After going missing in the woods, a young woman returns to her home a week later where everyone tries to make sense of what happened and try to get on like normal, but when more superstitious members of the family question the situation her mother is forced to confront her daughter's darkest past.
For the most part, this one is pretty solid for what it is. Among the films' better features is the involved and complex storyline that provides a wholly intriguing attempt at localizing local folklore into a more traditional genre effort. The majority of the work here revolves around the titular book and interpreting the work inside, drawing connections to a person's fate based on the sayings found within the book. Since it requires specific instructions to carry out properly and the family is trying to go against these rituals, it becomes no surprise that the sisters are so convinced something is wrong with her once she returns. This type of familial conflict where they're so sure that she's not who left them earlier which is seen as superstitious nonsense to be written off by others even if the signs might be proven right creates a wholly intriguing setup. In addition to this setup, the film is rather fun when dealing with the supernatural hauntings based on this setup. Since the aunts are so convinced that something's wrong, the series of hauntings and encounters here initially are focused on them as they're the ones who know the truth as the first scenarios are focused on them seeing or believing that something off is happening involving worms crawling over objects, maggots erupting from the skin, or other unnatural activity where she tends to appear out of nowhere scaring someone with a knowing smirk. As the superstitions in the village spread and more start to believe the stories about her true state, the build-up to the specific ritual that takes up the finale has some merit and comes off quite nicely as a result where the series of interactions with the family who are trying to put everything right according to their beliefs even if they don't go with her conviction that the daughter is fine this whole time. Once the ceremony starts, the big twist about what's going on makes for a great reveal and makes for a touching statement on the nature of what the ghost is returning for. This adds a somewhat touching core to what it's doing and all makes or a solid enough feature. There are a few factors here holding it back. The main issue is the use of a rather banal mother-daughter relationship that tries to be the emotional core of the film but feels incredibly flat. Even though there are numerous instances of the fiery nature she has trying to protect her daughter from others and get their relationship back to normal, it feels way too forced as to why she's so reluctant to do anything to ensure nothing's wrong with the daughter. Regardless of the nature of their protests, the aunts do have valid points about something not being right since the return and to outright ignore it all simply because she's got her daughter back makes the protests feel hollow as if it all could've been avoided had something been done from the start. Also, the whole point of the book is so important to determine what's going on with her that it's all but ignored throughout here in favor of just being expected to know what it is. Rather than take a look through one to compare what's going on, the assumption of what is going on and how it all connects is glossed over which is somewhat unfortunate as it's such a big part of the film. As a whole, these are the main issues with the film.
Rated Unrated/PG-13: Violence and Language.
