Mudborn

2025 [CHINESE]

Drama / Horror / Thriller

2
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 80%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 80%
IMDb Rating 6.7/10 10 153 153

Plot summary

Xu Chuan, who works at a game company, accidentally brings home a broken clay doll from a haunted house while developing a new horror VR game. Unexpectedly, his pregnant wife, Mu Hua, a cultural relic restorer, develops an obsession with the doll and relentlessly tries to repair it. As strange things begin to happen in the house, Mu Hua's condition deteriorates, and Xu Chuan, at his wits' end, seeks help from a spiritual medium, A Sheng. Meanwhile, the horrifying secret hidden behind the clay doll begins to surface.

720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
1018.94 MB
1280*536
Chinese 2.0
NR
Subtitles cn   us   ar   es   fr   id   ja   kr   ms   pt   th   tr   vi  
24 fps
1 hr 50 min
Seeds ...
2.04 GB
1920*804
Chinese 5.1
NR
Subtitles cn   us   ar   es   fr   id   ja   kr   ms   pt   th   tr   vi  
24 fps
1 hr 50 min
Seeds ...

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by 6 / 10

Effective scary film with overdone ending

I went to see this movie on holiday in Taiwan to get an idea of the movie scene so I may not be the target audience.The movie itself was effective in the first half and the clichés were well lampshaded. I instantly connected with the family from the charisma of the main couple. I think there were a few early scenes where characters should have had stronger reactions but that's normal in horror movies.Past half way things didn't make as much sense. I didn't get how the spirit possession was supposed to be working (although there were some clever plot patch ups).By the end of the movie when the talisman expert comes in all bets are off and the movie goes pretty quickly. This lead to more plot holes but somehow there was so much action and tension that I didn't mind as much and I started having fun again.The ending is a whole black mirror episode, very bittersweet I'm glad they went there. And I love the post credit scene I wonder where the series will go next.I would recommend if you like movies like Annabelle or insidious.
Reviewed by 6 / 10

Story telling excellent and taoist amulet

"Ni Wa Wa" - Review: about a mud doll that a game development team takes from a haunted house and which ends up disturbing a pregnant couple."Ni Wa Wa" is a film about how a mud doll turns evil, gradually eating away at its host - from causing psychological breakdowns to fully possessing the host's body. Early on, the husband (whose game dev team visits an abandoned, notorious house to gather background material for a game) and his colleagues discover the mud doll. After what they experience in the house and following the possession, they bring the mud doll back to the studio. The colleague who becomes possessed repeatedly pressures the husband to perform exorcism-like tasks; the first time they yell out during a meeting, and the second time - when they mention many of the mud doll's wicked deeds in front of the husband - the spirit ultimately takes control in a very eerie way.Plot summary and narrative styleThe story follows how the protagonist unwittingly moves the spirit-hosting mud doll from the office to her home. The doll causes the female lead to become possessed. (By the way, the female lead graduated from ceramics and the haunted house / news report were connected to a senior from her department.) The female lead is also pregnant, in the same condition as that senior. The latter part of the film depicts Taoist talismans, rites of expulsion, suppression, and finally the destruction of the evil spirit.Cinematography and lightingThe haunted-house footage in the first half is not very well lit; overall the faces of the actors could use roughly 25% more exposure so their expressions are legible. Most outdoor/daylight scenes are handled well, but the night lighting needs the adjustments mentioned earlier. I think the very low-light approach is intended to create a shocking, deep horror atmosphere. Some parts are supported by dark, creepy sound design, although the score and effects are not very complex or plentiful.Characterization and actingThe film makes full use of visual effects to show self-harm and related effects; they feel convincing. The possessed makeup and CGI work closely together.Scores* Story: 9/10 (the plot slowly builds until the mud doll's influence extends to the finale) * Acting: 8.0/10 (strong performances, though there's room to improve) * Visuals & Cinematography: 6.5/10 (professional camera work and thoughtful design; lighting needs better control) * Music: 6/10 (limited use of score and sound design)Review summaryAs a film, "Ni Wa Wa" shows that those still living should know how to seek help to save their family - even to the point of using a person as a vessel to trap the spirit. The movie introduces audiences to Taoist talismans; the protagonist's ongoing story will involve using these talismans to restore or bring back what was lost.
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