Under The Shadow [DVD]

During the Iran/Iraq war in the 80s, a young mother and her daughter are left alone when the husband, a doctor, is drafted. Soon after, a missile hits their apartment building and, although it didn't explode, may have brought a supernatural spirit which travels on the wind, known as a Djinn, with it.Something you don't see often is a horror film set in Tehran, and in the middle of a war. Apart from the horror elements there's quite a bit going on with the film showing the interactions between the residents of the apartment block and the relative normality of regular bomb alerts with the resulting trip to the basement and hopeful safety.The film is nicely made and the acting is particularly good. In regard to the horror element - the film is not particularly scary but the Djinn thread is woven in reasonably well, taking more screen time as the film progresses.As a horror film this one is fairly predictable but as a film about a family living through a seemingly endless war, it is fascinating.

I am not a particular horror movie junkie, but I thought this was fantastic!It manages to really get under your skin. Everything is done to slowly unnerve you more and more, to build a creeping sense of dread,fear and anxiety that it builds really well. The scares are restrained, but really manage to get to you when they happen.Sought of in the same vein as the Babadook, in that there is a heavy psychological element to everything, and its based around the relationship of a mother and a child.But I liked this more as it I felt it did everything so well, you feel like you've been sucked in into a strange distorted world.So yeah its fantastic, and bloody scary.

Great film. Quite frightening and disturbing at times. Reminded me a lot of The Babadook which was a film I loved. Could be interpreted in a very literal manner or seem as more of a psychological horror demonstrating the destructive potential of stress and ultimately psychosis. Definitely worth a watch and a rental.

Set at the time of the Iran-Iraq war in 1980's,a family is haunted by a jinn (spirit which has power over people) which is a byproduct of the historical materialism prevalent and creates internecine friction. Persian/Iranian dialogue,English subtitles only).Great performances and direction.

Pretty effective psychological horror, touch of 'Repulsion' in there for sure but the socio-political cultural stuff was as interesting to me, to be frank. Impressed, and I can see why Mark Kermode rated it so highly!

This movie is excellent! I had wanted to see it anyway but prioritized it after Mark Kermode named it his top film of 2016. It's atmospheric and hugely unsettling and for me succeeds where The Babadook (another movie I mostly enjoyed a lot) struggled. The performances are wonderful and the minor characters have a depth I didn't expect in an horror movie. Definitely worth a watch!

IMPRESSIVE, LOW BUDGET IRANIAN HORROR

It is fascinating to see an Iranian ghost film and a well done one at that. The main characters and the actors were very good indeed. I’d love to see more of this sort of thing as it was interesting as well as entertaining. This has subtitles but is good enough to make you not notice once you get into the flow of it. Much enjoyed.