One of the most unique horror films I've seen in years, Under the Shadow is helped enormously by its complete commitment to its hugely original setting.
The story takes place in Tehran, at the height of the Iran/Iraq war - where fear of bombs and missiles is coupled with fear of the fairly new religious police.
It follows Shideh's family, which is going through a stressful period amplified by the chaos of the war their country is engaged in.
Thrown into this mix are some supernatural and psychological horror elements, resulting in a fantastic cocktail of tension and dread, punctuated by some masterful jump-scares.
It starts fairly slowly, but the setting means there's a solid level of tension from the get-go - and when the big scares come, they come on heavy - and are delivered expertly.
Under the Shadow is clearly based on filmmaker Babak Anvari's own childhood, and his ability to express the fear he felt in a film is extraordinary.
The nightmarish result is the scariest film I've seen this year.
Four stars.
This film is playing as part of the 2016 New Zealand International Film Festival.
Under the Shadow (زیر سایه):: Director: Babak Anvari:: Starring: Narges Rashidi, Avin Manshadi, Bobby Naderi, Ray Haratian, Arash Marandi:: Rating: M - horror and supernatural themes:: Running Time: 85 minutes
Reviewed by Daniel Rutledge / Newshub.
