Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Kandisha’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Kandisha’.
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One thing we can all agree upon right now, is that the push to create disinformation is causing more harm than good. Because this drive to create ‘alternate facts’ and ‘new truths’ that suit the narrative of a specific individual or group is wreaking havoc across the globe. For good people are quickly finding themselves confused and others… are beginning to question everything out of the worry that the truth they once knew, is nothing more than a lie and well… this mess is at a point now where everyone is beginning to talk about it, because it is costing people their lives. But while everyone’s frustrations in regard to this problem are beginning to boil over since we are seeing its impact infect every aspect of our life, lament and anger won’t solve the problem.
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Instead, we need to figure out the root cause to this issue and how it grows outside of the political theater that it is attached to. Because that is the only way that we can combat its rise and get people to believe in the facts once again. And this is becoming so important of a matter to people all around the world, that even horror films are starting to explore that root cause in an attempt to offer up some kind of commentary and observation and hopefully, a potential solution to this problem and it just so happens… that Shudder is now host to a movie that dives deep into this matter in the most creative way imaginable. For Kandisha uses the spirit world to get its point across and that makes for one fascinating film. 

One that early on, surprises the viewer by appearing to be quite by the numbers in nature. For we are quickly introduced to a trio of bright and care-free women named Amélie, Bintou and Morjana and they are eager to spend their days just hanging out with their friends and creating beautiful art with their spray paint cans. Which makes it seem as though this story is going to revolve around a loss of innocence and the horrors of man, when Amélie is nearly assaulted by an ex-boyfriend. But her desire to exact revenge from afar by invoking the spirit of an ancient demon named Aicha Kandisha, changes the tone of this story in a prompt manner. For the power of this demon stretches far and wide and her bloodlust is insatiable and now that she has accepted an invitation to return to this world, it will take incredible effort on Amélie’s part to put this monster back in the dimension to which she belongs.

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Yet while that plot is indeed engrossing and intriguing since it revolves around an urban legend that most of us know nothing about, you’re likely still wondering… how does this relate to false truths and all the problems that stem from that? And as it turns out… our trio’s desire to basically believe in little outside of their art and isolate themselves from the world, is a wonderful way to explore that root cause. Because it speaks to the fact that ignorance is what truly helps people to be pulled into false narratives that are appealing in nature, since it satisfies something primal within and had Amélie bothered to research facts and trust in that over anything else, then perhaps things wouldn’t go the route they do in this tale and a great deal of people would have survived. Which is, a supremely simple way to explore the root cause of this problem and how to combat it, but sometimes the simple route is the way to go, and that lesson is one that definitely gives the viewer pause since it leaves one to wonder how on earth, we can implement that in the real world.
 
But sadly, the film offers little in the way of solutions there and that’s okay. Because horror doesn’t necessarily have to fix the problem, it just needs to point out the trouble it can cause and keep us aware of it whilst scaring the living hell out of us and this movie accomplishes that feat as well. Because Kandisha is quite frankly, a horrifying monster, one that evolves into a waking nightmare as the story continues along and she really cannot get enough when it comes to murder and mayhem and that leads to some truly disturbing sequences. Which prey upon our fears of the dark and the shadows we think we see moving through it and of course, her hunger for blood leads to some supremely gory sequences, the kind that offer up an outright anatomy lesson since they hold nothing back to the viewer and well, in the end, the quality horror elements present here and the fascinating commentary… make this a delightful horror film when all is said and done.

Simply because this one takes you on an outright journey, one that keeps you guessing as you try to figure out its themes and concepts before it evolves into a freight train of terror. One that never lets up as Kandisha works to indulge in her bloodlust and well, that really is a refreshing combination storytelling wise since it allows for us to care about the characters and root for them to escape this monster’s clutches before this whole mess gets out of hand. So, if you’re looking for a dynamic horror film, one that works hard to offer up a different kind of ‘evil unleashed’ tale, all while offering the viewer the commentary we adore and the gore that we crave… then swing by Shudder when you get a chance and give this unique and incredibly original horror film a look.

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