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Arab filmmakers go for the horror
DUBAI - From zombie attacks and werewolf howls to women not being allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, Arab filmmakers are now opting for unconventional themes while scripting their movies. Young directors, recognising Arab interest in Western supernatural stories, are now trying to revive the making of Arabic horror cinema.
Qatari horror flick Lockdown: Red Moon Escape premiered in Dubai on Thursday at Gulf Film Festival 2012.
A collaborative effort between two directors, Mohammed Al Ibrahim and Ahmed Al Baker, Lockdown is a mishmash of various supernatural elements.
With themes like zombie attacks, werewolves, psychics, witchcraft and people with supernatural abilities, Lockdown is definitely one hour of quality entertainment for a horror buff.
The movie revolves around a road trip with friends Mishal and Rashid, who encounter a group of zombies in the middle of the desert. While Rashid loses his life, Mishal is imprisoned for being witness to these creatures.
Mistaking him to have been infected by the zombie virus, Mishal is tortured by cops in a prison for people with psychic and supernatural abilities.
The story centres around Mishal’s quest for freedom and him rediscovering his faith in religion and himself.
Director Mohammed Al Ibrahim, who left a banking job to pursue a career in filmmaking, was also the third assistant director on the sets of Hollywood flick Black Gold. Lockdown is his debut feature. Ahmed Al Baker shifted from a career in instrumentation engineering to filmmaking.
He is the managing director of local production company ‘Innovation Production’ that produced over three films in 2011.
The directors said all actors cast in the movie were chosen from a workshop that was held in Qatar. “Arabs are oral storytellers. It’s in their blood and Arabs also love stories that have an element of mysticism in it. They love watching Western horror flicks,” said Ibrahim.
Stories of supernatural and mysticism are not new to the region. “Old Arab horror movies might have great stories, but when the sound and pictures were put together, it was not taken seriously enough or it didn’t look scary enough. It’s one of the reasons why this particular genre fell out of popularity in the region,” said Ibrahim.
If new filmmakers are successful enough, just maybe the practice of making horror flicks can be revived, he added.
The ongoing festival, which showcases talent from across the GCC, other Arab nations and collaborative works with a few European nations, will continue till April 16.
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