It’s Halloween, which means it is time to load up on costumes, candy, fake blood and, of course, scary movies.
Last week we gave you a list of 8 horror films from western filmmakers, both American and European. So here’s 8 more, from Arabic speaking countries. Because after all, there’s nothing scarier than a story you’ve never heard before.
1. Paranormal (Egypt, 2020) Based on the best selling book series by beloved Egyptian novelist Ahmed Khaled Tawfik, the series (okay, sure, it’s not a film) from Netflix is a tense thriller that follows the trials of Doctor Refaat Ismail (played by Ahmed Amin) – a hematologist who tries to uncover the secret behind a series of supernatural events.
2. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (Iran, 2014) This modern take on the vampire genre tells the story of a female bloodsucker who attacks men who prey on unsuspecting women. Financed via a crowd-funding campaign, this indie flick has been hailed as a modern masterpiece.
3. Madayen (Saudi Arabia, 2016) Imagine The Blair Witch Project with a Middle Eastern spin, this documentary-style film depicts three young Saudi’s exploring ruins in hopes of unlocking some ancient secrets. And as history tells us, we all know such activities always work out… especially at night.
4. The Humans and The Jinns (Egypt, 1985) Considered by many to be a classic in the Arabic horror genre, this supernatural nightmare tells the story of a woman who, after rejecting a man’s imploration not to marry her fiancé, is punished by a love-struck demon determined to gain her affection. The ’80s were great.
5. Bloodline (Saudi Arabia, 2020) When an accident leaves a young boy in a coma, his parent’s love is put to the test as they resort to a dangerous plan to save him. While we are dubious of its marketing as “the first Arabic vampire movie,” this recent release is definitely something to sink your fangs into.
6. Dabbe: The Possession (Turkey, 2013) On the night before her wedding, a young woman is possessed by a demon. Naturally, her best friend tries to go investigate the matter, which doesn’t prove to be the best idea. Shocker!
7. The Blue Elephant 2 (Egypt, 2019) Although the original is also great, we’re going with the sequel for the same reason as when any sequel is preferred: bigger and better. Dr. Yehia returns yet again, but a new inmate turns his life upside down when he foreshadows the death of his entire family.
8. Kandisha (Morocco, 2008) Reeling from the recent death of her son, a lawyer takes on a case involving a medieval Moroccan spirit known as Kandisha. But, as always, this doesn’t result in the best time for anyone involved. When will the people in horror movies ever learn to stop meddling with the underworld?
