Dark Spell

A heartbroken woman turns to dark magic to win back a husband who has left her, and the line between love and danger quickly blurs. As she digs into forbidden rites and long forgotten rituals, she pulls herself and those around her into a nightmare where every wish comes with a price. The story follows her uneasy descent from grief driven determination to a chilling doubt about what she has become. Without promising twists here, the narrative builds a suffocating mood, relying on atmosphere, sound, and intimate confrontations to keep the tension tight as consequences mount. Strange visions ripple through the home and the people around her begin to question what they really want. The result is a tense watch.

Directed by Svyatoslav Podgaevsky and released in 2021, Dark Spell comes from a screenplay by Nataliya Dubovaya and Ivan Kapitonov, presenting an original story rather than an adaptation. The film blends claustrophobic visuals with practical effects to convey the dread.

Box office revenue stands at about 532 thousand dollars worldwide, reflecting a modest release outside major markets and a presence on streaming platforms that help reach genre audiences. The film benefited from word of mouth within horror circles across regions.

There are no widely reported major awards or nominations for Dark Spell. It did appear in some regional screenings and festival circuits, but it did not make a significant impact on the global awards scene. It remains noted by genre audiences. Its appeal grows through word of mouth at festivals.

Critics and viewers often note a tense mood that grows from grief and the lure of forbidden power. The film leans on a claustrophobic setting and performances, especially by Yana Enzhaeva as Zhenya, to sustain its chilling atmosphere, while prompting questions about desire, guilt, and costs of tampering with fate.