The Incantation
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| The Incantation | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jude S. Walko |
| Written by | Jude S. Walko |
| Produced by | Dan Campbell |
| Cinematography | Derek Street |
| Edited by | Robert Crisp |
| Music by | Daniel Lepervanche |
Production companies | Blue Falcon Productions House of Rose |
| Distributed by | Gravitas Ventures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Incantation is a 2018 American independent film and the feature film directorial debut of Jude S. Walko. The film stars Sam Valentine as a young American girl who travels to France for a funeral, only to discover a family history intertwined with witchcraft and occult practices.
The film had premiered at The Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival in 2018.
Plot
[edit]Lucy Bellerose, a young American millennial, travels to France from San Diego, California after receiving some mysterious correspondence from her mother regarding the death of her great uncle.
After a taxi ride through Paris and then rural France, she arrives at the ominous Borley Castle. There she meets a vicar and chambermaid who seem to have no social skills and speak with archaic verbiage.
At her great uncle's, the Blood Rose Count's, funeral, she is introduced to J.P., a local French gravedigger, whom she takes a liking to. Soon J.P. takes her for drinks and tells her of the areas strange history, before he is pulled away after one of his relatives is involved in a fatal car accident.
After finding a mysterious book entitled "The Sortilegia" Lucy begins to encounter strange entities and experience supernatural occurrences. These include ghostly sightings of a "black-eyed" ghost girl, an out-of-place traveling insurance salesman, and an ethereal crone who give her ominous warnings.
After a short stay in the castle, and several warnings from the locals, Lucy learns of her family's checkered past and their involvement in witchcraft, devil worship and the occult.
Cast
[edit]- Dean Cain, as Abel Baddon[citation needed]
- Sam Valentine, as Lucy Bellerose
- Dylan Kellogg, as Jean-Pierre, the gravedigger
- Jude S. Walko, as The Vicar of Borley
- Beatrice Orro, as Mary, the chambermaid
- Caroline Gatouillat, as Little Rose
- Jerome Marchand, as taxi driver
- Alexandre Majetniak, as drunkard
- Dan Campbell, as Lieutenant Dan
- Margie Clark, as Ethereal Crone
- Sophie "Sweet Shop" Malki, as Ms. Montparnasse
Production
[edit]Director Jude S. Walko came up with the idea for the film while working on another film. Walko noticed a photograph of a castle and upon asking its owners, discovered that they had purchased it with the intent to renovate it into a bed and breakfast. They also reported rumors of strange occurrences, which prompted Walko to write a script based around the location. The film marked the directorial debut of director Jude S. Walko and was the first original content film produced by Blue Falcon Productions LLC, co-owned by Walko and producer Dan Campbell.[1] Walko also drew inspiration from the Hammer Horror films.[2]
Most of the filming took place in the Loire Valley in the Cher region of France with primary locations being in La Guerche-Sur-L'Aubois, Nevers and Bourges.[3][4][5] In Paris, the production shot several exteriors including Charles de Gaulle airport and the Eiffel Tour. They also spent a day shooting in the Capuchin Quarry adjacent the Catacombs beneath the streets.[citation needed]
Release
[edit]The Incantation premiered at The Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival in Los Angeles on 28 February 2018, after which it continued to screen at film festivals throughout 2018.[6][7]
The film was optioned by Gravitas Ventures for the United States and Canada and on July 31, 2018 The Incantation was released to home video and VOD.[8]
Reception
[edit]Film Threat criticized The Incantation, writing that "the movie is undone by a number of elements, not the least of which are the profoundly bad performances and stilted dialogue."[9] Freddy Beans of Ain't It Cool News was mixed, as they felt that "While I can’t recommend this one completely it does have its charms."[8]
Max Deacon of Scream Horror Magazine and Tracy Palmer of Signal Horizon were more favorable, with the former noting "The Incantation may be a flawed film, but – thanks to the talents of Walko, Valentine and Cain – still frequently has the power to weave its spell."[10][11]
Awards
[edit]- Best Narrative Feature at the Calcutta Cult Film Festival (2018, won)[12]
- Best Director at The Eclipse Awards (2018, won - Jude S. Walko)[13]
References
[edit]- ^ unclecreepy (2018-02-03). "The Incantation - First Look Poster and Trailer". Dread Central. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- ^ Kopsky, Jordan (2018-07-30). "Local Film Company Releases Paranormal Thriller". Grand Rapids Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ "THE INCANTATION - Horror Film - Starring SAM VALENTINE & former TV SUPERMAN - DEAN CAIN". ScreenAnarchy. 2016-10-24. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ "THE INCANTATION – Horror Film – Starring Dean Cain Early Details". Horror News | HNN. 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ "Fort Oglethorpe native releases feature film". Times Free Press. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ "HRIFF 2018 Program Guide". The Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ "UV Film Festival: THE INCANTATION". Unrestricted View : The Hen & Chickens Theatre. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ a b Beans, Freddy. "Freddy Beans studies THE INCANTATION!". Aint It Cool News. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ Gidney, Norman (2019-01-10). "The Incantation". Film Threat. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- ^ "THE INCANTATION: Film Review". THE HORROR ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE. 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ Palmer, Tracy (2019-10-29). "Incantation Movie Review-A Witch's Brew of Horror-Lite Beauty". Signal Horizon Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- ^ "April 2018 – CICFF". Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ "2018 Eclipse Awards". Eclipse Awards. Retrieved 2021-02-02.