Hagazussa

Hagazussa is a riveting 2017 horror film set in the 15th century Austrian Alps. At its helm is director Lukas Feigelfeld, with an imposing and captivating performance by Aleksandra Cwen in the lead role, as well as significant performances by Celina Peter and Claudia Martini. This genre-blending film skillfully intertwines elements of psychological dread, folk horror, and occult practices, making it a viewing experience that is visually stunning, intellectually intriguing and psychologically haunting.

The film starts off centered around Albrun, a young goatherd living in a remote mountain hut with her mother, who's soon revealed to the audiences as a suspected witch by their superstitious Alpine community. Strikingly played by Aleksandra Cwen, Albrun's character is both fascinating and highly complex, her emotions intricately portrayed with minimal dialogue and maximum intensity. Celina Peter convincingly portrays the younger version of Albrun, while Claudia Martini does an exceptional job playing Albrun's ominous and eerie mother.

Set against the backdrop of the snowy Austrian Alps, this isolated and ruthless world filled with shadows of occult practices and Pagan beliefs is strikingly atmospheric. The film perfectly exhibits the bleak and desolate Middle Ages hierarchy that subjects women like Albrun to constant stigmatization and fear. The movie’s cinematography, masterfully done by Mariel Baqueiro, creates a visually poetic narrative, layering the grim tale with exquisitely shot mountain landscapes, dense forests, and gloomy interiors of the character’s dwelling.

As the film moves forward into years, Albrun grows up into a woman, living alone with her own child and performing her duty as a goatherd, ostracized by the village community and haunted by the past. The solitary lifestyle and ongoing rumors about the nature of her mother's death cause Albrun to descend into a darkness that begins to blur the lines of reality and superstition.

The central theme of the movie is the concept of ‘Hagazussa', an Old High German term for a witch. Distorted through religious fears over centuries, the movie reexamines the concept and constituents of a ‘witch', dealing with medieval superstitions, puritanical societal fears, and the idea of womanhood laid bare on the fringes of society. The film represents a haunting exploration of the fine line between fear of the unknown, societal paranoia, emotional trauma, and the deep psychological layers of the human psyche.

Hagazussa is unarguably a slow burner, gradually unfurling its horror and inducing a sense of dread that isn’t based on jump scares or horrifying visuals. Instead, the film uses its chilling atmosphere, music and fantastic performances to create an enduring sense of unease and discomfort. The film is heavily reliant on its sound design and score by MMMD to build an ambience, wrapped in the eerie stillness of the snow-covered Alps, and fuelled by the terrifying specter of witchcraft. It masterfully takes its time, letting the terror seep in slowly.

Yet, Hagazussa isn't a standard horror flick packed with shock moments and violence. Instead, it is a cinematographic exploration of the stigmatizing effect that labeling, suppression, and patriarchal fear can have on an individual’s mind. It echoes a form of atmospheric horror that is reminiscent of Robert Eggers' ‘The Witch’, but definitely stands out due to its unique portrayal and particularly unsettling ambiance.

Hagazussa is particularly not for the faint-hearted viewer. It is a truly unnerving tale told in a visually captivating style. For those who appreciate the art of slow storytelling and are up for a psychologically taxing journey, this film guarantees an unforgettable cinematic experience. One must brace themselves for a chilling dive into an atmospheric and thought-provoking exploration of historical horror, alongside a stark commentary on ancient societal superstitions and the human condition.