If you're seeking an example of psychological horror done right, "Under The Shadow" would be a great instance of it to choose; writer & director Babak Anvari makes a seriously impressive debut with this, managing to craft a tight story (playing out as a purposeful slow burn) which both genuinely unsettles & discomforts without relying too heavily on the usual, clichéd genre tropes & lazy jump scares we've come to expect by now.
Not only that, but in setting the narrative in Tehran (a location that's infrequently represented in the media - or negatively, on the brief occasion if ever it actually is) & challenging out-dated stereotypes by focusing on portraying the lives of normal, working class Iranian people, he additionally manages to gift the piece with a refreshingly distinctive sense of originality which is hugely appreciated, differentiating it from the rest, normally placed in western destinations. Plus, by utilising the environment featured to his advantage, he inventively adds layered depth to the film by imbuing meaning to the horror, reflecting the constant paranoia instilled within the population, merely attempting to live out their lives "under the shadow" of encroaching war & furthermore, accurately shows how easy it is for humans to succumb to such ominous darkness when operating within those untenable conditions - considering how the unending anxiety understandably erodes at an individual's sense of self & feelings of security, as the violence grows closer to home.
Of course, there's also explorations of the patriarchy (not as detailed as I'd have preferred, but still welcome, however subtle) & I enjoyed how he arguably used the ghost as a metaphor for the late mother's all-consuming sense of expectation, haunting her adult daughter's every waking thought - even in death - thus, threatening her infant's well-being by inheriting the generational trauma (caused by the oppression of her womanhood in the misogynistic society) she was initially unwilling to confront - which is why the ending feels so rewarding, since she realises where her place is in the world (for the betterment of herself & her child, after being stuck, mentally & physically) & it just isn't there anymore.
Therefore, the movie isn't a superficial flick & I'll always be grateful for creatives who make my investment of time worthwhile, when watching.
Not only that, but in setting the narrative in Tehran (a location that's infrequently represented in the media - or negatively, on the brief occasion if ever it actually is) & challenging out-dated stereotypes by focusing on portraying the lives of normal, working class Iranian people, he additionally manages to gift the piece with a refreshingly distinctive sense of originality which is hugely appreciated, differentiating it from the rest, normally placed in western destinations. Plus, by utilising the environment featured to his advantage, he inventively adds layered depth to the film by imbuing meaning to the horror, reflecting the constant paranoia instilled within the population, merely attempting to live out their lives "under the shadow" of encroaching war & furthermore, accurately shows how easy it is for humans to succumb to such ominous darkness when operating within those untenable conditions - considering how the unending anxiety understandably erodes at an individual's sense of self & feelings of security, as the violence grows closer to home.
Of course, there's also explorations of the patriarchy (not as detailed as I'd have preferred, but still welcome, however subtle) & I enjoyed how he arguably used the ghost as a metaphor for the late mother's all-consuming sense of expectation, haunting her adult daughter's every waking thought - even in death - thus, threatening her infant's well-being by inheriting the generational trauma (caused by the oppression of her womanhood in the misogynistic society) she was initially unwilling to confront - which is why the ending feels so rewarding, since she realises where her place is in the world (for the betterment of herself & her child, after being stuck, mentally & physically) & it just isn't there anymore.
Therefore, the movie isn't a superficial flick & I'll always be grateful for creatives who make my investment of time worthwhile, when watching.