UNDER THE SHADOW

Review: Shideh, her husband and daughter Dorsa live amid the chaos of the Iran-Iraq war. Her husband is drafted and sent to the frontlines by the army. Shideh learns from her neighbour that a cursed missile might have brought with it malevolent Middle-Eastern spirits. Dorsa’s behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and Shideh has no choice but to confront these forces if she is to save her daughter and herself.
Director: Babak Anvari
Actors: Narges Rashidi, Mia Sinclair Jenness, Mike Pollock, Bobby Naderi, Wayne Grayson, Arash Marandi, Bijan Daneshmand, Ray Haratian, Lipica Shah, Tom Wayland, Kayzie Rogers, Behi Djanati Atai, Bill Timoney, Avin Manshadi, Melissa Schoenberg and Soussan Farrokhnia
Year: 2016
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller and War
Conclusion: 5/5
One of the scariest films I have watched in a very long time. I found this scarier than The Babadook (2014). Fantastic performances from both Narges Rashidi and Mia Sinclair Jenness. I thought that Under the Shadow had a fantastic soundtrack to it which created the dark shadow and eerie nastiness of the film’s narrative. All the way through I felt that I was with all these people and going through the same thing. This is Mark Kermode’s favourite film released in the UK in 2016. At the Bafta Awards in 2017 this won for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.