Musallat

Turkish television screen-writer and director Alper Mestçi ("Dikkat Şahan Çıkabilir" & "Gen") re-teams with long-time collaborator Güray Ölgü to make his directorial début with this compelling little horror film which takes a fascinatingly Islamic spin on the exorcism story to create a Turkish box-office hit that was even distributed in Europe.

Turkish labourer Suat (Burak Özcivit) leaves his new bride Nurcan (Bigkem Karavus) behind and joins his childhood friend Metin (İbrahim Can) in Berlin to earn some money. Haunted by dark visions that drive him to attempt suicide Suat returns with and Metin to Istanbul to seek the advice of spiritual healer Haci Burhan Kasavi (Kurtuluş Şakirağaoğlu).

Burak Özçivit puts in an astonishing début performance as the tortured lead and develops a compelling chemistry with strangely ethereal romantic interest Biğkem Karavus as well as the supporting cast headed by İbrahim Can on solid form and including star turns from Selma Kutluğ and "Kurtlar Vadisi" veteran Kurtuluş Şakirağaoğlu.

The film-makers start off somewhat shoddily with some hokey shocks inspired by J-Horror hits such as "The Ring" and "The Grudge" but things soon settle down into a compelling little story that slowly ratchets up the tension with a few jumps and shakes along the way to create a Turco-Islamic horror a cut above most of the countries genre offerings.

"It was a great love but it was wrong!"

"Musallat" (2007) is a Turkish horror film that delves into the terrifying world of demonic possession. The film centers around a young couple, Nurcan and Suat, who move into a seemingly idyllic countryside home. However, their tranquility is shattered when Nurcan begins to experience unsettling visions and strange occurrences.

The film effectively builds suspense through a gradual escalation of supernatural events. The initial subtle disturbances, such as unexplained noises and flickering lights, slowly intensify, culminating in terrifying displays of demonic possession. The performances, particularly that of Cansu Aktay as Nurcan, are compelling, effectively conveying the character's descent into madness and despair.

"Musallat" draws inspiration from Islamic folklore and mythology, incorporating elements of jinn and other supernatural beings into its narrative. This cultural context adds a unique layer to the film, distinguishing it from more generic horror tropes.

However, the film may not appeal to viewers seeking sophisticated psychological horror. The focus is primarily on graphic depictions of demonic possession and supernatural terror, which may be unsettling for some. Additionally, the film's reliance on jump scares and predictable plot points may not be to everyone's taste.

Despite these minor shortcomings, "Musallat" is a notable entry in the Turkish horror genre. It effectively delivers a chilling and unsettling cinematic experience, with strong performances and a unique cultural context.

Disclaimer: This review is based on available information and may not reflect the full nuances of the film.

Please note: This information is for general knowledge and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional critical analysis.

In film business, everybody knows how hard it is to put the film in the can and deliver good results. After reading these harsh reviews, I looked to the other cinema review websites in Turkey if other users think the same way. To my surprise, I found the exact reviews in Turkish word by word. This shows, the reviews of these films are so far written not because the film is bad but some people want to bash it for a reason.

Lastly, the film has a budget of 1 million dollars. For Hollywood, it is a joke to shoot a film that is decent for that price. I think in some parts, it is doing a good job. I give 6 out of 10.

I think this film is an innovative approach to its genre. I think a lot of the details in the scenes (especially the lighting, darkness used in the "exorcism" scene, the religious rituals, the mute scenes in the first part-Germany, the repetitions) are considerably and consciously put. I really liked the sound design and especially thrilled by the end scene. I also think that the destructive comments put here are not objective and accurate. I think these comment-owners are not actual cinema audience or viewer, moreover it looks like they have an alter motive or a hidden agenda. Therefore to support this attitude towards making Turkish horror a genre, which i believe that must be done, i voted 10.

The movie opens with an interesting scene that gets you hooked. Then it moves to Germany. I do not speak Turkish so I cannot tell the difference. The only weakness of this movie if there is one, would be the scenes in Germany. But it does not bother me too much because the story keeps you on your toes. It is riveting. It has some brilliant camera work as the movie gets darker and creepier. At times, it feels like a story from "twilight zone". At other times, I see glimpses of one the great all-time horror favourites "The Exorcist". All in all, it has good special effects and a good climax, all for $1 million? Great work! I found my new hero! This is one director/writer/editor to watch out for. More please!!