10 Horror Movies Where The Monster Isn’t The Scariest Part
6. Under The Shadow
Set in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War, Under the Shadow revolves around a mother, Shideh, and her daughter, Dorsa, who are ordered to remain in their apartment to avoid being caught in the crossfire outside. But after a sinister Djinn invades the flat and attempts to possess Dorsa, Shideh has to decide whether it's safer to flee.
Although the Djinn is unsettling in itself, it feels like an extension of the war, since it's unwelcome, unpredictable, and hostile. The apparition manifests after Shideh's husband is sent to fight at the frontline, and haunts Shideh more intensely every time a bomb goes off or an air raid siren is heard, indicating its existence is tied to the ongoing conflict.
Though the Djinn is only targeting Shideh and Dorsa, they're the last people in the complex to evacuate, emphasising that Shideh believes what lies outside the walls poses a greater threat.
Even though Shideh and Dorsa escape in the end, it's heavily implied that the Djinn will continue to harass them, symbolising that the trauma induced by the war will follow them no matter where they go.