As Halloween approaches, it’s time to dive into the terrifying titles currently haunting GCC cinemas this season. With exhibitors embracing the spooky spirit, horror movies are taking center stage in the UAE and Gulf region, offering audiences a mix of thrilling, eerie, and supernatural experiences.
VOX Cinemas entices the brave with their “Films for the Fearless” showcase, while Reel Cinemas presents “Frights and Delights,” featuring a range of horror movies in GCC cinemas, from intense psychological thrillers to family-friendly spooks like Maleficent and Hotel Transylvania. This Halloween lineup bridges audiences’ favorite horrors of the year with new cinematic thrills awaiting in theaters.
The highly anticipated sequel Smile 2 returns to UAE screens, building on the success of its 2022 predecessor. Now playing across GCC cinemas, this psychological horror amplifies the chilling atmosphere with its cursed smile, exploring deeper layers of psychological torment. Boasting an impressive 86% on the Tomatometer, Smile 2 cements its place as a must-watch horror movie in GCC cinemas.
A standout this Halloween is Three, an Emirati horror film directed by UAE filmmaker Nayla Al Khaja. Based on real events, the film interweaves Eastern and Western spiritual beliefs, following a young boy named Ahmed as he battles night terrors. Culminating in an Islamic exorcism, Three offers a unique perspective on horror, meeting international standards in storytelling and production quality. This milestone for local cinema makes Three a significant addition to horror movies in GCC cinemas.
Directed by Alexandre Aja, Never Let Go is a gripping survival horror that stars Halle Berry. This film follows a mother and her children as they fight to survive against a relentless evil spirit. Despite mixed reviews around its narrative execution, the film’s intense performances and anxiety-inducing atmosphere deliver a chilling experience for fans of psychological thrillers with supernatural twists.
Bagman, directed by Colm McCarthy, explores the trauma and terror surrounding a mythical creature. Patrick McKee (Sam Claflin) survived an encounter with the “Bagman” as a child, but now the creature returns to haunt him and his family. Combining psychological horror with supernatural elements, this dark thriller promises a suspenseful and terrifying watch.
The latest installment in the Venom franchise, Venom: The Last Dance, is now showing in GCC cinemas. Packed with action and dark twists, this new release sees the anti-hero face off against new threats in a gripping narrative set against the backdrop of gothic horror.
The iconic demonic hunter Hellboy is back in The Crooked Man. Directed by Brian Taylor, this latest adaptation draws Hellboy (David Harbour) into eerie Appalachian folklore to confront the sinister Crooked Man. With praise for its faithful adaptation and stunning visuals, the film blends dark fantasy with folklore horror to offer a gripping narrative.
Latency takes audiences on a psychological journey as Hana, a professional gamer with agoraphobia, tests a new device that connects to her brainwaves. As her reality blurs, the film delivers a mind-bending experience with mixed reviews, praised for its innovative concept but critiqued for its complexity. For fans of psychological thrillers, this film stands out among the horror movies in GCC cinemas.
In Imaginary, a young girl creates an imaginary friend to cope with her loneliness, only to discover a dark side to this mysterious companion. The film dives into psychological and supernatural themes, leaving audiences with a lingering sense of dread.
AfrAId (stylized as AFRAID) is a sci-fi horror directed by Chris Weitz. The story follows the Curtis family as they test a new digital assistant AI named AIA in their home, only to find the AI turning their lives upside down with its increasingly sinister influence.
Wrapping up the list is Bhool Bhulaiyya 3, which follows the success of its predecessor and builds on the established franchise’s blend of horror and suspense. With the recent success of Bollywood horror hit Stree 2, this latest entry captures audiences with its psychological depth and gripping storytelling, set to be a top attraction in GCC cinemas on November 1.
For those seeking Halloween thrills, these horror movies are currently showing across VOX Cinemas, Reel Cinemas, AMC Cinemas KSA and other GCC theaters. Don’t miss your chance to experience these theatrical terrors on the big screen!
Source: Imdb, Rottentomatoes, Screen Rant, Roger Ebert, The Film Three, Cinemacy
META Cinema Forum brings together cinema stakeholders from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and CIS countries, committing to elevate the cinematic experience in emerging markets.
The sixth edition of the highly successful META Cinema Forum took place between November 7-8, 2023, at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai under the theme ‘Growing the Region’s Cinema Share,’ exemplifying a dedicated commitment to fostering growth and innovation within the industry.
The event, attended by over 500 delegates, visitors, buyers, sellers, and other industry stakeholders, featured engaging discussions, presentations, and workshops addressing the industry’s challenges, solutions, and current market dynamics. Key topics covered included Regional Content Production and International Collaboration, Cinemas of the Future, as well as a comprehensive exploration of emerging cinema trends and technologies, incorporating vital cinema statistics and case studies delving into Rewarding Patrons and Effective Pricing Strategies.
A myriad of stands, presenting the latest products, services, and technologies from a carefully curated selection of industry suppliers, technology providers, and stakeholders, were also showcased at the event.
The forum also attracted the biggest cinema operators in the region as partners in success, with VOX Cinemas, the forum’s strategic partner, alongside AMC KSA, Cinepolis, Muvi, and other cinema operators presenting their future expansion plans.
A notable feature of this year’s edition was the spotlight on Women in Film and TV (WIFT). The event showcased a round table discussion titled ‘Beyond the Glitz,’ featuring prominent female panelists such as Nancy Paton, Founder of Desert Rose Films and President of WIFTGCC, Charlotte Louise Sutcliffe, Entertainment Lawyer and Associate at CWB, and Head of Events at WIFTGCC, Ozge Conduroglu, Acquisition & Distribution Lead at The Plot Pictures MENA, and Ashleigh Potts, Marketing Director at Studio Distribution, Majid Al Futtaim LLC.
Additionally, the forum celebrated rising female Emirati filmmakers Zainab Shaheen, Maitha Al Awadi, Eman Al Sayed, and Sarraa Al Shehhi. The spotlight also shone on Nayla Al Khaja, the first Emirati film director, who received recognition at the WIFT MENA AWARDS during the event.
Leila Masinaei, Managing Partner, Great Mind Events Management, remarked, “The success of the 6th META Cinema Forum reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing the cinematic landscape in emerging markets. This year’s event has reinforced our belief in the power of collaboration, innovation, and shared experiences within the industry. We are excited about the future possibilities and the role META Cinema Forum will continue to play in shaping the cinema sector in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the CIS region.”
The two-day cinema conference also featured special screenings, including the latest Marvel movie ‘The Marvels’.
The highlight of the event was The META Cinema Awards and Gala Reception—a night of celebration recognizing outstanding achievements in the cinema industry. Nathan Gilligan, Senior Operations Manager at Comscore, and Nena Loncar, Client Insights Manager at Comscore, presented the awards. Recipients of this year’s META Cinema Awards include:”
Motivate Val Morgan was one of the media partners for the META Cinema Forum and a supporting partner for Meta Cinema Forum 2023.
