Achoura Serves Up a Moroccan Legend, a Fresh Fright for Winter

Los Angeles : IT meets THE BABADOOK in director Talal Selhami’s ACHOURA, now available on DVD and Digital from Dark Star Pictures. 

Following raves at Cinepocalypse, Brussels Fantastic Film Festival, Bucheon Fantastic Film Festival and more, North America gets to now witness the terrifying tale of a Moroccan legend. 

Four friends reconnect when one of them, who disappeared 25 years ago, suddenly comes back into their lives. Together, they will have to confront the terrifying events of their youth and fight a monstrous creature born of a horrible legend.

Of ACHOURA, Franco–Moroccan filmmaker Selhami says : "It is sociologically proven that fantasy and horror cinema has always enjoyed a renewed interest from audiences and critics in times of social and economic turmoil. 

Fear cinema is therefore a kind of outlet for the viewer, unfortunately today too used to seeing atrocities through the media. Stories of ghosts, vampires, creatures hidden under the bed, allow us to transpose our fears into something unreal. The best way to play to scare yourself without taking risks. 

The times we are living in are going through a terrible period, between economic crisis, terrorism, disease, natural disasters and the Arab world is unfortunately not spared. Far from it.

That is why I think that the Arab world also has today, and more than ever, its own fantastic stories to tell. Fantasy cinema makes it possible to bypass taboos, to expose facts, to stimulate the unconscious layers of the spectator, it is therefore, for authors, a wonderful tool for expression. When done well, this cinema uses allegories and metaphors to express its words. Its spread is wide, because fear is a universal feeling. 

The Arab world has its advantage to offer because of its current effervescence, but also because the culture is still rich in counts, myths and legends, for the moment, not quite exploited. 

Thus, Achoura tells the story of a Djinn, who during a religious festival, very specific to the country (the celebration of childhood), seizes the youngest in order to devour them.

In a way, it is a way of evoking the troubled future of future generations of adults. Because we may not give enough importance to childhood, too concerned about our adult problems. In Achoura children try to survive, thus preserving their innocence.

In this sense, the creature of Ashura is none other than the allegory of adulthood that devours childhood and thus generates troubled beings. Childhood and the loss of innocence are subjects that haunt almost all of my projects. 

Achoura is therefore a way for me to exorcise this fear."

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: We are no strangers to movies about children in peril, either from people or supernatural sources. What is so wonderful about Achoura is that we not only see the peril, but also the resilience and strength of a group of true friends. We get to see the effects of time and trauma on the children into adulthood and their subsequent relationships with each other, and how they recall the bonds of youth to pull together and fight. There is dread, intrigue, and plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. Parts of Achoura will break your heart; I cared about all of these children, and I desperately wanted them to defeat the darkness.

You will indeed recognize echoes of IT, The Babadook, Ringu/The Ring, and various haunted house films; but they are true homages and updated takes rather than the typical “LOOK HOW MANY MOVIES I KNOW ABOUT” pieces we have seen. Achoura introduces us to a new threat, and it is one I would rather not see coming out of the darkness towards me. Shot beautifully with a competent blend of practical and CGI effects, and a cast of child and adult actors that shine, Achoura is a great offering. I definitely recommend that you check it out.

Younes Bouab, Sofia Manousha, Moussa Maaskri, and Omar Lotfi star in ACHOURA, which premiered on DVD and Digital December 14.