Why do only 2 people sound like they're from SA? 30 minutes into this and I'm almost asleep. Horror movies cannot have scare gaps with 30-45 minutes to build the story unless the plot is epic and your star is Tom Hanks etc
23 Reviews
eish
bmakhubu20 July 2021
So i feel very conflicted about this film. Obviously being South African i want our films to be good and give them the benefit of the doubt but my god was this the most generic jump scare-type horror movie.
I dont think i've ever sighed so many times during a film just because of how predictable the "scares" were going to be. I think the story, writing, pacing and the performance of the film could've been way way better. I was confused half of the time thinking "wtf is this film actually about?" The concept was solid, I just think the execution of it all wasn't done any justice
There are some positives from it in my opinion. Most of the technical side of things were done well. Even though its not groundbreaking cinematography, i still think it was shot beautifully. Lovely setting. The lighting and sound was great. OH MY GOD the production and costume design!! Probably the best thing about this film for me.
So yeah i think where it fell short in the feeling, it made up for it in the technical aspects. I'm not judging it too harshly because I personally think horror is fairly new to South African film (e.g. Tokoloshe, 8, Rage etc) so obviously there's gonna be some duds here and there. Overall not baaad movie but also not a good one too, the typical horror tropes were a bit overkill lmaoo. Also i saw one of my lecturers in this and i legit lost my mind laughing so there's that.
I dont think i've ever sighed so many times during a film just because of how predictable the "scares" were going to be. I think the story, writing, pacing and the performance of the film could've been way way better. I was confused half of the time thinking "wtf is this film actually about?" The concept was solid, I just think the execution of it all wasn't done any justice
There are some positives from it in my opinion. Most of the technical side of things were done well. Even though its not groundbreaking cinematography, i still think it was shot beautifully. Lovely setting. The lighting and sound was great. OH MY GOD the production and costume design!! Probably the best thing about this film for me.
So yeah i think where it fell short in the feeling, it made up for it in the technical aspects. I'm not judging it too harshly because I personally think horror is fairly new to South African film (e.g. Tokoloshe, 8, Rage etc) so obviously there's gonna be some duds here and there. Overall not baaad movie but also not a good one too, the typical horror tropes were a bit overkill lmaoo. Also i saw one of my lecturers in this and i legit lost my mind laughing so there's that.
A horror movie devoid of proper horror elements...
paul_haakonsen25 February 2021
I must admit that I was lured in to watch the 2020 movie "Heks" (aka "The Hex") given the rating of the movie, it's cover and the premise of it being a horror movie. So, I managed to find the time to sit down to watch writer and director Reine Swart's movie in 2021.
And color me unimpressed. This movie was boring and bland. Sure, it had adequate production value, but the storyline was just downright boring. Director Reine Swart played on every single horror trope there is, and jump scares in an abundance. It was so overly done that it weighed down the movie.
As for the storyline, well that was just a swing and a miss from writer Reine Swart. There was very little of any interest in the storyline, and the movie trotted on in a very monotonous pacing with very little happening. And this was particularly troublesome for a horror movie, because it felt prolonged and uneventful. And you could just smell the jump scares coming a mile away.
The acting in the movie was lukewarm at best. I mean, I wasn't impressed with what I saw on the screen here, generally speaking for the entire cast. However, don't get me wrong here, because I am not saying that it was bad performances, not at all. But it just felt mediocre and as if the casted actresses and actors weren't really committing their full potential to their performances.
For a horror movie, then "Heks" fell short of delivering something worthwhile. And truth be told, it was somewhat of a struggle to sit through the course of the entire movie.
My rating of "Heks" lands on a mere three out of ten stars.
And color me unimpressed. This movie was boring and bland. Sure, it had adequate production value, but the storyline was just downright boring. Director Reine Swart played on every single horror trope there is, and jump scares in an abundance. It was so overly done that it weighed down the movie.
As for the storyline, well that was just a swing and a miss from writer Reine Swart. There was very little of any interest in the storyline, and the movie trotted on in a very monotonous pacing with very little happening. And this was particularly troublesome for a horror movie, because it felt prolonged and uneventful. And you could just smell the jump scares coming a mile away.
The acting in the movie was lukewarm at best. I mean, I wasn't impressed with what I saw on the screen here, generally speaking for the entire cast. However, don't get me wrong here, because I am not saying that it was bad performances, not at all. But it just felt mediocre and as if the casted actresses and actors weren't really committing their full potential to their performances.
For a horror movie, then "Heks" fell short of delivering something worthwhile. And truth be told, it was somewhat of a struggle to sit through the course of the entire movie.
