Babak Anvari's directorial debut is something not to miss, if you are a true horror fan. A Persian-language horror film is not something that frequently gets the media attention of the Western world."Under the Shadow" takes place in the 80's during the post-revolutionary war between Iran and Iraq. It follows a family of three living in a Tehran bombarded by missile attacks. The husband is a medical doctor who is called up to the war front to help the wounded, leaving behind his wife and young daughter. The attacks before more and more intense, but yet Shideh, now alone, does not want to leave together with her daughter, Dorsa, to her parents and instead chooses to remain in the apartment building that's crumbling from all the bombing. If the fear of the ongoing war was not enough, a mysterious being called Djinn begins to haunt their house. This leaves them with absolutely no choice at this point, if they leave the house enemy soldiers or bombing could be their demise, if they stay at home the evil spirit might claim their souls.You can actually feel Shideh's desperation as she and her daughter get cornered constantly. Apart from the terrifying atmosphere the film also adds excitement with one or two jump scares.The premise is quite interesting from a foreigner's point of view and to sense the Iranian life and torment during the post-revolutionary war is staggering. The social subtexts the writers are implying is food for thought, leaving the impression of a confined paradise that Shideh had in her apartment packed with a VCR or casual clothing, things that were dangerous to possess."Under the Shadow" is a good horror film that doesn't rely on Hollywood formulas. It's definitely an interesting entry from the Middle East film industry.

Film critic Mark Kermode said that this British made Persian language (you can also watch it dubbed into English) movie was his favourite film of 2016, and I heard many other very positive reviews and recommendations for it, so I was looking forward to it. Basically set in the 1980s, during the war between the Islamic post-revolutionary Iran and Iraq, former medical student Shideh (Narges Rashidi) cannot resume her studies because of her involvement with student leftist groups. Returning home, Shideh gets rid of most of her old medical textbooks, apart from a book of medical physiology given to her by her deceased mother. War is intensifying, Shideh's husband Iraj (Bobby Naderi), a doctor called by the military and assigned to an area of heavy fighting, insists she should take her daughter Dorsa (Avin Manshadi) with her to stay with her parents and be safe, but Shideh refuses to leave, Dorsa is upset to see her father leave, Iraj promises her that her favourite doll Kimia will protect her. A new boy moves in with his cousins, the Ebrahimi family, his parents were killed in an attack, during a shelling he whispers something to Dorsa and gives her a charm, she tells her mother the boy warned her of an evil spirit called a Djinn, and that the charm will protect her. Shideh throws the charm away visits Mrs. Ebrahimi, who informs her that the boy has been mute ever since the death of his parents, soon Dorsa gets a fever and has a number of nightmares, Shideh is also haunted by bad dreams. During another shelling, a missile strikes their building, an upstairs neighbour dies of a heart attack, Kimia goes missing in the commotion, Dorsa's behaviour becomes increasingly disturbed and erratic, she insists someone took Kimia, that there is a strange presence, and that Kimia is somewhere on the upper floor. The neighbours gradually leave to get away from the fighting, Mrs. Ebrahami (Aram Ghasemy) warns Shideh about djinns, explaining their ability to possess humans and that they steal beloved personal items from their victims, then the Ebrahamis leave as well, leaving Shideh and Dorsa as the only two inhabitants left in the building. Shideh's nightmares get worse, and she finds her personal items are disappearing, one of her scary visions is of a floating chador moving like a ghost, Dorsa admits seeing the same visions, but she claims that the ghost wants to help her find Kimia. Shideh finally wants to leave to go to the house of husband's parents, but Dorsa refuses to leave until Kimia is found, after receiving a strange phone call, Shideh does find Kimia, but the doll is mutilated, this upsets Dorsa. Shideh promises Dorsa that they will escape, but the Dorsa she goes down to the shelter with is an apparition, she goes back to the house and rescues the real Dorsa, before they are stopped and attacked by the chador apparition. Shideh urges Dorsa to get out, the floor begins to suck her down, but Dorsa rescues her and the two get away to the car, they drive away to Iraj's parents, but it is revealed that Kimia's detached head was left behind and Shideh's medical textbook is still in the djinn's possession, this implies they may harassed again. Also starring Arash Marandi as Dr. Reza, Behi Djanati Atai as Pargol, Hamid Djavadan as Mr. Fakur and Soussan Farrokhnia as Mrs. Fakur. Rashadi's performance is empathetic and powerful, there are a few scenes where you probably see something, but most of the terror comes from the claustrophobia, the wartime setting, dramatic sounds and your mind playing tricks on you, it is an interesting alternative to a haunted house movie, a creepy and well made psychological horror. It won the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for Babak Anvari, and it was nominated for Outstanding British Film of the Year. Very good!

After seeing glowing reviews like: 5/5 The Guardian - 98%Rotten Tomatoes4/4Roger Ebert I thought this movie MUST be great! (or at least fairly good). After sitting through a slow building first half the movie just fizzed out. No real tension and very bland. Not at all memorable ... many better movies out there. All the soaring review have me utterly perplexed ...

I saw this movie had a 98% on rotten tomatoes and was on lists as being one of the best horror movies. Not only was it not scary, it wasn't even remotely believable.From not leaving a specified missile launch target city to staying around til last minute for a doll of all things I was just in shock at how annoying a plot line can be. I know horror movies aren't the best at chasing the realistic side of things, but this one didn't even try.As far as actual scare tactics, I didn't even feel a sense the daughter was fully possessed or even under some spell, which is what made other spirit movies horrifying to me (i.e. babadook). The ghost itself didn't even seem to be malevolent, and because I didn't feel any pressing danger, I couldn't even allow myself to feel tense or scared.For what it was, it was an okay done movie, acting all around was decent, only gold star goes to the daughter who really knocked it out of the park. Is it scary? No. Is it a good commentary on the political nature of women in the middle east? sure. Would I recommend it to a friend? No.Waiting and waiting for something to happen and it just didn't come.