Hagazussa (2017) User Reviews

Too sparse to have any lasting impact

[neon_demon · 6/10 · 12 October 2021]

Hagazussa is a film rightly compared to its contemporary in "The Witch" and it undoubtedly suffers for it.

Where The Witch laid out a basic narrative structure and sowed the seeds of malevolence in far more obvious terms, it did not lose its impact or atmosphere during the slower burning scenes. In fact, they served to highlight the ever growing sense of dread - allowing the mind to wander into dark possibilities without ever losing sense of itself.

Hagazussa approaches a similar theme - superstitions, isolation and how misconceptions about the natural world played into daily life during the 16th century, but delivers far less in terms of narrative.

This is more a trip through the life of an outcast Mother & Daughter and we the audience are left to piece together the elements one by one as events unfold.

For me the main question posed by the movie was whether Albrun was indeed going mad or whether she was a witch.

While there is a glaring lack of dialogue that would help to flesh out some of the themes pushed forward (the interactions with Nature, impacts of disease etc) there are enough clues in the imagery to understand that Albrun is undergoing a transformation of some kind, whether it be the loss of her own sanity or something more supernatural.

The presence of the plague and its impact on both Albrun and the local villagers are a catalyst for the films major plot points, as is the intense isolation and persecution of Albrun and its influence over her mental state.

Due to the space in between each element coming together, it is difficult to maintain focus as a viewer and I found myself distracted by my own mind wandering...asking myself if there was something I was missing.

There is a movie worth watching somewhere in here, but it is buried so deep under a pile of long takes and ambiguity, that many will simply look for answers in a different film altogether.

Hagazussa: Delirious and Superstitious in Nature

[babyjaguar · 7/10 · 13 May 2019]

This debut and thesis film,"Hagazussa" by Lukas Feigelfeld is an exploration of 15th century European "witch" mythology, rural folklore and superstitions. It's a slow burn but it's visuals and sound mixing are astounding, which is why it has received many nominations and awards since 2017.

His style is yet to evolve, since the film's weak point is telling a story unlike Robert Egger's "The Witch" (2015) does well, inspired by U.S. colonial history. Except for the usages of three title cards to break the narrative, the story gets muddled. After the film viewing, I had seen many confused faces, not understanding what has happened as they left the room.

It's strengths of this emerging director to make the natural looks unnatural. The depictions of a bold performance by Aleksandra Cwen as "Alburn" amongst the Austrian landscape is truly visionary. But again for the general viewers it may not be enough to get into the story.

The film as a story explored moral conflicts amongst the villagers, referring to their persecution of Jews and others outside of the Christian spectrum.

STOP LYING! THIS WAS NOT BETTER THAN THE WITCH.

[tkaine3 · 6/10 · 8 December 2019]

"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.

Talented

[slyvrr · 7/10 · 17 November 2019]

A highly disturbing and hallucinating movie I have yo say. It is more a "watching a nightmare with somebody else's eyes" than a proper storytelling movie, nevertheless, it is a pure representation of his director's talent.

Don't believe the high scores!

[j-nickturner · 2/10 · 12 April 2020]

TL:DR: Skip this and watch Estonian folk-tale "November" if you want something similar to "The VVitch." The high scores are from try-hards and liars.

This film is beautifully shot. But that is where the positives stop.

There is absolutely NOTHING about this that is unnerving, uncomfortable, or anything that elicits an emotional response of any kind. The atmosphere is not ominous or foreboding. If the soundtrack were removed, you wouldn't even know what tone this film was going for. (and the soundtrack is literally just 4 notes sliding back and forth) Beautiful cinematography means nothing in a film if it doesn't communicate anything other than impressive composition.

It is NOT a picture of an isolated woman's descent into madness. Its just slow moving shot after shot of a depressed woman continuing to be depressed. The only inkling we get that she may be experiencing some sort of "madness" isn't until the 1:30 mark and the credits roll at 1:37. "Oh but that's the point. Its a snapshot of depression and isolation," you say. Then ask yourself if it was a point that even needed making.

Even the minimal description of the film ("Paranoia & superstition in 15th century Europe") is misleading. There is no paranoia at all. And during the 1:42 runtime, only 4 minutes are less have anything to do with superstition.

