Achoura is a 2018 horror film directed and co-written by Talal Selhami. An international co-production of Morocco and France, the film stars Younes Bouab, Sofiia Manousha, Iván González, Moussa Maaskri, and Omar Lofti.[2] The film's plot follows four childhood friends who reconnect when one of them, who disappeared 25 years prior during the Ashura holiday, re-enters their lives, leading them to confront a monstrous djinn.[3]
| Achoura | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Promotional release poster by Aleksi Briclot[1] | |
| Directed by | Talal Selhami |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | Lamia Chraibi Talal Selhami |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Mathieu de Montgrand |
| Music by | Romain Paillot |
Release date |
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Running time | 90 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | French |
Described as the first monster movie shot in Morocco,[4] Achoura premiered in December 2018 at the Paris International Fantastic Film Festival.[3][5]
Cast edit
- Younes Bouab
- Sofiia Manousha
- Iván González
- Moussa Maaskri
- Omar Lofti
Production edit
Filming took place in Morocco, around Casablanca, in 2015.[3] Producer Fabrice Lambot described the film as "the first monster movie shot in Morocco."[4]
Release edit
Achoura premiered in December 2018 at the Paris International Fantastic Film Festival.[3][5] The film then screened at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival on 12 April 2019.[1][3] It had its North American premiere at the Cinepocalypse Film Festival in Chicago, Illinois, in June 2019,[6] and later screened at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain in October 2019.[3]
In 2021, Dark Star Pictures acquired distribution rights for Achoura; the film is set to be released on DVD and digital platforms in the United States on December 14, 2021.[2]
Reception edit
In a mostly positive review of the film for Bloody Disgusting, Patrick Bromley noted the similarities between Achoura—which was shot in 2015—and the 2017 film It and its 2019 sequel.[6] Bromley wrote that Achoura "offers a unique look into the fears and folklore of another culture. That it's so reminiscent of It does it a disservice, even if the movie itself cannot be faulted for the comparison. It's a serious, somber meditation on the death of innocence, bleaker than what Stephen King offers and full of powerful, evocative imagery all the way to its final moments."[6]
References edit
- ^ a b Miska, Brad (8 April 2019). "'Achoura' is Famished and Wants to Eat the Joy of Children [Trailer]". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ a b Miska, Brad (12 November 2021). "Dark Star Acquires 'Achoura', a Creature Feature Described as 'It' Meets 'Babadook'". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Hekking, Morgan (15 October 2019). "Moroccan Horror Film "Achoura" Praised at Sitges Fantastic Film Festival". Morocco World News. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ a b Hanley, Ken W. (28 February 2015). "Exclusive First Photos: Moroccan Monster Movie "Achoura"". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Achoura". Paris International Fantastic Film Festival. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Bromley, Patrick (17 June 2019). "[Cinepocalypse Review] 'Achoura' is a Bleak, Somber Meditation On the Death of Innocence". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
