If there’s a genre that tends to throw up nice surprises on a regular basis, it’s horror. Like The Babadook and The Witch, Iran’s Under The Shadow is an atmospheric chiller of high quality. Take a look at this exclusive new clip from the ‘80s-set movie.
This scene – appearing in the second half of the movie but not spoilerific – shows its central character, Iranian mum Shideh (Narges Rashidi), and her young daughter (Avin Manshadi) wordlessly contending with things that go bump in the night. But is the threat real or imagined?
Set during the heat of the Iran-Iraq War, Shideh’s building is threatened by Scud missiles night and day, her husband is on active duty and the neighbours are, one by one, fleeing the city. Slowly her life seems to transform from domestic contentment to a scene from [•REC]. Into this combustible mix is added paranormal goings-on that begin to trouble her and her daughter.
Somewhere between Persepolis and The Babadook, it’s a striking debut from Babak Anvari that makes edgy use of its period setting (look out for a surprising Jane Fonda cameo). This year’s Let The Right One In? Just maybe.
Under The Shadow makes its UK bow at London's FrightFest on Monday 29 August. You can catch it in cinemas from September 30.