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Incantation (film)

Incantation is a 2022 Taiwanese found-footage supernatural folk horror film directed by Kevin Ko and co-written with Chang Che-wei.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Incantation is a 2022 Taiwanese found-footage supernatural folk horror film directed by Kevin Ko and co-written with Chang Che-wei. It follows Li Ronan, a mother trying to protect her daughter after a curse tied to a religious taboo. The film was released in Taiwan in March 2022 and later distributed internationally by Netflix.

Plot

The film follows Li Ronan, who is cursed after violating a religious taboo during a ritual in a remote village. Six years later, she tries to protect her daughter Dodo as the curse appears to spread through their lives.

Production and release

Incantation was directed by Kevin Ko and co-written with Chang Che-wei. It premiered in Taiwan in March 2022 and later reached international audiences through Netflix in July 2022.

Reception and impact

The film became the highest-grossing Taiwanese horror film. It gained notable attention for its unsettling style, found-footage presentation, and strong online discussion after its Netflix release.

True-story inspiration

The film opens with a claim that it is based on a true story, and media coverage has linked its inspiration to a reported 2005 case in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Accounts vary on how directly that incident influenced the screenplay.

Key facts

  • Incantation is a 2022 Taiwanese found-footage supernatural folk horror film directed by Kevin Ko.
  • The plot follows Li Ronan and her daughter Dodo, whose lives are affected by a curse from a religious taboo.
  • It was released in Taiwan on 18 March 2022 and internationally on Netflix on 8 July 2022.
  • The film became the highest-grossing Taiwanese horror film.
  • It is loosely inspired by a reported 2005 incident in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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Canadian context

Canadian viewers may know the film through Netflix’s international release, which helped it reach a wider audience in Canada as part of the platform’s global horror catalogue.

Frequently asked questions

What is Incantation movie about?
It is about Li Ronan, a mother cursed after breaking a religious taboo, who tries to protect her daughter from the consequences of that curse.
Is Incantation based on a true story?
It is presented as being based on a true story, and reporting has linked it loosely to a 2005 incident in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The film is not a direct dramatization of a single verified case.
Where to watch Incantation?
It received international distribution on Netflix, so it is commonly available there in many regions. Availability can vary by country.
Incantation movie ending explained
The ending suggests that the curse is not eliminated but shared more widely, reducing its concentration on Dodo. Interpretations of the final scenes emphasize sacrifice, contagion, and the burden of belief.
Is Incantation scary?
It is widely regarded as a disturbing horror film, especially because of its creepy imagery, possession elements, and tense found-footage style. Viewer sensitivity to intense horror varies.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incantation_(film)
    Supports: Director, writers, release dates, language, country, genre, and highest-grossing Taiwanese horror film claim.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18968540/
    Supports: Plot premise involving Li Ronan, her daughter Dodo, and the curse after a religious taboo.
  3. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/incantation
    Supports: Horror content, disturbing imagery, and streaming availability date.
  4. The China Project — https://thechinaproject.com/2022/07/29/the-not-so-scary-truth-behind-horror-sensation-incantation/
    Supports: True-story inspiration and the reported 2005 Kaohsiung incident connection.
  5. Loyola Marymount University Asia Media — https://asiamedia.lmu.edu/2022/08/14/movie-review-incantation-2022-a-monster-that-lives-in-your-head/
    Supports: Loose inspiration from a real event, release dates, and Netflix distribution.
  6. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/incantation
    Supports: Concise synopsis of the film's central premise.