My rating of "Heks" lands on a mere three out of ten stars.
What the heks did I just watch?!
Stanlee10720 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Omg this is just awful. All I can remember is that the film has a lot of screaming & poorly executed jump scares & less said about the cheap looking monster special effects "borrowed" or "inspired" from the better original source material that is superior to a copy of a copy. How can you watch a film about witch doctor be so inept & makes the viewer so bored throughout?!
I can count the number of times I jumped or got scared from this...Not once. This film is more likely to give you melancholy than a fright. Potential viewers you have been warned...
I can count the number of times I jumped or got scared from this...Not once. This film is more likely to give you melancholy than a fright. Potential viewers you have been warned...
Awful jump scare !!!
rayhansyl16 December 2020
horrible trash
ferdmalenfant25 December 2020
Obviously the good reviews are fake
ramiruke18 January 2021
Cheaply made, horrible acting, insulting jump scares that aren't even scary, boring and awfully executed plot from the beginning to end. I sat through this excruciatingly mediocre movie because I just took in account the movie rating and not read the reviews. Pretty obvious now that the reviews with more than 3 stars are completely fake.
Viewer beware.
Viewer beware.
a poor boring movie
yamahapic23 December 2020
Not complete trash but not really good
RandomTard4 October 2021
Okey, this movie is not the most cheapest - it was actually filmed quite nicely and the acting wasn't that bad. It's a shame the story was all over the place and didn't really make sense and the never ending barrage of jumpscares in the end was really just a compilation of clichés, including the black hair girl from every horror movie since 90's.
Even with it's flaws it could of been somewhat enjoyable little movie if they would of had the sound effects balanced. The effects were mega loud, music was mostly ok but at moments got really too loud and the speaking was basicly nonexisting whispering.
Even with it's flaws it could of been somewhat enjoyable little movie if they would of had the sound effects balanced. The effects were mega loud, music was mostly ok but at moments got really too loud and the speaking was basicly nonexisting whispering.
Avoid this movie
jonisuikeli1 January 2024
If a trailer can be further from the truth, then this movie is the best example. There is nothing good about this movie. Believe it or not, I tried to think of something. Or a moment, the best part is when the movie was over.
A stuttering, interrupted narration, supplemented with bad acting, creates a film like this, which deserves its own letter of the alphabet. The horror scenes are clichéd and start to make you laugh with their unpredictability. Watch this movie if you want to know what it feels like to waste time without getting anything in return.
If You find anything good in this movie, please share it.
A stuttering, interrupted narration, supplemented with bad acting, creates a film like this, which deserves its own letter of the alphabet. The horror scenes are clichéd and start to make you laugh with their unpredictability. Watch this movie if you want to know what it feels like to waste time without getting anything in return.
If You find anything good in this movie, please share it.
South African horror!
rwilsondrive16 December 2020
Artsy Horror
sohag-1653123 December 2020
This film has layers and symbolism that's different from a normal horror movie. There's some scenes so beautifully filmed, weird and artistic. Definitely a drama horror. I really liked the symbolism behind the masks and the layered storyline. I liked the aspects of the African folklore. Some good jump scares. Would have wanted to see more character development from the story, but all in all if you like artsy movies, then this one is a fun one.
Waste of 82 minutes !
hirstpaul21 January 2022
For a film that checks in less than an hour and an half, this laughably described horror movie was tedious and boring. I love the genre, but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. Theres barely any tension in the flick and it's just a continual series of unscary pop up jump scares. Seriously an absolute chore to sit through, and I agree with others here the positive reviews must surely be fake.
South African Folk Horror
alyssapillay17 December 2020
Lost in translation
betty_buzzkill2 January 2021
I found this movie interesting yet a tad confusing. I think my partner enjoyed this more than me since, being from Africa she understood more of the folklore behind what was going on when I was a bit lost since it wasn't explained very well.
Must see movie
jackiealton17 December 2020
So here's the deal, if you are a fan of horror movies and looking for your next scare fix, HEKS is the one for you!!!
Guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, it's intriguing story line will have you experiencing levels of suspense you never thought possible, and an adrenaline rush like never before.
With amazing performances from Coco Lloyd who plays the role of Dilanne, and everyone else involved.
There are scenes of drama and romance also thrown into the mix to keep you guessing what will happen next.
A truly gripping movie.
Guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, it's intriguing story line will have you experiencing levels of suspense you never thought possible, and an adrenaline rush like never before.
With amazing performances from Coco Lloyd who plays the role of Dilanne, and everyone else involved.
There are scenes of drama and romance also thrown into the mix to keep you guessing what will happen next.
