By MICHAEL GINGOLD
A big hit in its home country, it’s now poised to terrorize U.S. audiences, and you can get a taste of it here.
Following acclaimed screenings at FrightFest and the Venice Film Festival, the Tunisian film DACHRA will hit theaters and virtual cinemas across the States July 9. Written and directed by Abdelhamid Bouchnak, it stars Yasmine Dimassi, Aziz Jbali, Bilel Slatnia, Hela Ayed, Hedi Majri, Rahri Rahali. The synopsis: “Sent off with a documentary video assignment, three journalism students decide to interview Mongia, seeking new clues about the cold case. Intrigued and perturbed by the deranged woman’s story, the trio take their camera to the scene of the crime deep in the woods, led by the headstrong young investigator Yassmine [Dimassi].
“Soon they are welcomed to a secluded, hushed village where goats have free rein and raw meat hangs drying in the wind. Captured with a minimalist color palette in Hatem Nechi’s eerie and atmospheric compositions and uncanny long takes, this foggy, isolated hamlet is the creepiest location in recent horror cinema. Daring depths of barbarity—and some seriously scary children—are around every corner.”