Semum

A Muslim version of The Exorcist, but with a quality very far from its American predecessor, of course. Even though there are a couple of pretty atmospheric scenes at the beginning, I feel that the film as a whole is quite useless horror-wise for a western audience. You get to see a fiery devil here and there (not at all scary), the female lead looks possessed every five minutes (employing the highest level of overacting for such purpose) and then we go to an Arabian hell (or whatever that os, actually, I didn’t understand a single word) full of digital monsters. In Turkey, it might make viewers too scared to go to sleep, but I can’t avoid a little smirk. On the other hand, it’s better than nothing, as is the case here in Czechia. (31.08.2008)