Imagine theme spotlight: The Djinn in Islamic horror
‘My God! The mortuary voice of the Djinns! What noise they make!’
- Victor Hugo, Les Djinns, 1829
This year, Imagine is celebrating the figure of the Djinn in Islamic storytelling, both feared and adored. We will be focusing on the many faces of the Djinn in horror films from Turkey, Saudi-Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, specifically. Come by for education and thrills combined. Brrrr!
The figure of the Djinn
Djinns are supernatural creatures in early pre-Islamic Arabian and later Islamic mythology and theology. They live amongst us on earth but (usually and often thankfully) can’t be seen by humans. Djinns have their own tribe-like societies which can be Muslim, Jewish, Christian or non-religious. And contrary to what you may think, Djinns are not inherently good or evil – though the films we’re showing at Imagine definitely include Djinn of the nasty kind.
Beliefs regarding Djinns are deeply ingrained in Muslim cultures and religion, and have a everlasting presence in legends, myths, poetry, literature and cinema, with traditions passed on to new generations through the telling of Djinn stories during sleepovers and family get-togethers, and idols, symbols and prayers.
Djinn in Islamic Horror at Imagine 2024
In the Djinn programme at this year’s Imagine Fantastic Film Festival, we will explore the many different manifestations of the Djinn in the cinema and arts of several Islamic societies. The programme consists of five Djinn films, a talkshow, five storytelling introductions and a full Djinn story night. Here’s a complete rundown.
Talkshow: Djinn and Turkish horror cinema (incl keynote, music and talk)
27 October at 19:30 at OBA De Hallen Café Belcampo
A full event focused on the figure of the Djinn in Turkish horror films, including a keynote lecture by Dr. Cüneyt Çakırlar; music by ud player Mehmet Polat, short film Haunted by Al Karisi the Childbirth Djinn plus a talk with directors Can Evrenol and Utku Uçar. Having completed a research project on the global revival of folk horror, funded by the British Academy, Çakırlar will discuss how Turkish Djinn horror films’ engagement with religion and folklore captures the shifting dynamics of gender, nation, and family in contemporary Turkey.
Hwjin حوجن – Yasir Alyasiri – Saudi-Arabia, 2023
The only feel-good fantasy film on the list, in which a Djinn falls in love with a human woman but is forbidden to interact with her. A love story which develops into a search for identity in modern-day Saudi Arabia, and a nice example of the way Saudi Arabia has started opening itself up to film and cinema recently.
Three – Nayla Al Khaja – United Arab Emirates 2024
One-of-a-kind Djinn horror by Nayla Al Khaja, the first female director from the United Arab Emirates. A mother enlists the help of an exorcist in trying to save her son from a curse that Western medicine can’t seem to cure.
Hüddam 4: Ahmer – Utku Uçar – Turkey, 2024
Part 4 of Utku Uçar’s hugely popular Hüddam horror series, in which a woman becomes possessed by a Djinn after a forced abortion.
The Death Throes – Sidharta Tata – Indonesia, 2024
A scary Indonesian Djinn story full of twists, from famous horror production house Rapi Films. As two siblings battle over their recently deceased parents’ heritage, the Djinn in their dead father’s body is ready to take on a new host.
Dabbe: The Possession – Hasan Karacadağ – Turkey, 2013
Another film that’s the fourth part of a series, found footage horror Dabbe: The Possession is considered the best out of all the iconic Turkish Dabbe films. It was heavily inspired by Japanese horror films.
Mezrab Storytellers on Djinn / Mythos: Djinn Stories
29 October at 19:30 at Mezrab Amsterdam
The cherries on top of our Djinn theme programme are five unique Djinn fables told by international storytellers from Amsterdam-based storytelling platform Mezrab. These stories will be performed as introductions to some of the Djinn film screenings at Imagine and combined into a full programme called Mythos: Djinn Stories at Mezrab. The storytellers included are Sarah Montazeri (Iran), Sahand Sahedivani (Iran), Raffi Feghali (Libanon), Sia Cyrroes (Iran) and Can Bora (Turkey). Each will bring their own singular storytelling style and heritage to the festival. Prepare to be mesmerised!