I am so tired of people pretending like films like this have any sort of depth. Even calling it pretentious just validates the people who claim they see something in it. I understand that art is subjective, and if truly did enjoy this film, more power to you.

However, I think a lot of you are lying to yourselves and others. Defending art just because it is art does nothing. Don't forget that just because something IS art, doesn't automatically make it GOOD art.

In my opinion, all this was is a cheap attempt to capitalize on some of the more successful slow moving folk horror. A director who knows how to work a camera isn't that unique, especially not when that's literally all they have to offer.

Go watch "The VVitch" or the Estonian folk-tale "November" instead.

Goosebumps

[ozorfis · 9/10 · 17 August 2018]

This is not an ordinary movie. In an aesthetic and moody way it can be compared to "Walhalla Rising" by Nicolas Winding Refn. The heavy use of chiaroscuro effects give such a powerful feel and quality to the pictures. In fact the stills appear like Rembrandt paintings. The very gloomy mood is perfectly supported by the very slow pace and symbolic, shamanistic elements.

In parts it felt like an LSD Trip that made me write my first review on IMDB. Highly recommended for people who have seen it all.

This is not a slow paced film, it's a filmed standstill

[the_last_dodo · 1 August 2018]

About half an hour into the film it gives up to tell a story and becomes a picture album. I've read the film took 4 years to make with a one year brake in-between. Makes you wonder if you have just seen the intermediate state where they took all the filmed material they had so far, strung it together for the sole purpose of achieving a length of circa a 100 minutes and call it a finished movie.

This Movie is Something Special.

[thorliebmann · 7/10 · 3 October 2019]

I would maybe even go so far as to say that, watching this movie is almost as reading a book. This is neither a good nor a bad thing. Let me explain.

This movie is not a horror movie. I will be so bold as to make this statement because it does not spark horror or fear. It does not scare the viewer nor does it make you feel uneasy. It almost makes you feel sad for the witches, which is amazing, because this point of view is very rarely accepted.

As a big fan of especially this kind of witch and witch tale. I would like to say that i both loved and hated this movie.

I loved this movie because as i mentioned earlier it takes the things we already know about witches and the common folk of that time period and then twists and turn them to make you feel like you don't know who's bad or good.

And i hated this movie both because it raises a lot of questions and none of them are answered which is sad but then again it isn't because do we really want to know? And because even though i am a huge fan of these kinds of tales (as mentioned before) it just seemed very slow and boring to me. I know it is meant to be but come on, a little more spells/revenge please, there are so many more angles to show.

Aside from the plot and the story of the movie, visually this is a masterpiece. It has the toned down colors, the moody lighting, it has actors who really know what they're doing and the unfathomably great soundtrack to boot.

Even though i don't speak German and have no idea what they're saying they actually rarely even speak. Which technically should ruin the movie but it really doesn't, it just adds to the already dark and gloomy feel it builds up so well.

So to summarize: This movie is great, but it could be even better.

Dull, dull, dull.

[Otkon · 3/10 · 2 June 2019]

There's a mom. She gurgles. There's a daughter. I think. She walks in the snow. A lot. There are a lot of animal noises. And a musical score created by holding a note on a Yamaha DX-7 for a few minutes and then infrequently changing to another note in that first note's minor scale. I believe the intent was supposedly to create ambience. At one point something growls. Oh, and there are subtitles. For the ten words of dialogue that are uttered. The movie might have had an ending but I don't remember.

These kind of artsy movies tend to veer too much into the minimally abstract while forgetting to have interesting moments or conflicts. This one really doesn't say anything other than "hey look at me, I'm moody. I must be poignant, right?"

No, not really.

A gorgeously shot German folk horror and a REALLY ODD witch movie.

[robfollower · 8/10 · 4 September 2019]

Before watching a film like this, it's important to know what you're getting into in terms of tone .This film is heavily atmospheric and slow-paced .Like recent examples The Witch and Hereditary I am very happy to see more excellent films breaking the mold of Hollywood formulaic paced fanfare for ADD viewer consumption. This film features masterfully slow burn storytelling with a sense of history, mystery and mythic dread. It is also very artfully shot with a perfectly matched deep bass soundtrack from MMMD and an outstanding often intense performance by lead actress Aleksandra Cwen. Looking forward to more from first time director Lukas Feigelfeld who nailed this one. Its up on Prime video free if your a member.

