Mudborn Review: A Thrilling Albeit Too Dark Horror Film

Mudborn Review: When a force from beyond this world latches on to his pregnant wife, game developer Chang Hsu-Chuan finds his will tested trying to save her and their unborn child.

The film has a runtime of 110 minutes and is loosely inspired by the classic Taiwanese nursery rhyme “Mud Doll” (泥娃娃).

Mudborn Review

Exploring Taiwanese folklore and blending it with modern elements like VR gaming and security cameras, Shieh Meng-ju’s Murdborn is an interesting exploration of what makes couples tick and how far they are willing to go to save someone they love. Following game developer Chang Hsu-Chuan and his pregnant artefact conservator wife Hsu Mu-hua, the film feels authentic and lived-in from the get-go, thanks to the lead couple’s chemistry and a somewhat good handle of how to bring the horror elements to life.

First and foremost, I think the film isn’t well-lit, especially in the night sequences. It’s extremely difficult to understand what’s happening and facial expressions, which takes away from the investment viewers will have and the scares one might feel. Of course, it’s almost always a given to make horror movies as dark as possible to dish out the jumpscares, but things still have to be somewhat legible to be effective. Same for the sequences inside the haunted house – it’s so dark that you can’t see anything, and time is spent trying to understand what’s happening.

I also found some of the characters’ actions to be absolutely stupid. Again, a very obvious trope that adds nothing to the story or its level of scariness. While you sympathise with the leads and their difficulties post-possession, sometimes you have to wonder why Mu-hua would wake up in the middle of the night and touch a dirty and broken doll – if for nothing, then for the fear of catching some infection. Either way, these scenarios make the film feel extremely obvious and tropey.

Either way, Mudborn is a fun watch, one that takes the folklore part of it seriously and delivers a nail-biting sequence of events. The first half feels a bit slow, although Cecilia Choi does a great job of showcasing a possessed woman trying to push back against a malevolent spirit. In the second half, we see Derek Chang as Ah-sheng, a folklorist and exorcist, whose no-nonsense attitude and know-how of the spirit world make him a rather enjoyable watch and a forbiddable enemy to the spirit.

The film has some good bloody moments, and the practical effects are mixed well with CGI elements, presenting disturbing visuals that add to the terrifying moments. There’s a lot of blood and guts flying everywhere, and viewers will find themselves appropriately disturbed by whatever takes place on-screen. The second half also incorporates elements of the virtual reality game that Hsu-chuan has been developing, and it makes for a rather eerie and exciting experience. It’s a clever twist that adds freshness to an otherwise standard horror film.

Final Thoughts

I think Mudborn is engaging and heartfelt. It would’ve been more entertaining had we been able to see during the night sequences. However, overall, it’s a good-looking film that gets most of its beats right, despite some tropes here and there.

What are your thoughts on Mudborn? Let us know in the comments below!

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