Do you believe in blessings?|Mar. 18, 2022|Taiwan|111 Min.|TV-MA
Genre: Horror
Description: The film “Incantation” (2022) explores a chilling narrative centered around a woman named Ronan, who seeks to break a curse affecting her six-year-old daughter, Dodo. The story is presented as found footage, woven in a non-linear fashion. Ronan repeatedly urges viewers to memorize a sacred insignia and chant an incantation to send blessings and remove the curse.
Six years prior, Ronan, her boyfriend Dom, and his cousin Yuan ventured to a remote village of the Chen clan. The trio documented rituals for their online channel but unknowingly breached a religious taboo. The clan practiced an obscure Yunnan religion worshipping a deity known as Buddha-Mother. Upon arriving, the group was instructed to submit their names with the incantation to Buddha-Mother. An elder revealed to Ronan that she was pregnant, surprising her, and stated that her future child must also follow the same ritual. That night, the group witnessed a disturbing ritual where a young girl, covered in runes, seemed prepared for sacrifice. While Ronan stayed behind with the unconscious girl, Dom and Yuan entered a forbidden tunnel. Yuan later emerged in hysteria, and Dom’s lifeless body was carried out by the villagers. The footage from inside the tunnel was damaged beyond recovery. After Dodo’s birth, Ronan placed her in foster care and sought psychiatric help.
In the present, Ronan has regained stability and decides to bring Dodo home. However, their house becomes plagued by inexplicable events, and Dodo is haunted by a shadowy presence. As Dodo’s health deteriorates and Ronan’s mental state declines, social workers attempt to take Dodo away. With the help of Ming, the compassionate manager of the foster care home, Ronan and Dodo escape, continuing their fight against the curse.
Cast director: Kevin Ko
Cast actor: Hsuan-yen Tsai, Kao Ying-Hsuan, Sin-Ting Huang, Sean Lin, RQ, Queenie Chen
Original name: 咒