Pretentious and annoying.

[Patient444 · 3/10 · 13 January 2019]

Look, I'm all up for something new. I love those old sceneries, the cold, the solitude so any film that manages to incorporate such elements is going to have my curiosity.

But this one was borderline boring. I couldn't believe my eyes, time was passing and I was standing there, just like the movie, waiting for something to happen. I didn't move and neither did it. So if you want something that wants to come as innovative, a testament of fear, a slow burner that delivers, it's not the case here! I can't believe that it went nowhere!

Thus I'm going to go off on a bad note sadly: Hagazussa is a miss fire.

Cheers!

Germany's Answer To The VVitch, My Ass!

[CinemaClown · 4 October 2019]

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.

A folk horror laced in a drug or two

[TwistedContent · 6/10 · 12 September 2021]

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.

Dead and boring

[umimelectric · 3/10 · 22 January 2019]

I don't understand the positive reviews...they're either by people who had some involvement with the film or by viewers who consider themselves highbrow through forcing themselves to conjure some underlying excitement in something that is just plain old boring. I have watched and often enjoyed many a slow-burn feature, but there is no reward, impact, or clarity upon the "climax" of this narrative. 3/10 stars for the filming location, music, and decent production value.

Narratively underwhelming

[SoumikBanerjee1996 · 6/10 · 16 May 2023]

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.

Please! No more "slow burn"ultra-ambiguous clunkers!

[salmon62 · 1/10 · 16 July 2019]

You can probably watch this movie using the fast forward button on your remote at half-speed and not miss any plot developments. Each shot is about 10 seconds too long and the only explanation for this is self-indulgent editing. It's kind of like when you take a video camera along on your vacation and spend valuable time and footage on everything you see and realize later that most of your shots were unnecessary and boring. This movie is not a "foreign version of The Witch" and is not a "slow burn" to anything. There are no supernatural elements to this film as it's a basic study of isolation, psychosis, post-partem depression, and paganism from 600 years ago. This is a lame version of "The Wind" most likely. The cinematography is great; after the first 15 minutes it gets old. A word to directors and producers: Please stop making movies that are so ambiguous that there is no reasonable explanation for the audience! This is lazy film making and people shouldn't have to go online and seek a definitive interpretation to enjoy the film. Ambiguity to a point can be an interesting plot device. "Hagazussa" tries too hard to be cloudy and that detracts significantly from the film.

This movie is something very different...

[kathrinmaass · 8/10 · 8 June 2019]

We live in an extremely fast paced world....overfloaded by stimuli that are all around us. Used be able to get from A to B in no time....and most movies of our time adapt this pace.

But this one is different. It is not only set in very different time, it IS this different time. This movie lets you feel the slower pacing of old times. What some critics consider painstakingly boring, is just the clash between live has been paced a long time ago and how it is now. It is menacing - and I think it is supposed to be.

There is a nearly absolut absence of dialog. There are only a few sentences spoken in the entire movie. That is another clash between days past and our time. We talk all the time, chatter about just anything. But not in this movie. There is no need to talk. Just feel it.

And this movie is a lot about FEELING it. The main character does not elaborate or think about things - she just feels...like an animal. Just be and feel.

This movie doesn´t make sense. There is no plot that has to make sense. This is just being. It is what it is.

I have to watch it again to decide if I give it an even higher rating.

It peaks way too early...

[DanteRiggs · 6/10 · 19 October 2020]

The beginning is good. Maybe even very good. It's tense, scary, misterious and creepy. The first 25 minutes deserve a watch.

But after that... unfortunately, it becomes worse. Less scary, less creepy and kind of boring. It gets way too slow and it starts to linger unnecessarily, even when nothing really happens. Creating atmosphere is fine, if done right. But if you linger too much on your creepy scenes, the viewer gets used to them and eventually gets bored. To give an example... characters staring can be unsettling. But if the shot lasts for too long (or if you show the same thing over and over again), it just becomes... well, stupid. And boring.

