A false documentary that may remind us of ‘The Blair Witch Project’ in its proposal, but which finds new ways to make us die of fear.
‘Hex’ arrives on Netflix as a horror movie of the year. Kevin Ko’s film thus makes the leap to international success after becoming the highest grossing film of the year in Taiwan and the most successful horror film produced by the country in its powerful local box office. However, we are used to massive hits with audiences in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong not exactly traveling well to the West.
This does not seem to be the case with this phenomenon of terror whose international name is ‘Incantation’. With a sequel already in the works, the film recover the phenomenon found footage, or found footage, of the horror that rocked Western cinema in 1999 with ‘Blair Witch’ (yes, it’s from 1999 and that’s why it’s not on our list of the best horror movies of the 21st century). That is, we are before a mockumentary which pretends to be the testimony of a grim real event. Now, in this case there are no teenagers looking for the legend of a witch in a forest. ‘Hex’ introduces us to three friends who are dedicated to nothing more and nothing less than dismantling supernatural myths. However, now they have the misfortune to choose something that, logically, will not go well for them. The three experience a freak accident while visiting a mysterious cult. There they meet a survivor who must save her daughter from a curse.
We do not tell you more than what the official synopsis of the film allows us to say because, logically, a large part of the key to terror lies in not knowing what is going to happen next. However, we are already telling you that ‘Hex’ has managed to revive the potential that seemed exhausted from the found footage, more than modifying the original idea to ‘Paranormal Activity’, going back, plain and simple, to do it well. A more than solid script for what is customary in horror movies, usual and powerful moments of terror that do not respond to the same tropes as always and, why not, also that Asian exoticism in the creation of atmospheres that many of us have already fallen in love with. with the Japanese terror fever of two decades ago.
We still don’t know if ‘Hex’ will become the blockbuster it has been in Taiwan for Netflix subscribers, but we would be surprised if anyone who dared to see it this weekend on the platform doesn’t want to sleep hug someone despite the wave of heat. Be that as it may, it is one of the most interesting premiere movies on Netflix.
Indeed, the sequel, directed by Kevin Ko himself, is already in the works. ‘Hex’ is now available on Netflix Spain.
Source: Fotogramas
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
