Ammar (2020) Review: Unclear Plot With No Horror, Directed By Mahmoud Kamel

Ammar (عمار) is an Egyptian horror film released on Netflix on 4 June 2022. The film was earlier premiered on 5 December 2020 in Egypt and is now available globally on Netflix. The story is about a family that moves into a new house but soon some mysterious and sinister events start happening that make their lives a living hell.

It is directed by Mahmoud Kamel and co-written by Ahmed Al-Dahan and Haitham Al-Dahan. The film stars Sherif Salama, Eman El Assi and Hala El-Said. Ammar has a runtime of about 1 hour and 23 minutes and is available in the Arabic language with English subtitles.

– Ammar Review Does Not Contain Any Spoilers –

Story: Typical Horror Film Plot

The story is about a couple who moves to the Gharibs’ Castle with their three children, as their new house. Initially, they all are excited about this lavish home which is much bigger than their previous one in UAE. But their excitement soon wears off when mysterious things start happening in the house. The youngest child is the first one to befriend an imaginary friend but later the father falls deep into the shadow’s presence grip.

Everyone in the family feels that there’s someone else in the house as well but it’s too late for them to get out, as it swallows them one after the other. They learn about the horrifying world of past crimes that took place between its walls, or maybe these cursed walls are behind these crimes. Will they be able to get out of the house in time or have the same fate as written in the history of the house?

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Thoughts: It Feels Like A Thriller Than Horror

Like every horror film, in Ammar, the young child with an inquisitive mind is the first one to meet the otherworldly being and even become their friend. Also, the first ones to become their victims, that’s why one should be wary of making new friends that live in the dark corners of your house. However, the presence of the spirit or ghost seems like a neighbourly stalker, trying to peep who has come to live in the house. The bad quality special effects or lack of it could be the reason for it.

One would think that now the child has experienced a small betrayal from their ghost friend, they will get the real brunt of it but instead, they have other plans and go for the father (played by Sherif Salama), instead of the child. I think that’s a refreshing take in the world of horror films and on the house spirits part to go for the major impact (ie head of the family) instead of small blows with a child.

The family has moved from the UAE and the father is searching for a job, but I wonder how are they able to afford such a big house with a swimming pool and even two servants when they have no money. Maybe they got a cheap deal on the house, who wanted to get rid of it. Therefore, another life lesson to learn – is to never accept a cheap deal without a full inspection of the property, since the house requires a lot of repairing in the film.

Ammar (2020): Stream It or Skip It?

Ammar on Netflix is a horror film with no jump scare elements in it. It goes to a more psychological route with maybe a spirit or two, but it isn’t clear as to what their motive is. It feels like a delusion created by the mind of the character who is scared of living alone in a big house with dark rooms. Even the youngest child is not sure if she wants to be friends with the spirit as sometimes she happily follows it to creepy places but other times run away screaming on seeing it.

The film is rated 16+, but I don’t think kids below 16 would even find it frightening in any way. There is no explanation of what happened in the past that created such a bad reputation. Ammar is a film to watch in your absolutely free time when you are looking for something new to watch with harrowing music that leads to sub-par horror if we call it so.

Ammar (2020) is streaming on Netflix.

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