The question is whether Kandisha’s intriguing elements are strong enough to cancel out its more uninspired ones. For Bustillo and Maury completists and seasoned fans of monster movies and ’90s horror who are accustomed to cherry-picking cool elements from forgettable films, the answer is yes. For the rest of the viewing public, summoning this demon probably isn’t worth the pain.
Kandisha
✭ ✭ ✭ Read critic reviews
France · 2022
1h 25m
Director Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury
Starring Mathilde La Musse, Samarcande Saadi, Suzy Bemba, Nassim Lyes
Genre Horror
Add to Watchlist
Please login to add films to your watchlist.
Three young women who have been inseparable since they were kids invoke the spirit of Kandisha, a vengeful, haunting creature found in Moroccan legends. But what was only meant to be a game spirals into a nightmare when the trio’s close friends begin disappearing in tragic circumstances.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
Paste Magazine by Natalia Keogan
Despite achieving formidable scares and clever callbacks to the filmmakers’ debut Inside, a sinister specter of clumsy cultural engagement lingers in Kandisha.
The closing stretch – including an exorcism in an imam’s incantation-lined apartment (interior design goals!) – is brutally effective. By this time, Aisha Kandisha is a towering succubus; postcolonial theory stomping in on a pair of terrifying goat’s hooves.
Aside from a moment here and there, we get little commitment from our star trio. What should be wrenching all along the way is mainly momentary grief, guilt or fear. For us to buy in, the leads have to buy in. They don’t.
Users who liked this film also liked
Dark Water
(仄暗い水の底から)
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Japan • 2002
- Director Hideo Nakata
- Cast Hitomi Kuroki, Rio Kanno, Mirei Oguchi, Asami Mizukawa, Shigemitsu Ogi, Yuu Tokui
- Genre Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
- Available on Screambox, Criterion Channel, Night Flight Plus, ARROW, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Kanopy
Arrival
Why are they here?
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United States, Canada • 2016
- Director Denis Villeneuve
- Cast Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Tzi Ma, Mark O'Brien
- Genre Drama, Mystery, Science Fiction
- Available on Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel , Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
Joker
A failed stand-up comedian is driven insane, turning to a life of crime in chaos in Gotham City.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Canada, United States • 2019
- Director Todd Phillips
- Cast Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Shea Whigham
- Genre Crime, Thriller, Drama
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, TNT, TBS, Max Amazon Channel, Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
Parasite
(기생충)
A poor family lies and schemes their way into the employ of a wealthy household — successfully, but with great consequences.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Korea • 2019
- Director Bong Joon-ho
- Cast Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Chang Hyae-jin
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Thriller
- Available on Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
Last Night in Soho
A young girl is transported back to the Swinging Sixties in her dreams where she discovers a dark secret
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom • 2021
- Director Edgar Wright
- Cast Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, Michael Ajao, Diana Rigg, Terence Stamp
- Genre Horror, Mystery, Thriller
- Available on Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand, FlixFling
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final
(るろうに剣心 最終章 The Final)
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Japan • 2021
- Director Keishi Ōtomo
- Cast Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei, Mackenyu, Munetaka Aoki, Yu Aoi, Yûsuke Iseya
- Genre Action, Adventure, Drama
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Trippin’ with the Kandasamys
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- South Africa • 2021
- Director Jayan Moodley
- Cast Jailoshini Naidoo, Koobeshan Naidoo, Maeshni Naicker, Mishqah Parthiephal, Mariam Bassa, Ugan Naidoo
- Genre Comedy, Romance
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads