Under the Shadow

Play trailer

Under the Shadow

PG-13

Released Oct 7, 2016

1h 24m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

92 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After Shideh's building is hit by a missile during the Iran-Iraq War, a superstitious neighbor suggests that the missile was cursed and might be carrying malevolent Middle-Eastern spirits. She becomes convinced a supernatural force within the building is attempting to possess her daughter Dorsa, and she has no choice but to confront these forces if she is to save her daughter and herself.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Under the Shadow deftly blends seemingly disparate genres to deliver an effective chiller with timely themes and thought-provoking social subtext.

Read Critics Reviews

Elizabeth King

Bitch Media

Under the Shadow may not be as jump-and-scream frightening as The Babadook, but the mother-daughter narrative of surviving war shouldn't be missed.

Feb 17, 2021

Full Review

Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

The Blue Lenses

Under the Shadow demands that we feel history as much as intellectually acknowledge it. Its important lessons cannot be taught through dates and names, but through something far more visceral, intoxicating and memorable.

Aug 25, 2018

Full Review

Angie Han

Slashfilm

The genius of Under the Shadow lies in the way it builds up the tension: slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, until I suddenly realized I was wound so tightly I wanted to scream.

Rated: 8/10

Jun 14, 2017

Full Review

Matt Patches

Polygon

Much like in The Babadook, first-time director Babak Anvari allows the question of the supernatural to orbit the action of Under the Shadow.

Oct 22, 2021

Full Review

Jason Adams

My New Plaid Pants

You've got to push through the first forty or so minutes of Under the Shadow to get to the good stuff, but when it comes it comes with jack-in-the-box fierceness and doesn't let up

Jul 14, 2021

Full Review

Emma Wolfe

SpookyAstronauts

It's just very raw, very real, but it's shot very beautifully, and the acting is superb.

Rated: 7/10

Apr 28, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Jose P

Uses the supernatural as a metaphor for history, feminism and the horror of war. But it's okay if you don't go for that because it also manages to be a creepy and atmospheric horror film. Should go down as one of the horror greats. Warning: it is a slow burn in its first half. So if you need immediate thrills stay away.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

Full Review

Gaurav V

This movie was more frustrating than scary. The main character is brain dead and doesn’t do anything sensible in the entire movie. If you are influenced by the high ratings on rotten tomato and elsewhere, we were fooled too. Not worth watching at all. Unless you are fond of flying bedsheets.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/25

Full Review

Zohair S

I love horore movies and this was goob ok i play fortnite now bye bye

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/21/24

Full Review

Audience Member

3 sustos legais, mas filme entediante

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

11/27/24

Full Review

Lucas M

Completamente pífio.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/27/24

Full Review

João Vitor D

Completamente pifio.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/27/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Babak Anvari

Director

Narges Rashidi

Shideh

Avin Manshadi

Dorsa

Bobby Naderi

Iraj

Ray Haratian

Mr. Ebrahimi

Arash Marandi

Dr. Reza

Insidious: Chapter 3

56%

51%

Insidious: Chapter 3

Watchlist

The Boy

31%

38%

The Boy

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Boy

Ouija: Origin of Evil

83%

58%

Ouija: Origin of Evil

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Ouija: Origin of Evil

Lights Out

75%

61%

Lights Out

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Lights Out

Incarnate

18%

24%

Incarnate

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Incarnate

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The 21 Masters Of Horror Shaping the Genre Right Now

British Independent Film Winners Announced: God’s Own Country Wins Best Film

British Independent Film Nominations Announced: Lady Macbeth Dominates with 15 Noms

View more photos

Synopsis

After Shideh's building is hit by a missile during the Iran-Iraq War, a superstitious neighbor suggests that the missile was cursed and might be carrying malevolent Middle-Eastern spirits. She becomes convinced a supernatural force within the building is attempting to possess her daughter Dorsa, and she has no choice but to confront these forces if she is to save her daughter and herself.

Director: Babak Anvari
Producer: Emily Leo, Oliver Roskill, Lucan Toh
Screenwriter: Babak Anvari
Distributor: XYZ Films, Vertical Entertainment
Production Co: Wigwam Films
Rating: PG-13 (Terror|Scary Images|Brief Language)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Persian
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.8K
Runtime: 1h 24m

Most Popular at Home Now