Nerds That Geek Movie Review ‘Saloum’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Saloum’.
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One particularly difficult lesson that we all learn in our journey through life, is that revenge is quite the destructive act. For one’s desire to take part in it, can lead to their complete and utter downfall. After all, revenge is something that outright poisons us. To the point where it turns a person’s heart and soul dark and fills one with rage and that can isolate a good person and leave them mired in fury and darkness day and night and ironically… it provides us with nothing in the end. For if we do commit to it, it does not heal the pain or the rage, it merely completes a hollow act and leaves the conductor of the vendetta… broken and still consumed by the poisonous viscera they opened their heart and mind to.
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If anything, the prospect of losing oneself to revenge is so concerning to us… that a great many creative minds have taken the time to explore its dangers to create a cautionary tale. So that others can perhaps pull themselves back from the brink before they let it bring them down in a horrible manner. But what’s fascinating about stories and our conversations about revenge, is that we often forget to discuss its impact on the people around us. Specifically, how it can destroy relationships and harm others if we make the attempt to bring them into the darkness alongside us and well, it just so happens, that a brand-new horror film on Shudder… takes the time to explore that particularly uncomfortable and forgotten aspect of revenge and that makes Saloum, quite the powerful tale. 

One that at first, appears to be nothing more than a heist story. For we are immediately introduced here to the Bangui Hyenas, a group of mercenaries that have recently come into quite the fortune amidst a coup d’etat. But their cashing of that that fortune will have to wait. Simply because their escape vehicle, a plane, has been sabotaged. Forcing them to land in Saloum, Senegal and stay at a place that their leader, Chaka, knows of so they can lay low for a bit and recoup and recover before getting what they need to repair their plane. But sadly… this waystation is more than a place to catch their breath. It holds importance to Chaka, and he has brought his friends here to help with a revenge plot, one that will cost them more than they ever expected.

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Which in turn, leads to that examination of how revenge can cause those we care about great harm. For the Hyenas are a close-knit trio of thieves, who have been through thick and thin together and being lied to in this manner and being forced to face the fact their friend has been consumed by revenge here… hurts them in stunning ways. To the point where their lives are on the line, all because Chaka has to have his revenge and well… that is an impactful way in which to explore how revenge can cause others harm and it also offers up, some fine commentary on the human condition as well. Since Chaka’s quest helps to explore the nature of trauma and how it is always with us until we find better ways to deal with it. But while that is indeed some powerful stuff to examine, it doesn’t really scream horror necessarily, in fact, that’s the kind of stuff that’s more grounded in drama.
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But have no fear, for there are horror elements present in this story. Since the place that Chaka and his friend have returned to… just so happens to be filled to the brim with an unspeakable evil, one that is awakened by the act of revenge and that leads to some horrifying visuals. Where people suffer greatly before passing into this great beyond and where others are transformed into unsettling soldiers of evil. The kind that are genuinely the stuff of nightmares through and through and those elements are solid for certain. Since they truly evoke some genuine scares with how quickly they descend upon our anti-heroes and others at the compound they visit, and these surprises also engage you. Since you’re quickly curious to learn more about the genesis of these nightmares come to life.

If anything, this is just… a refreshing horror film. One that just so happens to inject a little style into the mix as well, since early on, that heist story feel is further enhanced by moments that are slick and fun and kitschy. But make no mistake about it, this is a bleak and powerful story. One that takes the standard exploration of revenge to a whole new level, and genuinely surprises you along the way, and the best news of all, is that you don’t have to wait a minute longer to enjoy this magnificent movie. For Saloum is available to stream on Shudder right now and we here at NTG really do hope you give it a look. Because it really is just a wild ride, one that grabs hold of you and refuses to let go with its fascinating story and equally as fascinating monsters.  

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