Darkness visible: Under the Shadow

Abstract

If “don't split up to look for your missing friend” is the first rule of slasher movies, what's the equivalent for ghost stories? Babak Anvari's 2016 creepfest Under the Shadow will leave you in no doubt that it should be “believe children”. Set during the Iran–Iraq conflict, which the title sequence tells us is the longest “conventional” war of the 20th century, the film centres around an apartment block in Tehran, Iran. It's home to Shideh (Narges Rashidi) and Iraj (Bobby Naderi), a couple in their early 30s, and their little daughter Dorsa.