Under the Shadow

The context of the setting made the story much more engaging than similar Babadook-y material, even though its structure is pretty damn familiar. But the ever present oppression, from forces both seen and unseen, leads to a stronger sense of isolation and hopelessness. I don't know what creeped me out more, the apparitions or the casual way the protagonist is 'corrected' by authority figures while the city around them is literally falling apart.

"The winds of the Djinni blow wherever fear rules." Basically "Dark Water" set in an overtly misogynistic war zone, where houses literally crumble around you, where creepy shell-shocked children are commonplace, where the city gradually empties, where everything is required by law to be kept undercover... Something's gotta break. "We have values now." Metaphorical horror made real without losing its punch.

The backdrop of 80s war-torn Tehran, and the prevalent strict religious rules, stoke tension in this sharp, creepy number; it would have been uncomfortable viewing even before the supernatural shenanigans commence. Rashidi does a wonderful job as the mother feeling the frustration and strain of it all; the rest of the cast is solid. Smartly and efficiently directed, it even manages to use the odd jump scare effectively. Its influences are clear, but this is a very commendable modern horror.

Shades of The Babadook's parental strife, but recontextualized in the war-torn Tehran of the 1980s. Every step of Shideh's waking nightmare is a reflection of her bitter existence: her feelings of inadequacy and loneliness as a mother raising her child alone, her pain at being unable to pursue her medical studies, and most fundamentally, her inability to protect herself and her daughter from the horrors of war.

Goes to show how a piece of fabric in the hands of competent filmmaker can be scarier than all the Hollywood millions tossed at CGI. It's what you don't see that makes up nightmares.

Restrained and well executed. The few 'jump scares' (I hesitate to even call them that) are earned and not cheap. A really solid movie. I'm eager to see what is next for this director

In war-torn 80s Teheran, a mother (Narges Rashidi) struggling with governmental disapproval is left with her troubled young daughter (Avin Manshadi) when her husband is sent into the field, and soon they are besieged by an enemy of a very different - and not exactly human - kind. Essentially THE BABADOOK in a different setting, but in its own right very well done across the board, with excellent performances and appreciable tension throughout. An impressive first feature for Babak Anvari.

The Babadook meets Persepolis.

A case of something foreign making something old cool. Had this been American had it been trashed like every horror film released today. Under the Shadow (2016) employs all the usual jump scare tricks. The same ideas with the kid and doll too. Of course context is everything, and set in conflict stricken Iran of the 80s, it gives a special groove. And of course there are good and bad ways to execute the old tricks. Feels unique, but honestly it's also the same American horror formula repackaged.

If you liked Australia's The Babadook, see this. The special effects aren't as lavish in the Persian Babadook, but it also pits a mother and child against a supernatural being which is actually just a metaphor for the father's absence. Here as well, if you can manage to ignore the lame subtext, the surface of the film is quite scary. Certainly scarier than your usual American-made supernatural horror.

Manages to survive the obvious comparisons to Dark Water & Devil's Backbone. Good performances, suggestive cinematography & directorial restraint make it very enjoyable even though it's not exactly reinventing the genre. Deals with lost dreams, hopelessness, desolation & abandonment in wake of the Iranian Revolution & the following invasion by Iraq. Rather subtly invokes vast personal & political resonance with classically atmospheric horror. Creepy & poetic although feels too familiar in parts.

Great atmosphere. Shideh is trapped between the horrors of her house and the oppressive nature of the Irianian streets for a woman. The use of a war zone only amplifies the tense feelings.

A wonderfully creepy film that is reminiscent of "The Babadook" in the way that fears of parental inadequacy manifest as supernatural menace, and also "Repulsion" as an everday environment gradually becomes more distorted and menacing.

Some people get too excited when a movie has a subtext. By the mere existence of a subtext, they are fooled into thinking that the movie is better than it actually is. "She's not really troubled by the djinn, she's troubled by the oppressive djinns of Iranian society. Wow!" etc. Get over yourselves, guys. This is just a watchable, middling horror movie with a few good scares. Go watch Persepolis, which actually has what you think this one does.

