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Three: A movie by Nayla Al Khaja, a script for the soul

Giving life to eeriness with an intelligent script that doesn't believe in jump scares, Three will leave you petrified.

By Meenu Prasad

info@thearabianstories.com

Friday, March 22, 2024

Muscat: This story revolves around Ahmed (Saud Alzarooni) a young child who has a very close relationship with his mother Maryam (Faten Ahmed) and aunt Noora (Noura Alabed). But even with that warm bond he never shares the real problems he was facing outside his secured environment; home. Maryam is a newly divorced mother with a high success count on her tab. 

However, He’s teased at his Western school because of his stammer and his mother’s divorce, which is very unpleasant in the Muslim community. Maryam thus believes these problems are to blame when Ahmed starts to have chronic headaches and hears voices.

There enters Dr Mark Holly (Jefferson Hall), a foreign doctor who concludes his conditions under a medical complication arise from environmental factors based not on religious “folklore” but on scientific data and years of expertise.

The momentum picks up when nothing is detected during the constant medical check. Noora calls in a specialist after Ahmed verbally abuses his instructor in front of the class. The individual in question is a mullah, a scholar knowledgeable about Islamic theology and the law. Mulla Yousef (Mohannad Huthail) finds that the youngster is under the control of three djinns.

Can Ahmed survive the exorcism with so many bad demons inside of him? Till it’s too late for everyone, will Mulla Yousef be able to free the infant from all the djinns?

A large portion of the cast works admirably in their parts.

The skills of their youthful cast members are crucial to the success of scary movies featuring children. Saud Alzarooni does a fantastic job portraying the thirteen-year-old Ahmed. Alzarooni skillfully alternates between endearing, naive smiles and shiver-inducing looks that hint at the darkness that lurks behind.

In addition to being razor-sharp, Faten Ahmed’s portrayal of Maryam, Ahmed’s mother, highlights the stakes that keep viewers on the edge of their seats and captivate them in the story. Meanwhile, Noura Alabed skillfully portrays Ahmed’s aunt, Noora. As the conventional counterbalance to her sister’s Westernised views, she offers the film’s humorous relief. 

Jefferson Hall, of Oppenheimer and Halloween fame, sensitively and subtly portrays the neurologist Dr Mark Holly, adding to the film’s representation of the conflicts between cultures.

Through this film, director Nayla brings the spectators into deep thoughts on the fine line between Para – Psychology – Para – folklore beliefs that are superstitious. When is the fine time to draw a line between beliefs and facts? As it is an old saying that a scientist and believers do not get along, it could be any scientist, in this case, a man with a strong hold on medical science. 

This is the most powerful and unforgettable on-screen incarnation of the supernatural force yet. As a result, the movie may be considered a proud contribution to the Emirati horror canon, having been carefully designed to secure an international audience.

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