Movie Reviews

[CFF ’23] ‘Invoking Yell’ review: Black metal found footage is a refreshing throwback

Songs about pain, agony, and death.

June 30, 2023

Invoking Yell will appeal to fans of black metal, DIY music, and genre films. Set in the 1990s, the film is about three women who head into the woods to record their demo. As the night progresses, the terror becomes more palpable as black magic, evil rituals, and lots of blood become involved.

It does not take long for the film to win audiences over. One of the characters speaks to the camera about the music her band plays. She talks about how she hates other people and does not care about fans. It is the type of sophomoric attitude that has been used for laughs in comedy and is insufferable in real life. It does both in Invoking Yell.

The difference is, it also goes to give insight into the main characters. As in most found footage movies, there is not much in the way of development, but there does not have to be. From the opening moments, there is a charm that makes each of the trio engaging. Their love of music comes through in everything they do and say. At the same time, they are young girls who are up their own butts.

Aside from the mandatory twist ending needed from these types of films, Invoking Yell does have a 21st century feel to its storytelling. The plot follows a familiar formula, but it has a different energy. The scares are rooted in the real world and even though it is a new movie, its entirely female cast is an outlier for the period.

Modern found footage production has become so slick and sophisticated that it sometimes looks like a completely different sub-genre. (The term has even evolved to “POV movie”.) Invoking Yell is a throwback that looks like it was made during the 90s. This includes some of the same problems of films of the time such as pacing issues, but none of them take away from the overall enjoyment.