horror delivered with atmospheric tension, psychological dread, and emotional stakes rather than pure gore or action.

• Those comfortable with ambiguous endings, non-linear narratives, and horror that leaves questions.

• People intrigued by found-footage or mockumentary horror films that blur lines between documentary and fiction.

If you prefer horror with a clear plot, logical consistency, and minimal supernatural ambiguity, this film might feel frustrating.

Conclusion

Incantation (2022) stands out as a bold, unsettling entry in modern Asian horror — a film that trades simplicity for atmosphere, dread, and emotional weight. Its strengths lie in its immersive style, compelling lead performance, and its ability to tap deep into folkloric horror rooted in cultural taboos. Yet its narrative unevenness and heavy reliance on genre conventions can undercut some of its impact. Considering critics’ reviews and audience response, a fair assessment places it around 7 / 10. For horror fans open to mood, myth, and dark mystery, Incantation remains worth watching.