Helmed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Hamid Baig, the supernatural horror film “Jinn Chapter 1” dives into the horror of religious fear and beliefs where our main character is stuck. Set in a single location, the film questions our beliefs on science and religion. Backed by Currant Noir Studios, the film stars Manjary Chaudhary, Naseeb Akhtar and Sourabh Sain in pivotal roles.
Director’s Cut
Helmed from Dehradun, Hamid Baig is an established filmmaker and author. From a very early age he was drawn to the art of storytelling and filmmaking, particularly in the horror genre. In 2023 after completing his filmmaking course from the prestigious New York Film Academy (NYFA), he made his debut film in the genre of horror “Jinn Chapter 1.” The film gets recognition from various film festivals including the Elegant International Film Festival. The film won the best horror film in the main category.
Apart from filmmaking, he also excels in writing novels. His novel “Little Mayram” garnered acclaim and love for its compelling storytelling. Currently, he is working on a new novel, “Elephant in the Soul.”
Overview
The film starts with a young Farhan (Mohammed Humza Baig) who gets up from his sleep after seeing a demonic shadow in his room. His father (Rahat Hussain), a devoted Muslim priest and exorcist, assures him that there is no such thing as ghosts. Young Farhan asks his father that Jinn is real. His father tells him that Allah is more powerful than Jinn and he should sleep everyday taking Allah’s name.
The story jumps forward 30 years when a grown up Farhan (Naseeb Akhtar) is haunted by the memory of his childhood. Jinn reappears as his deceased wife Nida (Manjary Chaudhary). Farhan, being tormented for a long time, starts seeing illusions and losing his touch with reality. In one moment he sees his beloved wife and the other moment he sees the Jinn inside his wife, torturing him.
Farhan seeks help from his friend Jayant (Sourabh Sain), a pragmatic psychiatrist. Jayant diagnosed Farhan with schizophrenia, which is triggered by his supernatural experiences in childhood. To confront his fear, Jayant takes Farhan to his wife’s room. However the move backfires and Jinn brutally kills Jayant after appearing in its full form.
Jinn tries to make Farfan believe that there is no such thing as God and he is the ultimate. He gives Farhan a false choice that if he bows in front of him then he’ll spare his life and he’ll give everything Farhan has ever wanted. Farhan falls into a dilemma between his father’s holy preachings and the submission to Jinn.
The climax unfolds as Farhan rejects the deceptive offer of Jinn and embraces death as a believer. We hear him chanting a prayer his father used to tell him before succumb to his death. There’s a post credit scene where we understand that the father of Farhan must have performed an exorcism on someone to get rid of the Jinn. But unfortunately his own family became the target of the Jinn.
Review
Director Hamid Baig masterfully woven the terror with the religion aspect. Despite being a simple straightforward story, the makers have successfully crafted a compelling narrative with excellent performances by main leads. We can feel Naseeb Akhtar’s vulnerability on screen. He has given his best. The supporting cast have also done a decent job. But the show stealer is Manjary Chaudhary as Nida. She has given a terrific performance throughout the film. From her expression to her sudden personality change adds a terror to the story. Hamid Baig knows how to use his actors.
The cinematography by Aaqib Ali is exceptional. The way he uses the lighting and the house is commendable. Another positive aspect of the film is the atmospheric background music.
Conclusion
In short, Hamid Baig’s masterfully directed supernatural horror film “Jinn Chapter 1” is a compelling story about good and evil. The film will take you on an enriching journey of grief and guilt and the struggle to remain faithful to God in the most struggling period of life.
