Under the Shadow

Under the Shadow is an internationally acclaimed horror movie released in 2016, directed by Babak Anvari. Known for his supernatural thriller storytelling, Anvari uses the backdrop of the 1980s post-revolutionary war-torn Tehran in the screenplay for this film, giving it greater importance than merely a location.

Two of the film's main characters are Shideh, played by Iranian actress Narges Rashidi, and her young daughter Dorsa, played by Avin Manshadi in her debut role. Bobby Naderi, meanwhile, plays the role of Iraj, Shideh's husband and Dorsa's father, who is conscripted to serve in the Iran-Iraq war, thereby leaving his family behind in the chaos-ridden city.

Shideh is a former medical student who aspired to become a doctor, but her political activism stint in the early days of revolution barred her from continuing her education. This embitters her, and she finds herself grappling with societal pressures and insurmountable personal challenges in this harsh war-infused reality. The film explores Shideh's complexities and internal conflicts with nuance and sensitivity.

Upon the backdrop of war and political tumult, the film brings underneath its covering a tale of a mother-daughter relationship, their shared fears, and a sense of an unseen haunting presence. When a missile strikes their apartment building but fails to explode, Dorsa becomes feverishly ill, and her behaviour starts to turn strange. She becomes obsessed with finding her missing doll and starts uttering eerie things.

In the middle of already escalating tensions, Shideh's encounters with surreal situations intensify. Intimate and claustrophobic, the apartment literally and metaphorically becomes a battleground for Shideh as she fights against physical dangers outside and unexplained demonic activities inside her home. We see Shideh trying to combat her past, balance her convictions, and protect her daughter from the unexplained, alledegly supernatural entity lurking in the corners of their home.

In Under the Shadow, Anvari brilliantly explores the space between reality and hallucinations. The director's focus does not solely rest on the narrative of horror but also on unraveling socio-political narratives in Iran. With fright and despair heavy in the air, it leverages the audience's anticipation of danger, both from the supernatural and the very real threat of war. The movie has a layered narrative that depicts the struggles of a woman confined within the boundaries set by her culture and the constant fear of an impending war.

The metaphorical implications of the film's title are thought-provoking as it opens up interpretations of being 'under the shadow' of an ideologically rigid society, the dread of war, fear of losing a loved one, and confronting an unnamed terror. Furthermore, the movie also uses stories of folklore – 'Djinn' – adding an extra layer of horror and mystique to the plot that really drives the narrative forward.

Rashidi's performance as the vibrant, defiant, and protective mother is a standout, as is Manshadi's performance as an innocent child caught in the middle of adult fear and war. Their relationship forms the emotional core of the movie, showing humanity within the horror. Meanwhile, the ambiance created by realistic sets, the haunting and suspenseful music, and the credible performances from the supporting cast all serve to draw audiences in.

Babak Anvari's chillingly good directorial debut in Under the Shadow, combined with a compelling screenplay, takes a fresh approach to the horror genre. It upends and stretches the genre's boundaries to accommodate narratives about womanhood, war, and cultural oppression, while keeping us consistently engaged and on the edge of our seat.

In sum, Under the Shadow is a smart, slimly executed, emotionally potent, yet chilling horror-drama that intelligently uses atmospheric and psychological fear. It toys with the raw nerve of two of humanity's greatest fears: fear of the unknown and fear of what we cannot control. Despite its supernatural elements, the film's most compelling horror might be the reality it depicts: that of life in a war-torn city and a society busy undoing itself from within. It's a spellbinding visual experience accompanied by a riveting screenplay which is as terrifying as it is believable.