Another horror movie that I feel deserves far more credit than it has received on here. This film straddles a super unique and compelling historical period for horror with laudable urgency and care. As others have said, this plot structure arrives in the wake of landmark films like The Babadook, but this film serves as a necessary look at the internal and external politicization of a woman's body under stressors both paranormal and bureaucratic. Also, this has some fuuuuuucked up jump scares.

Much like my childhood, I'd appreciated this way more without naked old men and bedsheets trying to jumpscare me at every turn. Yeah, I know. Tough neighborhood.

It seems like more fertile thematic territory when it feels like this woman is just being collectively gaslit by her family, her neighbors, and society at large. But its metaphors take on a more literal dimension, and it loses me quite a bit with its frustrating reliance on jump scares. Still, it leaves plenty to chew on.

The absence of horror for much of the film amplifies the horror that is there. Succeeds excellently in building tension and the film playing out like a drama for nearly half of the runtime makes the execution of the scares a good deal harder to predict. This film is about 60 times better than the Babadook that I see it is drawing a lot of comparisons to.

Tech Scores: Directing 7 Screenplay 6 Cinematography 7 Editing 7 Acting 5 Sound Design & Music Score 7 Other Techs 6 Overall Scores: Whole Movie 6 Myself 6 WoW 0

(THE BABAKADOOK)

The Iranian setting adds some intersting elements to an otherwise superfluous film, but nonetheless it doesn't make up for the silly finale. Who needs monsters to be scared anyway? It would have been far better if it stuck to its slow build-up of psychological horror.

The specificity of the time period and location in regards to the Iran-Iraq war are the first fascinating aspects of the film. With such a short runtime I'm not sure if the narrative pieces that these details bring in are necessary, but it sure does lead to a unique film. This leads to a relatively lengthy setup, but the payoff is fantastic.

Without the standard horror jumps, this creepy and oppressive ghost story could be so much better.

The setting was more interesting than the half-baked story. Great direction and great lead character.

This was so creepy and good. Not only is it relevant to the things happening at the time when I'm writing this. The main characters are introduced and familiarized with you enough to care for them and the unknown of both the war, being left alone, and fighting a supernatural entity is enough to create for a good mix of drama and thrills. I'm not even mad at the jumpscares because they fit their purpose.

w/ gurmes

Which one is the worst? War? Iran? or Gin? This is the battle of strength of a mother. She protected everything she have except her mind.

Horrible poster. Good movie

Whilst the low budget constraints are showing, specifically the missile blast scene, the strong acting performances and genuine scares keep this from sinking and reward you with a thrillingly disturbing finale.

Nice, creepy and well made foreign movie.

I have an inexplicable, unjustifiable, uncurable allergy for movies with supernatural -especially spiritual ones when it comes to- leitmotiv.

A terrifying film and an amazing example of how horror films can build on politics and feminism. Fighting to stay in your homeland, being bound to the home as a woman while fighting with demons... But in the end I felt like it once again gave a message about motherhood and kind of betrayed its feminist messages. Worth a re-watch and I am sure it would be terrifying every single time.

some really unique frightening scenes- original. instead of the usual white ghosts or gnarled grotesque faces, it has a spirit in the form of a cloak which draws chills. builds suspense very well.

A ghost house??

Fantastically creepy.

This is considerably better than The Babadook, perhaps due to its setting really hitting home the feminist/motherhood themes.

Iranian cinema undergoes the next stage of Westernisation in this female-led horror romp. The film is acted and directed very proficiently and adheres to most of the genre conventions invented close to the mainstream, including jump scares and invasive sound design. As gripping as it is, one can't help but feel the similarity to "single mother, evil child" material like The Babadook, The Exorcist or Mama. Perhaps they could have explored the psychology of the mother's situation more deeply.

good movie

Intriguing film in the horror genre which also makes some solid political points about the oppression of women.

Almost boring.

The plot structure is formulaic, as are the scare tactics, but the way in which the film shifts from real to imagined horror -- from the horrors of its historical backdrop to the horrors of the supernatural -- is really well done.

I'm not huge on horror but this was a genuinely creepy film. A nice build of suspense and then a good few jumps. Great performance by Narges Rashidi

Babadook in third world.

Overrated...

15. Filmekimi - Rexx.