Achoura

2018 horror film

This article is about the film. For the Islamic holiday, see Ashura.

Achoura

Promotional release poster by Aleksi Briclot[1]

Directed by| Talal Selhami
Written by|

* Jawad Lahlou
* Talal Selhami
* David Villemin

Produced by| Lamia Chraibi
Talal Selhami
Starring|

* Younes Bouab
* Sofiia Manousha
* Iván González
* Moussa Maaskri
* Omar Lofti

Cinematography| Mathieu de Montgrand
Music by| Romain Paillot

Release date

* December 2018 (2018-12) (PIFFF)

Running time

| 90 minutes
Countries|

* Morocco
* France

Languages| French, Arabic[2]

Achoura is a 2018 Moroccan-French horror fantasy film[3][4][5] directed and co-written by Talal Selhami. Moroccan actors Omar Lotfi and Younes Bouab star alongside Sofia Manousha, Ivan Gonzalez, Mohamed Choubi, and Moussa Masskri.[3][6] The film's plot follows four childhood friends who reconnect when one of them, who disappeared 25 years prior during the Ashura holiday, re-enters their lives, leading them to confront a monstrous djinn.[7] The film is regarded as the first Moroccan fantasy film.[8][9]

Described as the first monster movie shot in Morocco,[10] Achoura premiered in December 2018 at the Paris International Fantastic Film Festival.[7][11] The film met success at the Tangier National Film Festival where it won the award for best production, and at the Film Festival of Marrakech. The film also won the grand prize at the Hard Line Festival in Germany in October 2018.[3]

## Cast

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* Younes Bouab
* Sofiia Manousha
* Iván González
* Moussa Maaskri
* Omar Lofti

## Production

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Filming took place in Morocco, around Casablanca, in 2015.[7] Producer Fabrice Lambot described the film as "the first monster movie shot in Morocco."[10]

## Release

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Achoura premiered in December 2018 at the Paris International Fantastic Film Festival.[7][11] The film then screened at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival on 12 April 2019.[1][7] It had its North American premiere at the Cinepocalypse Film Festival in Chicago, Illinois, in June 2019,[12] and later screened at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain in October 2019.[7]

In 2021, Dark Star Pictures acquired distribution rights for Achoura; the film is set to be released on DVD and digital platforms in the United States on December 14, 2021.[6]

## Reception

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In a mostly positive review of the film for Bloody Disgusting, Patrick Bromley noted the similarities between Achoura—which was shot in 2015—and the 2017 film It and its 2019 sequel.[12] Bromley wrote that Achoura "offers a unique look into the fears and folklore of another culture. That it's so reminiscent of It does it a disservice, even if the movie itself cannot be faulted for the comparison. It's a serious, somber meditation on the death of innocence, bleaker than what Stephen King offers and full of powerful, evocative imagery all the way to its final moments."[12]

## References

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1. ^ a b Miska, Brad (8 April 2019). "'Achoura' is Famished and Wants to Eat the Joy of Children [Trailer]". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
2. ^ https://www.pifff.fr/2018/film-206-Achoura-en
3. ^ a b c "Moroccan Horror Film "Achoura" Praised at Sitges Fantastic Film Festival". www.moroccoworldnews.com. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
4. ^ شكري, زينب (2022-10-08). "فيلم خيال علمي.. السلهامي يطرح "عاشوراء ليلة الأطفال" بقاعات السينما (فيديو)". العمق المغربي (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
5. ^ "Talal Selhami: "I really pushed the cursor to the end by forbidding myself any form of exoticism"". lesecransterribles. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
6. ^ a b Miska, Brad (12 November 2021). "Dark Star Acquires 'Achoura', a Creature Feature Described as 'It' Meets 'Babadook'". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
7. ^ a b c d e f Hekking, Morgan (15 October 2019). "Moroccan Horror Film "Achoura" Praised at Sitges Fantastic Film Festival". Morocco World News. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
8. ^ شكري, زينب (2022-10-08). "فيلم خيال علمي.. السلهامي يطرح "عاشوراء ليلة الأطفال" بقاعات السينما (فيديو)". العمق المغربي (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
9. ^ Dale, Martin (2019-12-08). "Arab and African Filmmakers Are Increasingly Focusing on Genre Films and Series". Variety. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
10. ^ a b Hanley, Ken W. (28 February 2015). "Exclusive First Photos: Moroccan Monster Movie "Achoura"". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
11. ^ a b "Achoura". Paris International Fantastic Film Festival. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
12. ^ a b c Bromley, Patrick (17 June 2019). "[Cinepocalypse Review] 'Achoura' is a Bleak, Somber Meditation On the Death of Innocence". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.

## External links

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* Achoura at IMDb