Under the Shadow Trailer (2016)

Trailer for Under the Shadow, starring Narges Rashdi, Avin Manshadi and Bobby Naderi.

Shideh (Narges Rashidi) and her family live amid the chaos of the Iran-Iraq war, a period known as The War of the Cities. Accused of subversion by the post-Revolution government and blacklisted from medical college, she falls into a state of malaise. With Tehran under the constant threat of aerial bombardment, her husband (Bobby Naderi) is drafted and sent to the frontlines by the army, leaving Shideh all alone to protect their young daughter, Dorsa (Avin Manshadi). Soon after he leaves, a missile hits their apartment building and while failing to explode, a neighbor dies under mysterious circumstances and Dorsa’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic.

Shideh finds herself slowly drawn into the ensuing turmoil, struggling to cling onto what is real and what is not. Searching for answers, she learns from a superstitious neighbor that the cursed missile might have brought with it Djinn – malevolent Middle-Eastern spirits that travel on the wind. Convinced that a supernatural force within the building is attempting to possess Dorsa, Shideh has no choice but to confront these forces if she is to save her daughter and herself.

Shot in Jordan, Iranian slash British director Babak Anvari found a cool way to mix historical events of Tehran with a supernatural thriller.

Under the Shadow premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews. The film currently holds a 100% rating over at Rotten Tomatoes. The acclaim was so strong that Netflix quickly acquired the film for streaming on their premium network while Vertical Entertainment and XYZ Films teamed up to work on the film's limited theatrical and VOD release.

Talk about a patient build-up. The trailer for Under the Shadow opens up by hinting that something is er, off, but is our protagonist worried about a military conflict raging around her, or something far more sinister?

By the halfway point, it becomes clear that something paranormal is going on, and this apparition might not allow for Shideh (Narges Rashidi) and her family to flee the chaos of the Iran-Iraq war. Bring on some critical acclaim and the trailer leaves it as that. Just a tease to wet our appetites. Being a foreign film it comes as no surprise that this paranormal thriller is getting a limited release, though we are anticipating the upcoming Netflix viewing.