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Described as the most terrifying film ever made in Taiwan, Incantation arrives on Netflix on July 8.

Six years ago, Lee Jo-nan was cursed after breaking a religious taboo. Now, she must protect her daughter from the consequences of her actions.

Director Kevin Ko explains that his goal was to create an interactive connection with the audience. “I know how to scare the audience with an effective horror sequence. But a good horror movie is not just about these tricks,” he says. “The core has to be about human nature. Ultimately, the audience has to care about the characters.”

Incantation is loosely inspired by a true Taiwanese story involving a family of cult worshippers. Ko says he was intrigued by but also fearful of this story. “Respect for religion, especially religious taboos and religions that are very obscure, has some degree of fear in it,” he believes. “I love scary stories, and even so I didn’t really quite dare to touch this topic. I wanted to magnify this feeling in Incantation.”