Hagazussa

Folk horror subgenre is close to my heart, and so I finally had to check this German/Austrian nightmare. It's certainly a divisive one. The ever-raging battle of relationship between style and substance among film fans continues here, too, and I seem to land in the middle. I believe director Lukas Feigelfeld, to whom this is film school graduation project, intended a trip. Very gloomy, meditative, earthly trip.

The film contains only a few lines of dialogue. The plot is barely even there, as the movie, in every minute of it, thrives on atmosphere and feelings. The main character doesn't reason much, or scheme, or rationalize, the "plot", or rather mood is driven by mere feelings of hers. Heavy feelings, building an atmosphere that almost tires you. The pacing is much slower than your typical described slow-burner, and the movie demands some sinking into for it to execute its intentions. It's almost like a film equivalent of a gothic painting, a mural that you have to consume with long attention to all detail. The cinematography is beautiful, locations isolated, mossy, almost ancient-like.

A patient man's film, and indeed one for those who appreciate strong on emphasis style, and unspoken moods. On a side note, I had noticed plenty of people put "Hagazussa" against "The VVitch" with the latter coming in second, and with that I, in good conscience, have to disagree. 6/10.

"HAGAZUSSA" For the most part is a very dark and grim atmospheric film that's beautifully shot and well performed by the actors. It had great potential to go beyond the depth of "The Witch" but doesn't scratch the surface enough for you to feel enlightened or better informed by what you just witnessed for an hour & 45 minutes. The lack luster ending that everyone falsely raves about is pathetic and that's a gross understatement. Did the film have it's moments yes but none of them were slam dunks and every one of those scenes left points on the board because it never followed through. Whether lying in bed with her mother or watching from behind her in the lake from 50 yards away, That's not enough when you compare it to films like "MIDSOMER" or "HEREDITARY". Definitely had potential but nothing here is a must see or disturbing enough to make it memorable 6 months from now. And that's truly disappointing to waste such a good effort.

There's barely three pages of dialogue here, so the onus was on visual storytelling and the score, and let me reaffirm, those two aspects didn't disappoint. It's got enough to make you shiver from disgust and horror, particularly in the final moments. There, the tension has built up to a fever pitch. The cinematography and use of lighting also add to the overall eerie atmosphere of the setting, making it quite a riveting experience.

However, the same remarks cannot be applied to its writing, as the narrative left numerous gaps that should have been filled. As the story appeared to lack tangible depth, I felt there was a need to elucidate more on the subject. The story could have been more satisfying if more attention had been paid to further exploration of the legend as well as character development.

Visually, it captivated, but narratively, it underwhelmed.

HAGAZUSSA has everything going for it: A bleak, dreary atmosphere of increasing dread, mixed with a subtle, almost poetic style. The spacious cinematography captures the vastness of the Alps, making the main character, Albrun (Aleksandra Cwen), seem all the more isolated.

On its surface, it's a story of witches, set in the desolate, yet beautiful mountains of 15th Century Austria. It's also about abandonment, survival, betrayal, and revenge.

Many compare it to THE WITCH, but these films are two completely different takes on similar subject matter. One thing they do share however, is the way they leave it up to the viewer to decide whether the story's events are truly supernatural, psychological, or a mixture of both.

This is a quiet, disturbing movie, with very sparse dialogue. Most of the more chilling bits are saved for the final third. While it is well made and thoroughly dark, it's probably not for everyone...

The slowest of slow burns that surely has no trouble whatsoever in setting up an atmosphere that reeks of dread & terror yet doesn't really know what to do with it, Lukas Feigelfeld's directorial debut landed on my radar due to its comparisons to The VVitch and though the two films are stylistically similar, everything about Hagazussa is vastly inferior to Robert Eggers' diabolical masterpiece.

Despite a foreboding aura pervading the frames at all times and additional boost provided by its remote setting, cold palette, methodical camerawork & menacing soundtrack, this is horror on a standstill, for the plot goes nowhere nor does it do something productive with the impressive set up, and features the same episodes repeated throughout its runtime which become frustrating after a while.

Its 102 minutes runtime is paced so glacially that the film feels twice as long. It's too slow, too silent & too obtuse for its own good. The suspense it creates is nail-biting but it's got nothing to follow it up with and ratchet things up even further. Aleksandra Kwen aptly renders her character's struggle to preserve her sanity but her contribution doesn't amount for much in the end, just like its tense ambience.

Slower than your usual slow-burn narratives and never for once taking advantage of its ominous vibe, Hagazussa is a splendidly photographed & finely acted horror that keeps hinting at a nightmare that's waiting to unfold but never actually does. A dull, dreary & dreadful cinema that doesn't hold a candle to the perfection that is The VVitch, this German folktale is one of the most boring & unrewarding films of the year.