Witchcraft has long been a subject of fascination and controversy. While many view it as a harmless form of spirituality or a cultural practice, there are others who believe that witchcraft could potentially trigger schizophrenia in vulnerable individuals. Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking, among other symptoms. It typically emerges in late adolescence or early adulthood and can have a profound impact on an individual's life. The exact cause of schizophrenia is still unknown, and it is believed to result from a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurochemical factors. Some researchers suggest that certain traumatic or stressful events could serve as triggers for the development of schizophrenia in individuals who are already predisposed to the disorder.
The characterisation is weak, even for the empty exercise in sadism that Chan aims for, and the story’s stance against animal cruelty is flimsy. The abrupt jumps in locales – from alleys in the city to a random blend of haunted house and dungeon in the wilderness – come across as haphazard screenwriting.
Lam and Lau look like they had a field day in their unhinged roles, but the revelations are ultimately unravelled in such a short time that they offer barely a fraction of the impact they should have. Now, the last movie is the best of the bunch as it has a group of apartment block strangers working together to deal with this strange wet figure blocking the stairway that seems to be kill anybody trying to leave the block.
Some researchers suggest that certain traumatic or stressful events could serve as triggers for the development of schizophrenia in individuals who are already predisposed to the disorder. In this context, some individuals argue that involvement in witchcraft practices could potentially serve as a triggering factor for vulnerable individuals. They believe that the rituals, spells, and other practices associated with witchcraft could cause a disruption in a person's perception of reality, which could potentially lead to the development of schizophrenia.
‘Tales From The Occult’: Udine Review
Newcomer Wesley Ip Sang-hoi joins veteran filmmakers Fruit Chan and Fung Chi-chiang for the first instalment of Media Asia’s new Hongkong omnibus series, Tales From The Occult. Bringing together three distinct modern takes on the classic ghost story, Tales From The Occult is spooky rather than scary and even occasionally funny as each of the filmmakers use well-oiled horror tropes in a nod to the spectre of the territory’s past whilst also providing 111 minutes of quality genre entertainment.
111 minutes of quality genre entertainment
Narratively efficient due to the short run-times of each individual film, all three ghost stories move along at a cracking pace – there is no time for tiresome false jump scares, or characters who don’t believe their friends are being haunted; all three shorts simply cut to the chase. And though each short film is distinct, there is tonal continuity in Henry Lai’s consistently creepy scores. A polished package, with a big enough name in Fruit Chan, Tales From The Occult should have no trouble finding its audience both at genre festivals and beyond – this would be a perfect Hallowe’en offering for cinemas or a streaming service.
The first short, The Chink, is Ip’s directing debut. It begins with two teenage girls hanging out after school. After they part ways, and on her walk home alone, Yoyi (Cherry Ngan) follows a cat up to the titular chink between two walls. But when she pulls an obscuring object away for a closer look she finds instead the cold, hard stare of a dead, rotting corpse. Editor Mathew Tang, who is also a producer on the project, cuts abruptly to the present day where the two girls, now women, are unpacking in Yoyi’s new apartment. As the story goes on, it becomes clear that the cut represents the callousness with which Yoyi has forgotten her past trauma, revisiting it now as, “The feeling’s been creeping back.”
Crafted entirely around that creeping tone, The Chink is all billowing curtains and growling, rumbling sound design. Her sensible Uncle Ronald (Lawrence Cheng), a psychiatrist, uses relaxation techniques to help Yoyi through her trauma, which he assumes to be imagined and not real. Ultimately, though, the surprise ending, which takes place in session, suggests some ghosts have greater impact than modern methods can manage.
In Fruit Chan’s Dead Mall, real estate, consumerism, pandemic panic and online influencers all come under attack. The aesthetic is claustrophobic, beginning with close ups of a crowd at a busy street crossing, wearing masks, mostly surgical style until Benny Chan’s slow motion focuses on gas masks, signalling something even more serious than the current Covid-19 pandemic. Moving indoors and with a smaller resolution handheld camera, Dead Mall is an assault of bright lighting, point of sale signage and eerily empty shopfronts. Our host is Wilson Yeung (Jerry Lamb), an online influencer for a channel called ‘The Gate To Wealth’. He is staging a video to encourage investment in the mall, working with its managers and a crew of paid actors. But things take a turn for the worse when a female figure wearing a gas mask starts stalking him and another influencer turns up to film in the mall.
