The film is structured into four distinct chapters [10] and follows the tragic life of Albrun, a goat herder living in isolation [5]. The Origins:
The Greek drone-rock duo MMMD (Mohammad) provided the film's haunting soundtrack. Utilizing low-frequency cello drones, industrial hums, and traditional acoustic instruments, the music acts as a physical weight on the audience. The score mimics the internal groan of a breaking mind, building tension without ever releasing it. Deliberate Pacing
3.5/5 or 7/10. A confident, beautifully made, but deliberately alienating film.
Because she sat upon the hedge, the hagazussa possessed the unique capability to look into both realms. In early tribal structures, these individuals were often tribal seers, herbal healers, and midwives. They understood the medicinal and hallucinogenic properties of forest plants, navigating areas that average villagers feared to tread. However, because they resided on the physical and psychological margins of society, they were also viewed with intense vulnerability and suspicion. 2. The Demonization of the Liminal Woman Hagazussa
Because she straddled the hedge, she was believed to have one foot in the mundane world and the other in the spirit world. She could commune with nature and the dead, making her both vital to the community and deeply feared.
If you want to dig deeper into this film or its historical context, let me know if you would like me to analyze , break down the symbolism of the final scene , or provide a curated list of similar slow-burn folk horror movies . Share public link
Set in the remote Austrian Alps during the 15th century, the film follows Albrun, a young goatherd living in profound isolation. As a child, she witnesses her mother succumb to a horrific, plague-like illness while being terrorized by nearby villagers who label her a witch. The film is structured into four distinct chapters
For collectors, the definitive home release is the , which is presented with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound to fully immerse you in its haunting soundscape. The set includes:
Feigelfeld offers no moral judgment. He simply presents the act as a fact of the Hagazussa ’s existence. This ambiguity is why the film remains a cult touchstone for hardcore folk horror enthusiasts.
Two decades later, an adult Albrun still lives in the same isolated cabin, now working as a goat herder and raising her own infant daughter, Martha. The passage of time has not softened the villagers' malice. Albrun is still treated as an outcast, tormented by local children and viewed with intense suspicion. The score mimics the internal groan of a
HAGAZUSSA (2017) - Psychedelic mushrooms and well-cooked children
The final act heavily references (the scientific name for rye). This points directly to ergotism—a historical condition caused by eating rye infected with the Claviceps purpurea fungus. Ergot poisoning causes severe hallucinations, mania, and convulsions. The film suggests that much of the "witchcraft" in the ancient world was actually a toxicological byproduct of isolation and infected food supplies. 3. The Terror of the Natural World