And at some point in the movie, the main character does something really stupid. After that, it's hard to empathise with her. Or even pay attention to what's happening.

Watch the first 25 minutes and skip the rest.

How many mountains do you need?

[halfxbreed23 · 2/10 · 11 November 2021]

I tend to stay away from films that use the term "atmospheric" its a pretentious word used by people who pretend to be high brow. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and sometimes a film with long drawn out shots is just a bad film disguised as something profound.

This is not THE WITCH or Hereditary, those at least had a decent pace and DIALOGUE. This film tries so hard to be taboo with loose images of beastiality and sexual assault. It attempts to make up for lack of any story or character arc with immense theme and symbolism. Poor choice.

This was recommended to me.... I've since mentally blocked this person from trying to suggest any films I may enjoy in the future.

An exemplar of artful horror

[I_Ailurophile · 10/10 · 30 October 2021]

Beautiful landscapes and choice filming locations. Fantastic production design. Subdued tone. Superb costume design and set design. Marvelous score by Greek experimental artist MMMD - darkly ambient, droning, shifting subtly but masterfully, and helping to build incredible, tense atmosphere. Phenomenal sound design. Tremendous, thoughtful camerawork. Outstanding performances. Classic themes - isolation; superstition; persecution and abuse; a hushed, defiant strain of feminism; the stigma attached to femininity when a female-coded person lives a life that in any way runs counter to social norms, "earning" a label as a witch; the strain of the pressure of all such converging ideas, and the effect it can have.

These are the aspects of 'Hagazussa' that immediately impress even within minutes of it beginning, along with great consideration for hair and makeup, and meticulous writing and orchestration of scenes. Filmmaker Lukas Feigelfeld's screenplay is exquisite, and his eye and guiding hand as director no less so. Every line of dialogue, every movement, every little detail on-screen - every shot - feels whole and precise, as though perfectly matching his vision. The movie gives the notion of an art film as much as an exploration of horror concepts; nary a frame would look out of place hanging on a wall. And I absolutely love it.

Dialogue is sparing but fruitful; characters are complex and varied. Each excellent passing scene is woven carefully into a narrative at once tight and freely flowing - and consciously, forcefully restrained, allowing the quietly unsettling course of events to manifest on their own time and speak for themselves without embellishment. Everyone in the cast is highly noteworthy as they bring this pointedly muted tableau to life, but Aleksandra Cwen above all gives an exceptional display of acting skill as protagonist Albrun. As the forlorn woman's circumstances grow increasingly harried and dire, Cwen embraces the character with terrific nuance, soft but discrete presence and physicality, and strength of personality. It's a pleasure to watch her demonstrate her capabilities, and I hope to see more of her in the future.

'Hagazussa' is in every way an extraordinary film. Even while exploring familiar ideas of the genre, it approaches it with a refined, scrutinizing lens. While we get distinctly jarring, disturbing moments, the realization of horror here is less acute and concrete than it is thematic and conceptual. This tack is echoed in the deliberate, mindful, attentive, painstaking craftsmanship that brings the picture to fruition. I'm utterly blown away: I had no foreknowledge or expectations when I began watching, but this is a remarkable, first-rate movie, a masterpiece that came and went in 2017 with far too little attention. Lukas Feigelfeld, Aleksandra Cwen, MMMD, and everyone else involved in the production deserve much great recognition, as does the film itself: 'Hagazussa' is a wonderful, absorbing, captivating, disquieting exemplar, a paragon of horror and cinematic film-making and storytelling, and I enthusiastically proclaim it's a must-see.

Highest possible recommendation! Bravo!

Just watchable.....

[safsurfer · 6/10 · 27 October 2019]

This film is by no means even close in comparison to 'The Witch'.....but it is still watchable. By prepared for an extremely slow film with very little dialog.....the crying baby probably had the most to say. The scenery, cinematography, location, etc.....were some of the best aspects of the film. Acting was minimal as nobody really ever did anything. There was no real story per say, more of a day in the life type film with what the film maker tried to make creepy and scary with scenery and sound track......just didn't work for me. In my opinion skip this and see 'The Witch', you'll be better served.

