Review of Under the Shadow (2016) by Flipje — 26 May 2021

Under the Shadow and The Babadook feel quite similiar. Both feature a mother in the throes of sturm und drang (whether sociopolitical or psychological) while having to tolerate a child that borderline merits a good whooping.

They are both solid films while I happen to prefer Under the Shadow. Here, we are in 1980s Iran during the Iran-Iraq war. In her academic life, Shideh (Rashidi) is being penalized by her superiors for her political views and as such, will not be able to become a doctor.

What's left? The role of Hausfrau or so it seems. Her husband isn't quite sympathetic with her predicament and gloatingly floats in and out of the film within the first third. When he leaves to escape the bombing, Shideh's daughter begins to become spooky-disturbing (at times annoying) with her mother and naturally, we are in ghostly territory.

Objects go missing in the apartment. Disturbing sounds. Jump scares galore. I found this movie gave me the right balance of the chills and feeling frightened. While Shideh's neighbours slowly move out of the building, finding safety in the country, leaving the vulnerable mother behind, you truly get a sense of her loneliness and her pride.

Shideh wants to be strong but this evil presence, namely the Djinn, a metaphor for government, the perils of the military-industrial complex is wearing her down. She is the grand Every Woman, a heroine in her own right and her journey to protect and free herself and daughter is thrilling and vindicating.

The ending leaves the right amount of questions. A great movie for those that like their terror gore-free.