A truly gripping movie.
Eerie ambience rather than straight horror
nandanmadappa10 January 2021
I really liked the mood / ambience of the film. It wasn't that gory or straight up horror scary, but rather eerie. A slow burner with a fast last 40 minutes. If you like eerie movies, then you might enjoy this one. If you're more of a gory fan, then this one is not for you.
Great South African indie film
jp-labuschagne18 December 2020
For all horror fans
katrinelabuschagne18 December 2020
African horror
banenmoha26 December 2020
Unique, Cerebral Horror on a Micro Budget
etbechtel22 December 2020
Some people will not like this movie. Some people will hate this movie. Some people want to turn on a movie and turn off their brains. This film is not for them.
I have not seen a film quite this unique in a long time. There's nothing to me worse than a trashy, low-budget horror flick and unfortunately, horror is a genre that must be executed close to PERFECT in order for it to work. That said, the Writer/Director took a huge shot at her debut film, and scored.
The story seems like a love-letter to director Swart's homeland of South Africa, and it immerses you in the culture and scenery from early on. The cinematography is on par with some of the biggest budget films, which is sure to surprise viewers expecting a gritty, low-budget production. The audio includes some unique minimalist tracks which you can tell pay homage to the South African roots of the film. The acting is amazingly lifelike, with actors such as Mari Molefe van Heerden walking on all fours as the witchdoctor and Mary-Anne Barlow distorting her facial expressions, playing a sufferer of Bell's Palsey. Playing the lead, Coco Lloyd is a superb canvas for all the unfortunate events about to unfold in this universe.
And then there's the writing. Never one to spoonfeed an audience, Swart weaves together a complex tale of witchdoctors and murder, which leaves you dumbfounded at times. Audiences will quickly make up their minds about certain characters, only to find out they're only pawns to Swart's written misdirection. Having watched the movie twice, I was able to pick up on contextual clues in the second sitting that I admittedly missed the first time. Because of this, every word, big or small, becomes important.
I showed this indie gem to a few friends and family, all of which resulted in extended periods of discussion. While some were not into the slower build-up pacing, those of us who prefer a bit of nuance and depth towards a story appreciated the nightmares, the misdirection, and the contextual clues that were provided to us. Other friends just wanted to see a bunch of death and mayhem the entire time, so this film was not for them.
If this is how far a micro-budget film can go, I would LOVE to see what can happen if studios put a little less money in the hands of the Marvel universe, and a little more into the hands of artists.
I have not seen a film quite this unique in a long time. There's nothing to me worse than a trashy, low-budget horror flick and unfortunately, horror is a genre that must be executed close to PERFECT in order for it to work. That said, the Writer/Director took a huge shot at her debut film, and scored.
The story seems like a love-letter to director Swart's homeland of South Africa, and it immerses you in the culture and scenery from early on. The cinematography is on par with some of the biggest budget films, which is sure to surprise viewers expecting a gritty, low-budget production. The audio includes some unique minimalist tracks which you can tell pay homage to the South African roots of the film. The acting is amazingly lifelike, with actors such as Mari Molefe van Heerden walking on all fours as the witchdoctor and Mary-Anne Barlow distorting her facial expressions, playing a sufferer of Bell's Palsey. Playing the lead, Coco Lloyd is a superb canvas for all the unfortunate events about to unfold in this universe.
And then there's the writing. Never one to spoonfeed an audience, Swart weaves together a complex tale of witchdoctors and murder, which leaves you dumbfounded at times. Audiences will quickly make up their minds about certain characters, only to find out they're only pawns to Swart's written misdirection. Having watched the movie twice, I was able to pick up on contextual clues in the second sitting that I admittedly missed the first time. Because of this, every word, big or small, becomes important.
I showed this indie gem to a few friends and family, all of which resulted in extended periods of discussion. While some were not into the slower build-up pacing, those of us who prefer a bit of nuance and depth towards a story appreciated the nightmares, the misdirection, and the contextual clues that were provided to us. Other friends just wanted to see a bunch of death and mayhem the entire time, so this film was not for them.
If this is how far a micro-budget film can go, I would LOVE to see what can happen if studios put a little less money in the hands of the Marvel universe, and a little more into the hands of artists.
mixes and matches
norrisb-6685123 February 2021
The Hex mixes and matches some cool ideas and the final two chapters are particularly well crafted and emotionally raw but the overall story is not entirely coherent and, even around six hours in terms of playtime, some of the mechanics are rather limited. Daniel Mullins has great ideas and delivers something unique with his games but a little more care when it comes to the execution would really elevate his releases.
Great follow
alanecox-5120723 February 2021
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