Hagazussa: Not Quite a Three Hour Tour. But that would have been fine with me.

[hugofitch1 · 7/10 · 6 September 2021]

While watching Gilligan's Island, there is no moment, no single frame in which the viewer does not know exactly what is going on. There is not one moment in which an ambiguous interpretation is a possibility in the audience's minds as to what was just seen. No episode exists in which a scene contains a surprise. It's as if you yourself wrote the script, loathed it, crumpled it up and tossed it into the wastebasket only to find it had been retrieved and is now playing on your TV set. It is torturous to endure yet impossible to turn away from. Thirty minutes that you'll hate, but will watch from theme song to end credits, then be left in a foul mood afterward.

Hagazussa's approach, on the other hand, is to shroud even the simplest of scenes in uncertainty. The viewer can make assumptions about what was just seen, yet still be at sea as to how it fits into the preceding and subsequent scenes. But, like Sherwood Schwartz's cultural icon, it is also impossible to shut off. What's more, it all somehow comes together eventually and you are glad you stayed till the end of the tale.

I live for this kind of flick.

Trip

[kosmasp · 5/10 · 4 July 2018]

What a trip. It's tough to judge or rate movies like this. I can see how some will cherish this as masterpiece, while the majority will just be annoyed and think this is one of the worst things they've watched. It's a very fine line and I'm not entirely sure it is being walked on with grace or subtlety for that matter.

It's in black and white and it's mysterious to say the least. You have cryptic messages and you have characters (re)acting very weird. It is supposed to leave almost everything open to interpretation, it is also supposed to scare you at times. Also if it matters to you, one way or the other, the movie has nudity in it. Not in an exciting way mind you, and also there is psychological and some physical violence in it too. And it also messes with your mind ... maybe you can make sense of it, maybe you'll watch it again, to discover new things ... or maybe you will just shut it off after a couple of minutes ...

Better after I watched and read about it

[dannymitt · 6/10 · 15 September 2019]

The movie was painful to get through. People who are rating it low, I understand why. The movie is almost completely figurative (or subjective?)

It wasn't until i went on to reddit and someone broke down what the film was about that I could truly appreciate this film.

As good as Robert Eggers' THE VVITCH? Oh hell yeah, it's better

[Mike_Olson · 9/10 · 25 August 2018]

In Germany this film is often compared to, used in the same sentence with, Robert Egger's THE VVITCH (2015). Google actually translates the title to "Hagazussa - The Witches Curse."

The first thought that came to me during the opening title sequence was, if the rest of the soundtrack is like this, it's going to be amazing...and it was! Understated but dark and menacing. You won't mistake the sound score for anything but disturbing horror.

The film is divided into four parts: Shadow, Horn, Blood and Fire. At the start you can't help but feel compassion and concern for the young girl taking care of her sick mother, both isolated outcasts and thus thought of as witches. HAGAZUSSA is spooky old world horror set in 15th century Europe, beautifully eerie, with many scenes that I can only describe as CREEPY AS HELL, while other scenes are like a slow burn nightmare on 'shrooms; hypnotic and hallucinatory. Dialogue is used sparingly, only as needed, but it's enough and much else can be gained by studying the facial expressions of the characters and other plot clues providing context...the acting and all else in that regard is first rate. Yes, the movie is slow paced, but also full and rich, ripe with suggestion with moments of interpretation and realization. Also incredible scenery/cinematography with nature itself becoming a hostile mood-setting character.

As good as THE VVITCH? Oh hell yeah, and this is coming from someone who really liked THE VVITCH. HAGAZUSSA is much darker and in my opinion it exceeds that film in every way, including its historical religion-based presentation of paranoia-driven superstition and madness. And it even has its own version of Black Phillip! Okay, it's a black goat, but you can't help but make the connection within the context.

Who would I recommend it to? If you are a horror fan who doesn't always need to be spoon fed nonstop gory scenes of people being brutalized - if you liked THE VVITCH for example, and have the patience to let a slower paced film develop while you soak it all in - not only should you see this movie, you should sell your soul to find a copy. The realistic fragility of life is there anyway but it's within the scope of very dark and stark atmospheric horror.

Final impression: WOW! Mind blown.