Alzarfa: Escape from Hanhounia Hell

If you've ever wondered what would happen if a Snapchat ad was stretched into a full-length feature film, look no further (Al Zarfa) is here to answer that. A movie that somehow thinks adding TikTok and Snapchat influencers equals star power. The cast? A collection of social media personalities trying (and failing) to act. It's like watching a long, painfully awkward skit on Instagram Live, but in a cinema.

The plot? If you can even call it that. Gold gets stolen. That's it. That's the whole "twist." And what do they name this oh-so-mysterious treasure? "The Legendary." That's right, zero creativity, zero depth, and zero effort.

And then, as if that wasn't enough, they throw in Robert Knepper. Yes, that Robert Knepper.. famous for one role two decades ago and completely irrelevant now. Bringing him in and pretending the movie is "international" is like Al Hilal signing a retired international footballer who hasn't played a game in 20 years and calling him a "world-class" star.

Without a doubt, Telfaz is one of the greatest film producers.

What I noticed about Al-Zarfa, despite my keenness to understand that it's a comedy, is its lack of originality. For example, the music (they used the theme song from the TV series Prison Break, although creating something unique for the film would have made it a smash hit, even after a while) The use of common sounds, such as the recording of a child police officer! This is the scene I saw the most, and I said, "What's wrong with that?!" I have no comment on it.

The appearance of famous characters was a great idea, but the scenario for featuring them wasn't successful. It could have been better.

In my opinion, the work was subjected to obstacles that forced the producers to try to smooth out the scene.

The appearance of new actors is a successful step in its place, but the actor remains a prisoner of the director's artistic vision.

We look forward to more amazing works in the future. All the best 🙏

This isn't a film - it's an insult to cinema itself. A shameless waste of money and resources on brain-dead trash that degrades both the audience's intelligence and the industry's standards. Supporting garbage like this is a direct betrayal of real talent and meaningful storytelling. Those in charge are either blind, incompetent, or simply don't care. The result? Fake prestige, zero substance, and a market drowning in manufactured mediocrity.

Continuing to pump money into projects like this is proof that decision-makers either lack basic taste or have no respect for the audience. It's surface-level PR, empty exposure, and a constant cycle of hollow productions, while genuine, thought-provoking cinema gets ignored and buried under waves of forgettable trash.

I think some people are missing the point. Alzarfa isn't trying to be a serious film - it's a wild, funny, and chaotic Saudi comedy made for a local audience.

The style is unique, the humor is bold, and it reflects a new wave of Saudi filmmaking that's not afraid to take risks.

It's okay if not everyone gets it - but for those who do, it's hilarious and refreshing. Not every movie needs to follow the Hollywood formula to be good.

The story is distracting with no main focus, letting all social media actors in for seek of hit to grab attention. Robert seen was not essential or needed, but as I said for the seek of hit.

Director and camera scenes was great which is the good side of that movie.

The movie is supposed to be mostly comedy with sense of humour, yet the audience was quite with only few shy laughs at few scenes. I believe it was not as humour as it was in the script.

I am seriously looking for other ppl reviews to make sure that all share same thought about the movie, because I was expecting more for the media hype!