'Paranormal' Review: Netflix's first Egyptian original is a fun binge for 'The Haunting of Hill House' fans
Hauntings and psychosis go hand in hand in the horror genre; especially if one takes the time to flesh it out with multiple elements, narratives, and timelines running side by side the way auteur Mike Flanagan did with 'The Haunting of Hill House'. There's something about the concept of a murder house reeking of bloodlust and vengeance. Add to that a mix of close family bonds, and voila! There's that sweet recipe of what makes a decent horror. Perhaps why Netflix chose to go with the works of late writer Ahmed Khaled Tawfik for its first-ever Egyptian original, 'Paranormal'.
There are many things that work in favor of the six-part supernatural horror that portrays the life of hematologist Rehaat Ismail (Ahmed Amin). Rehaat, the youngest child of six, started seeing a girl called Shiraz in his childhood. She lived in a giant, mysterious house in the outskirts of their village, and although all of Rehaat's siblings can see and play with Shiraz too, she tried causing some serious harm to Rehaat as a child, following which they snapped ties with her.
While Rehaat grew up to be the genius we meet in the show's current timeline, enforcing the idea that his visions are all in his head doesn't help him much longer. He ultimately realizes Shiraz was never real, and thus his life becomes a voyage towards first trying to get rid of her hold on him, and later, saving her from purgatory and giving her salvation. The journey to Shiraz's identity and subsequent burial is split into six episodes, very interestingly dealing with six different victims, their supernatural ailings, and a myth that turns out to be true in finding their cure.
From an ancient cursed mummy to a giant ape-like beast in the desert, a wronged dead woman's vengeance to even more common incubus — the stories are sprinkled with Arabic lore from the hieroglyphs. And each sees Rehaat on an adventure that turns him from a skeptic to a believer. Written by Amr Salama and directed by him and Majid Al Ansari, 'Paranormal' is seasoned with ample sarcasm courtesy our protagonist. The man is one of your socially clueless scientists who have no sense of filtering his words. When his nephew sees a spirit and his sister is spreading incense in the house after, Rehaat asks "Do the ghosts have asthma?" among the many other quips that are so dry, it will leave you in splits.
Amin was almost cardboard cut out for the role, his works as a comedian sure paying off for Rehaat's sense of humor. Razane Jammal, a British Lebanese model and actor, plays Maggie who returns to Rehaat's life right after he's gotten engaged to a much younger cousin. The drama is quite palatable too, with Rehaat's family offering the quintessential but oft-intrusive air about a life he's long left behind.
The visuals could be better, sometimes downright funny at that. And even though some of the undertones of emotion are rooted in brutal assault as well as grudge of the deceased, this is a decent start if you're unacquainted with Egyptian entertainment. Sure, it has his passive sexism and the narrative is often agitating, but in those moments just remember this is set in the 1960s. Give it a fair shot!