Kandisha - Der Fluch

Maybe it could have ended 3 minutes before, maybe it's sometimes predictable and not that innovative.

But when this film works...oh boy, it really works! There is a particular scene (1:09) that is absolutely fantastic, not only in terms of horror (probably the best death scene of the year, even better than that one on Fear Street) but also technically with a dolly zoom shots done with an efficiency that I don't remember in horror since Jaws.

Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury are, again, very good building young characters - like they did in Among The Living -, feels credible, feels realistic and you have a good background story with some social themes on it.

They are also masters of gore. No doubt about that. When they don't show you a death on screen, you know that the next one will compensate that and they definitely did that here.

I liked the entity, it's creepy, it's different, doesn't tell/show you more than the necessary and also loved the scenario, reminding a lot - as the legend itself - Candyman.

I think this one just barley hit the mark above average. I tend to be a little biased towards folk horror as it is my favorite, but also many of the kills/effects along with the monster design pushed it over the edge for me.

Other than that this movie was pretty basic. Simple cause and effect storyline that generally felt like it was geared towards a younger audience. The movie looked nice but was still pretty run of the mill as far as design and shots go for movies in the past 5 years. Acting seemed fine/good across the board (as an English speaker).

There are definitely some cool aspects to this one but it is not reinventing the wheel by any means. 5.5 rounding up to a 6, would recommend.

It's a very generic cookie cutter supernatural teen slasher film. Overused horror tropes. Swap out Christianity demons for Islamic Jinns in a ouija board style film, add a feminist spin on it, you have Kandisha. The girl summons a Jinn by calling its name five times after drawing a pentagram with her blood, not understanding the implications of a Evil Jinn that seeks to kill males. It's never scary, although it does have some decent gore. For a 2020 film, the special effects are pedestrian. I am surprised this was made by the same people as the French original "Inside" which is an amazing film.

Unfortunately, Bustillo and Maury continue their streak to mediocrity with Kandisha. Zero originality, not that great or likable characters and not at all scary. I have to give them points for deaths in last 20 minutes of the movie, but that's about it. Nothing to see here and if they continue this way, I'll have to think that "Inside" was just beginners luck, since all after that ( except Livid, which is a problematic, but interesting movie ) was downhill. Definitely not recommended.

I am generous with an 8 cos i enjoyed this movie. Simple, ain't no wannabe critic.

The director duo once again did a terrific job of character development, avoiding the pg13 trend n succeeded in creating a terrifying entity.