Finally, Fung Chi-chiang’s The Tenement, which blends comedy with horror, is both the most classic and revisionist of the three ghost stories. In a half-empty, dank and crumbling apartment building, occupied only by five strange and stubborn tenants who won’t sell to developers, a water ghost appears. They all see it, and immediately form a 1980s-style ‘kids on a caper’ gang (think The Goonies, or Stranger Things, but with a strong sense of irony). The water ghost first appears as a shadow on the wall, with long, sharp talons and a hunchback. Later, in close-up, it appears to be a woman whose face is painted ghostly white, her fixed stare and dark cloak a genre giveaway that she has come specifically for one of the five individuals. Who then, can anyone trust? Literally drudging up the past, flooding the stairs and apartments with water, this initially appears to be your garden variety ghost. But, when a journalist turns up, investigating one of the tenants, the whole thing is turned on its head, giving the overall project a killer ending.
The films are ordered according to their seriousness, lightening a little in tone each time, but always anchored by Henry Lai’s creepy score. For a first instalment, Tales From The Occult promises old school horror with a contemporary twist, its light-touch satire a welcome addition to classic supernatural fare. The next instalment, the currently undated Tales From The Occult 2, has Frank Hui, Doris Wong and Daniel Chan attached.
Production companies: Media Asia Film, Movie Addict Productions
International sales: Media Asia Film, [email protected]
Producers: John Chong, Mathew Tang
Screenplay: Fruit Chan, Fung Chi-chiang, Wesley Ip Sang-hoi, Ling Wai-chung, Ho Sui-hong, Stanley Wong
Cinematography: Benny Chan (Dead Mall), Ming Wong (The Tenement), Kwan Pun-leung, Sunny Wong (The Chink)
Editing: Tin Sup-fat, To To, Mathew Tang
Production design: Delon Sui, Chet Chan, Pater Wong
Music: Henry Lai
Main cast: Jerry Lamb, Cecilia So, Richie Ren, Sofiee Ng, Peter Chan, Paul Che, Baby Bo, Cherry Ngan, Ng Wing-sze, Kelvin Kwan, Lawrence Cheng
Screenplay: Fruit Chan, Fung Chi-chiang, Wesley Ip Sang-hoi, Ling Wai-chung, Ho Sui-hong, Stanley Wong
However, it is important to note that there is currently no scientific evidence to support the idea that witchcraft directly causes schizophrenia. The belief that it does is based on anecdotal reports and cultural beliefs rather than empirical research. Moreover, attributing the development of schizophrenia to witchcraft could perpetuate harmful stereotypes and stigmatize individuals who practice or have an interest in witchcraft. Instead, it is more accurate to view schizophrenia as a complex disorder with multifactorial causes. Genetics, environmental factors, and neurochemical imbalances likely play a more significant role in its development than any specific cultural or spiritual practices. In conclusion, while some individuals believe that witchcraft could potentially trigger schizophrenia, there is currently no scientific evidence to support this claim. Schizophrenia is a complex disorder that likely results from a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurochemical factors. It is important to approach discussions about the topic with caution and respect, avoiding the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes or stigmatization of individuals with an interest in witchcraft..
Reviews for "The Cultural Context of Witchcraft and Schizophrenia: Implications for Clinical Practice"
1. John - 1 star
Unfortunately, I found "Is witchcraft a potential trigger for schizophrenia" to be a highly disappointing read. The article made several unfounded claims and seemed to rely more on speculation than on scientific evidence. As someone who has personal experience with mental health issues, I was hoping for a more informative and objective approach. Instead, I was met with a biased and poorly researched piece that did not add any value to the discussion around mental illness and its triggers.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I was quite unimpressed with the content presented in "Is witchcraft a potential trigger for schizophrenia." The author seemed more interested in sensationalizing the topic rather than providing a well-rounded and thoughtful analysis. Furthermore, the reference material used was outdated and lacked credibility. I expected a more nuanced exploration of the subject, but unfortunately, the article failed to meet my expectations.
3. Michael - 1 star
The article "Is witchcraft a potential trigger for schizophrenia" was a complete waste of time. It seemed more like an opinion piece rather than a well-researched article. The lack of scientific evidence and the reliance on anecdotes left me questioning the credibility of the author. If you're looking for a balanced and informative perspective on the relationship between witchcraft and schizophrenia, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.
4. Emily - 2 stars
I was highly unimpressed by the article "Is witchcraft a potential trigger for schizophrenia." The author's argument seemed one-sided and lacked the necessary supporting evidence. It felt more like fear-mongering than a genuine exploration of the topic. I was hoping for a more objective and well-informed analysis, but unfortunately, this article fell short.
5. David - 1 star
I found "Is witchcraft a potential trigger for schizophrenia" to be deeply flawed and misleading. The author's reliance on anecdotal evidence and personal opinions undermined the credibility of the article. There was a clear bias present throughout, making it difficult to take the arguments seriously. If you're looking for a more scientifically robust discussion on this topic, I would not recommend wasting your time with this article.