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Synopsis
In post revolutionary Iran in the 80’s during the Iran-Iraq war, Shideh is no longer able to study to be a doctor because of her political beliefs. Meanwhile, her husband is conscripted to the war and she is left alone with her daughter. While bombs threaten to topple their apartment building a malevolent entity starts to haunt them.
Review of Under the Shadow
This is the tried and true family haunting formula used in a novel setting of a repressive and war torn nation. It creates a unique conflation of traumatic stressors. A evil Djin, is often the least of the protagonists worries compared to the imminent threat of death from an unseen foreign entity as well as the horror of losing your autonomy from a regressive dominant culture and government.
This is listed as Rotten Tomatoes #2 on the 200 best horror movies of all time. I wouldn’t agree with the placement, but I do think this is a fantastic and interesting iteration of some familiar horror tropes.
I can’t find anything to complain about, but I wasn’t necessarily blown away by it. I was also sick while watching it, so that probably brought down the overall enjoyment.
Score
8/10