Hagazussa: A Heathen's Curse

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Muku T Hagazussa tries to merge historical realism with mythic horror but loses coherence in the process. The film builds a world of medieval superstition and social cruelty, yet the characters’ inner logic never follows the same gravity. Albrun’s isolation, her supposed descent into madness, and the villagers’ persecution feel disconnected — more arranged than lived. By grounding everything in ethnographic detail but neglecting emotional causality, the story turns strangely hollow: not frightening, not tragic, just implausible. If it were truly based on history, it would need psychological continuity; if purely mythical, it would require symbolic unity. Instead, it stands uneasily between both — a visually beautiful but dramatically confused fable. The result is less a study of faith or fear than a film caught in its own indecision about what kind of truth it wants to tell. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 10/13/25 Full Review Claudio C Hagazussa (2017) Outstanding Performance of Aleksandra Cwen (11,807 –05 Jul 2025 – by Claudio Carvalho) In the Middle-Ages, in the Austrian Alps, the goatherder Martha (Claudia Martini) raises her daughter Albrun (Celina Peter) in her cabin in the mountains. The superstitious locals call them witches. During the cold winter, Martha becomes ill and soon she dies in the woods. Fifteen years later, Albrun (Aleksandra Cwen) is a single mother with a baby girl called Martha, living alone in her mother’s cottage. The superstitious residents believe she is a witch. She befriends the local Swinda (Tanja Petrovskij), who seems to be her friend. But when she finds that her goats were robbed and one of them slaughtered in her barn, Albrun gets revenge on the locals and goes haywire. “Hagazussa” (2017) is an atmospheric German Austrian horror movie by Lukas Feigelfeld. The plot is developed in a slow pace, and it is almost a silent movie with very few dialogs and eerie music score. The ambiguous story is great, Albrun’s revenge is excellent but the conclusion is totally senseless, with the spontaneous combustion of Albrun. Aleksandra Cwen has an amazing performance and practically carries the movie alone. The landscapes are also magnificent. However, this film is adequate for very specific audiences. My vote is six. Title (Brazil): “A Maldição da Bruxa” (“The Witch’s Curse”) My Blog: https://maniacosporfilme.wordpress.com/ Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/06/25 Full Review Bib D As much as I love odd, quirky, art house, and noirish stuff ...am I missing something? I couldn't get through this in its entirety. Had to drop off after about the 9o minute mark. I love the cinematography and the slow-burn, perhaps I'm just too stupid to understand this. The death of innocence and the birth of adulthood? The magic of altering ones reality? Wish I knew. Beautifully done up, just felt like skipping out towards the end. Maybe, it's because of the...I don't know. Can't not recommend it, so, Caveat Emptor. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/04/25 Full Review Michel M Awful movie, boring and is not horror is just a thriller with suspense and drugs Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/23/25 Full Review Brad M Strange but boring. Cinematography was good but that was about it. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/18/25 Full Review James B Brave and committed filmmaking that brutalizes slowly and quietly. Built on long, lingering shots and framed by a haunting score (mostly cello), you’ll either be able to get lost in it, or you just wont appreciate what’s going on, which no one would judge you for. It’s not for everyone but if you like it strange and don’t need a neat and tidy resolution, wade into the muck. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Hagazussa: A Heathen's Curse

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